Facing mounting pressure to straighten out what officials bluntly term a “zoning mess,” the Planning Board decided last night that it can no longer postpone a thorough reevaluation of the wide-open Trunk Highway A (THA) and Trunk Highway B (THB) zoning designations that loosely regulate extensive commercial acreage along Route 1.
Route 1 “Strip Zoning” Overhaul and Arena Industrial Park
Building Inspector John E. Grover repeatedly urged the board to fully redefine THA and THB zones, noting that properties under these classifications currently sit on the municipal map without specific restrictions—allowing landowners to erect anything from retail storefronts to manufacturing plants. While developer-investor Frank R. Simoni recommended merely establishing a 100-foot highway setback requirement, Town Counsel Justin C. Barton and Inspector Grover warned that simple setbacks would only compound existing dissatisfaction with shallow “strip zoning.”
The planning board voted 4-1 to meet on September 27 with Town Engineer Robert A. Hamilton to devise a corrective strategy through comprehensive zoning revisions or outright rezoning, with Chairman Thomas A. Riolo indicating that Route 1 abutters may subsequently be consulted.
In a related major development, James H. Shane, board chairman of Appendagez Inc. (Faded Glory clothing distributors), formally presented plans for the proposed “Park Place” industrial park on the 220 buildable acres of the Norwood Arena site. Shane announced that roughly 8 or 10 acres will house a two-story glass and brick-faced Faded Glory office building and adjoining warehouse designed with potential for future expansion. While employment numbers will grow beyond the firm’s current 320 Norwood workers, Shane noted specific construction costs and labor projections remain uncalculated. Chairman Riolo praised the proposal enthusiastically, declaring, “I like Shane’s proposal. I think it means more jobs for the people of Norwood and more tax revenue.”
Housing Authority Honors Petrovek and Other Town News
In other municipal matters, the Norwood Housing Authority recently honored August “Gus” Petrovek Jr. for his nine years of dedicated service as the state-appointed member of the board. Housing Authority Chairman John C. Adelmann presented Petrovek with an engraved plaque recognizing his faithful service during a tenure marked by the completion of 152 apartments across two elderly housing developments on Nahatan Street. Petrovek, of 33 Granite St., has been succeeded by former selectman Michael J. Curran, an appointment of the Dukakis administration.
Additional local updates include:
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Traffic Concerns Stall Zoning Board Hearing on Proposed Caldor Shopping Center on Route 1-July 30, 1980
A zoning board hearing for the proposed $3 million Caldor shopping center on Route 1 was continued to August 19 as developers Bronson & Hutensky worked to finalize safe traffic access through Park Place Industrial Park.
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Appeals Board Postpones Decision On Norwood Golf Course Proposal-July 26, 1973
The Norwood appeals board postponed a decision on developer Frank R. Simoni’s proposed 97-acre golf course near Access Road, requesting a certified site plan.
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Norwood Scrapbook: July 31
Discover historic Norwood, MA snapshots from July 31, including 1950s Norwood Arena racing, bird-nest fires in 1963, and 1980s local clambake fundraisers.
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Roll Land
On Thanksgiving Day in 1938, Charles, John and Peter Santoro opened Roll-Land roller skating rink at 942 Providence Highway, close to the corner of Dean street. It was the first business built in the surrounding farmland. Peter enlisted in the Marine Corps in World War II, and a fellow Marine wrote a letter home about…
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Hurley’s Beer & Wine Relocates to Vanderbilt Avenue-July 17, 2015
After 16 years in South Norwood, Hurley is navigating increased competition by emphasizing community involvement and quality customer service.
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New Look For An Old Norwood Landmark-This Day in Norwood History-July 31, 2014
⠀ A dilapidated 19th-century Victorian mansion at 46 Pleasant Street in Norwood has been brilliantly restored by owners Jacinta Murphy and Jim Murray, complete with eye-catching lion and unicorn statues.
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Norwood Selectmen Authorize Teen Roller Hockey Games at Norwood Depot Parking Lot-August 11, 1994
Following a request by resident Joseph Fitzgerald and support from the MBTA, Norwood selectmen unanimously voted to allow teenagers to play weekend roller hockey in the lighted parking lot behind Norwood Depot.
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National Guard Cleans Abandoned Cars Out of Neponset River in Norwood-August 8, 1994
Teaming up with the Canton Rotary Club’s Adopt-A-Stream Program, a 10-member National Guard engineering unit used heavy equipment and chainsaws to pull six rusted vehicles out of the Neponset River off Route 1.
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Raytheon Seeks Buyer for Route 1 Site-August 27, 1993
Defense contractor Raytheon Co. puts its historic 20-acre Route 1 manufacturing and warehouse site on the market for $18 million, drawing early interest from commercial developers.
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Car Crashes Into Three Downtown Norwood Stores-August 11, 1993
A 1986 Chrysler Fifth Avenue driven by retired firefighter James F. Maroney jumped the Washington Street curb, damaging Garber Travel, Hill Jewelers, and the Cheerio of Norwood gift shop.
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