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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Developer Says Route 1 Has Become a ‘Hot Location’ for Businesses Following Opening of Galleria Mall-August 17, 1988
Galleria Realty Trust president Robert Piso and local tenants praise the retail boom along Route 1 as the Galleria by the Green shopping center nears full occupancy in Norwood.
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State Approves Traffic Barrier to Block East Cross Street Access from Route 1-August 12, 1988
Following a resident petition led by Joseph Burke and Rep. Gregory Sullivan after a child’s injury, the state approved a barrier blocking Route 1 access to East Cross Street.
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New Town Planner Tackles Commercial Growth and Zoning Reform-August 20, 1987
Amid rapid commercial growth along Route 1 and zoning maps dating back to the 1920s, Norwood town meeting voters approved hiring a town planner to balance business interests and residential protections.
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Computer Solves Route 1 Mobil Station Heist-June 15, 1987
A Roslindale Man Is Tied To A Norwood Robbery A $4.6 million State Police computer is revolutionizing law enforcement in communities throughout Massachusetts, matching latent fingerprints to known felons 83,000 times faster than a human expert. The system, which began testing one year ago this month at State Police headquarters in Boston, has successfully solved…
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Norwood Airport Manager Submits Residential Housing Proposal to Planning Board-August 13, 1985
Boston Municipal Airport proposed 21 single-family homes at the end of Hazelwood Drive, while the planning board reviewed Route 1 park modifications.
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Andrew B. Boch, 80, Automobile Dealer and Route 1 Automotive Pioneer-August 8, 1985
Andrew B. Boch, founder of Norwood’s pioneering Route 1 automotive dealerships and patriarch of a legendary New England business family, died at age 80.
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Owner of Norwood Site Says He Was Unaware of Gravel Removal-July 24, 1985
The Norwood Zoning Board of Appeals clashed with property owner Paul C. Balboni over unpermitted gravel excavation at a University Avenue site flagged by Building Inspector John Grover.
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Planning Board Proposes Water Resources Protection District to Safeguard Ellis Well Field-August 14, 1984
Norwood’s planning board voted to place a water resources protection district zoning bylaw on the September 24 special town meeting warrant to protect the Ellis Avenue well field.
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DPH Reports Normal PCB Blood Test Results for 90 Norwood Residents-August 12, 1983
State health officials announced that blood tests for 90 Norwood residents living near a Route 1 toxic site showed normal PCB levels well within safe ranges.
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