Zoppo Realty Trust Petitions for Rezoning at Route 1 and Union Street-July 17, 1979

On the evening of July 16, 1979, the Norwood Planning Board held a public hearing regarding a petition from William J. Zoppo and Thomas B. Zoppo of the Zoppo Realty Trust to rezone a specific portion of land located at the intersection of Route 1 and Union Street. The Zoppo brothers, who own the 26-acre tract, seek to rezone approximately 3.5 acres currently designated for general residence into a manufacturing zone.

Thomas B. Zoppo explained to the planners that this specific segment of the land is essentially “landlocked” between the Traphole Brook and the existing manufacturing-zoned portion of the property. The area in question is situated near the Crispy Pizza warehouse on the Walpole side of the parcel.

According to Thomas B. Zoppo, rezoning this small portion would provide zoning compatibility with the adjacent limited manufacturing zone located on the Walpole side, ultimately allowing the entire 26-acre site to be uniformly zoned for manufacturing use.

While development plans remain preliminary, Thomas B. Zoppo indicated that a tentative layout for potential industrial buildings has been developed, and he anticipates that a formal proposal for a small industrial park may be brought before the board within the next six to eight months. Planning Board Chairman Paul J. Donohue characterized the request as non-controversial, noting that it would effectively “clean up the zoning” of the land. However, the board opted to defer taking a formal position on the petition at this time.

Paul J. Donohue explained that this delay is intended to allow for input from residents of the neighboring town of Walpole, particularly the Traphole Brook Protection Association, given the proximity of the parcel to the waterway. In other administrative business during the same meeting, the board agreed to inspect the Grandview Estates I subdivision located off Union Street and Sumner Street.

The inspection, which will utilize a report from the town engineer regarding deficiencies in Pilgrim Drive, Standish Drive, and Brandford Lane, is intended to help the board determine the appropriate reduction in developer Richard C. Saccone’s performance bonding, which currently stands at $48,000 under a tri-party agreement with a local bank.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger