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Politics & Government

No Drive-Thru for Dunkin Donuts [POLL]

The Board of Selectmen reached decisions regarding two much debated site plans.

On Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the Westborough Board of Selectmen meeting, members reached a decision concerning two controversial proposed site plans affecting the town: and the .

Selectmen were unanimous in the decision to deny the proposal to add a drive thru at their East Main Street location, which comes after months of discussion between the board and Dunkin Donuts. 

No Dunkin Donuts representatives were present at the meeting.

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Gail Fanselow addressed the board with a letter from Dr. Dan Fanselow, who owns a chiropractic practice on Colonial Drive but could not attend the meeting.

In the letter, Dan Fanselow listed the reasons for which he did not support the drive thru, including, “It will increase traffic to a level that’s dangerous and a hindrance … will block emergency vehicles and people waiting to turn left or right onto Colonial Drive. Elderly people walking along the sidewalk will be endangered by drive thru traffic.”

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Board of Selectman member Leigh Emery said, “All boards involved have taken a lot of time and effort into reviewing the proposal. Experts on public safety have spoken that it’s a safety hazard. There’s just not enough room.”

Board of Selectmen member Ian Johnson added, “This is a public safety issue that we as a board cannot support.”

Town Counsel Gregory Franks noted that denying a site plan review is rare, and that it is possible for Dunkin Donuts to challenge the board’s decision.

Several board members expressed concern over making a decision without Dunkin Donuts representatives present. (Dunkin had sent an earlier email that they would not be present at the meeting.)

Board of Selectmen Chairman Lydia Goldblatt responded, “We are clearly within our bounds to make a decision related to the safety of our town.”

The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved the , which comes after months of discussion between CSX and the board.

A major concern regarding the station had been the flow of truck traffic to and from the site. A CSX representative noted, “All truck drivers will be educated on the proper route – left on Flanders and right on Walkup Drive.” The CSX representative added that CSX has received limited questions on the available website (railwestborough.com) from Southborough residents and, therefore, believes questions and concerns from Southborough residents have been addressed.

Town Manager Jim Malloy noted that the fire chief said all of his issues and concerns regarding the CSX site plan have been addressed.  Malloy added that the funds the town will receive from CSX will go toward such things as “hazmat training for firefighters for the next 20 years, a traffic signal at Walkup and Flanders and an electronic height censor on the East Main Street bridge to warn trucks that are too tall to fit under the bridge.”

Board of Selectmen member Leigh Emery expressed concern over possible late night traffic from the site.

A CSX representative responded, “6 a.m. to 6 p.m. will be the primary hours, but there are times when customers need service at night, such as an airport needing more de-icing fluid. But we’ll do everything we can to discourage this. However, the fire department will be notified of any transfers occurring out of primary hours.”

After months of debate, the transflo site review concluded with CSX representatives and members of the board expressing thanks and appreciation to one another during this long process.

 

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