First Mixed Use Building Planned for Willow Street District

The owner of one of the property along a section of Willow Street that was rezoned three years ago in an effort to spur a new type of redevelopment is proposing a new building that mixes office spaces with a new residential unit.

The proposal at 227 Willow St. calls for a new building to replace the existing empty two-family home that is near the street. The property is located between the Willowdale office complex and Dodge Tree Co. and has a newly renovated retail and office building at the rear where the owner, Michael Pallazola, has said he is hoping to draw a bakery, among other possible uses.

The building is being proposed under zoning approved in 2010 along a section of Willow Street that created an "overlay district," creating new allowable uses on some properties on the east side of the street, north of Railroad Avenue. The provision allows a combination of uses on one lot, such as retail and residential, instead of limiting each lot to just one type of use. The proposal was initiated when the former Hansbury property was vacant, unused and on the market.

Earlier this month, the Planning Board took a look at the latest project but said it wanted additional time to review a few specifics of the project, according to Planning Coordinator Kristine Cheetham. The plan will return before the Planning Board when it meets next on Sept. 17. 

Cheetham said that the project engineer submitted drainage calculations at the last meeting and the board would like to review those. Plus, the board is also looking at the height of the building, the lighting on the building and site, the number of spaces and circulation pattern in the parking lots and landscaping along Willow Street.

On Wednesday, the project went before the Zoning Board of Appeals

"This is good," said Chairman Bill Bowler. "This is why we passed the bylaw."

Bowler was on the Board of Selectmen when the overlay district was proposed by Selectmen and approved at Town Meeting in 2010.

"It's what the overlay district was designed for," he said. "I'm not troubled by it."

Pallazola said that the first and second floor would be office or retail space and the third floor would be a residence where he and his family plan to live.

"I'm taking away an eyesore and putting up an attractive building," he said.