April 26, 2005

Retail Village Development Update

We are pleased to report that Old English Square is moving forward quite well. We submitted the Retail Village portion of our project to the Planning Board for Site Plan Review earlier this month. A public hearing is scheduled at the Holbrook Town Hall on June 7, 2005.

Concurrently, the Conservation Commission is reviewing the wetlands and stormwater impacts of that project. Public hearings are ongoing. We hope to resolve all site plan issues and receive permits in about 3 months. Construction of the first retail building may start as early as October 2005.

At this year’s Town Meeting we plan to present several zoning articles that relate to our project. Working with various Town committees, the development team has identified a number of technical modifications to the current Holbrook Zoning By-laws that would enhance our project, as well as others in the community. For example, we prepared a comprehensive parking analysis for the Industrial Development Committee which was well received. The report recommends adjusting Holbrook’s retail parking ratio from its strict requirements to a more mainstream figure such as that found in surrounding communities like Braintree and Randolph. This proposed change could increase Holbrook’s potential retail development by 20 percent, while maintaining a responsible parking requirement.

In support of the Soccer Committee, we submitted an article to change the underlying zoning of our proposed soccer field from Business / Commercial to Residential to allow necessary access. If our soccer field proposal is accepted by the Soccer Committee, this article will be needed. The current Zoning By-laws do not allow commercial land to be accessed through a residential neighborhood.

Another important zoning modification the development team proposed is a mix-use article. The proposed article would allow us to deliver the Old English Square plan as presented at last year’s Town Meeting, enabling us to create a master condominium under single ownership, all on one lot. Under current zoning, we need to create a subdivision, something we feel will negatively affect our plan for a cohesive, pedestrian friendly development on Union Street.

The Planning Board will hold two Public Hearings at the Holbrook Town Hall to receive comments on our proposed Zoning By-laws changes: the Soccer Field rezoning and Mix-use articles will be presented on May 10, and the Parking Ratio and remaining articles will be presented on May 17.

April 13, 2005

Site Plan Review Application submitted to Planning Board - April 12, 2005

The Mullins development team submitted a Special Permit Site Plan Review application for the Phase I of the Old English Square Retail Village development to the Holbrook Planning Board on April 12, 2005. A public hearing on the proposed project will take place at the Holbrook Town Hall on June 7, 2005.

April 05, 2005

Retail Village Sketch - Central Green


Copyright 2005 The Mullins Company

Retail Village Sketch


Copyright 2005 The Mullins Company

Notice of Intent submitted to the Conservation Commission - March 31, 2005

The Mullins development team submitted a Notice of Intent for the Retail Village phase of the Old English Square project to the Holbrook Conservation Commission on March 31, 2005. Additional phases include Residential Village, Recreational Field and Senior Affordable Housing which will be addressed under additional NOI filings.

The Commission will be reviewing the stormwater management and the wetlands buffer zone impacts of the propose project in the coming months. The development team expects to receive an Order of Conditions for the Retail Village project by the middle of June 2005.