BOS, planners back Plymouth Rubber project

In a landmark decision Monday night that followed months of intense negotiations, the Board of Selectmen threw its unanimous support behind a draft agreement with Canton Holdings LLC, owners of the former Plymouth Rubber factory site, on a proposed 35-acre mixed-use development that could potentially reshape a large portion of downtown Canton from Revere Street to Neponset Street.

A view inside the former Plymouth Rubber factory site

The 5-0 show of support by selectmen came just five days after the Planning Board, in another historic move, voted 4-0 to recommend the proposed rezoning of the property from industrial to a new overlay district that would allow for a mix of residential and commercial uses.

The recent approvals mark the first time that either board has publicly supported any proposed redevelopment effort by Canton Holdings, which has made several unsuccessful attempts to rezone the property in the eight years since its parent company, Illinois-based Napleton, purchased the site at auction from the Plymouth Rubber Company.

Both boards as well as the developer said they were proud that the 51-page agreement was approved seven weeks in advance of the May 11 annual town meeting and that it was made available for public viewing on the town website.

The proposal will now head to a special town meeting — which will begin at the start of the regular town meeting — where voters will be asked to approve both the zoning changes and a series of five other articles related to the development. If approved, the project would then go before the planning and zoning boards for site plan review. Canton Holdings expects a full build-out could be completed in six to seven years.

Following a three-hour informational meeting and the eventual vote by selectmen Monday night, BOS Chairman Victor Del Vecchio said the plan is something he could finally be excited about, and he agreed with Selectman Sal Salvatori that there are several mechanisms within the agreement to protect the town if Napleton sells the property to another developer.

“This agreement is as onerous as we could [make it] to protect the town,” said Del Vecchio. “I am excited about this. I wanted to see green space. I want to see a restored [Revere copper] rolling mill and barn.”

No one spoke in opposition to the plan, and it was not surprising considering the extent of the negotiations, which stretched back to June 2014 and involved representatives from several town boards. In addition to the selectmen, participants included members of the Planning Board, School Committee, Historical Commission and Historical Society, ADA (Handicapped Access) Committee, Conservation Commission, Community Preservation Committee, and Town Counsel Paul DeRensis…

See this week’s Canton Citizen to read a full recap of the Monday night BOS meeting, including a summary of the Plymouth Rubber development agreement. Not a subscriber? Click here to order your subscription today.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Feb 26 2015. Filed under News, Police & Fire, Schools, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.