Traffic still a concern with scaled-down Univ. Station

Although it has a new name and has been considerably downsized compared to the original proposal in 2007, the recently approved University Station project (formerly Westwood Station) on the Westwood/Canton border is still expected to impact traffic on neighboring roadways, according to Canton Selectmen Victor Del Vecchio and Bob Burr.

Both officials said Tuesday night that selectmen will remain vigilant in forcing the state and the new developer to build additional traffic infrastructure to support the 2.2-million-square-foot project and minimize the impact to Canton roads.

In particular, Del Vecchio pointed to the area of Dedham Street between Shawmut Road and University Avenue and the three bridges linking the roadways. A recent additional traffic study still recommended that the roadway and bridges be enlarged and the state build a slip ramp to handle the increased volume of traffic coming from Interstate 95.

“We argued before and still feel there has to be a more robust infrastructure,” said Del Vecchio.

The new scaled-down project is expected to include a mix of offices, restaurants, retail stores — including a Wegmans grocer and a Target store — as well as a hotel, apartment complexes, and an assisted-living facility.

The state is now seeking funds from the federal government to build the highway off-ramp. Westwood town meeting voters recently approved the new rezoning of the project, but Del Vecchio said construction on University Station won’t begin until state environmental permits and reports are obtained from the developers and approved by state officials.

Even though the town, with help from Burr and Del Vecchio, had negotiated long and hard on a mitigation settlement with the prior developers in 2010, the pact was never signed and is now null and void.

“We will continue the same type of negotiations with the new developers,” said Del Vecchio. Burr said there will be additional legal costs to ensure Canton’s rights are protected.

In other news:

* Selectmen unanimously elected Sal Salvatori as the new chairman and Avril Elkort as vice chairman. Burr, the outgoing chairman, will now serve as clerk. Salvatori praised Burr’s efforts over the past year. “Bob did a lot of hard work. It was not an easy year,” he said. Burr, in turn, praised the work of Town Administrator Bill Friel, his staff, and his fellow selectmen.

* Selectman John Connolly announced that one of the gates to the Canton Corner Cemetery (on the Washington Street side by the veterans monuments) will be closed at dusk during the weekdays and closed on weekends because of various recent break-ins and thefts of flowers and hoses during the time when town workers are not at the cemetery. Connolly hopes the measure will only be temporary and asked that if anyone sees any suspicious activity to call police.

* Bob Hearsey of Canton, a member of the Old Colony Civil War Round Table, is organizing a Civil War commemoration on Saturday, June 22, with a rain date of June 23. An 11 a.m. ceremony at the Civil War monument at Town Hall begins a full day of events with activities at the Canton Historical Society, a talk at the library, displays at Pequitside Farm, and a Civil War fashion show at the library. The day will honor those from Canton who lost family members during the war.

* Selectmen approved various entertainment and liquor permits for the Canton Irish Festival to be held on the grounds of the Irish Cultural Centre on New Boston Drive (off Rte. 138) June 7-9.

* Ryan Sceviour was appointed a permanent full-time police officer for the Canton Police Department.

* Selectmen will next meet on Tuesday, June 4, and one of the main agenda topics will be the Plymouth Rubber development project and the answers to questions posed by various town officials. The answers are also posted on the town website.

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Posted by Mike Berger on May 30 2013. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.