Industrial II Personal Services and Indoor Recreation Use
At a glance
What: warrant Article 9 for the November 2026 Special Town Meeting, a citizen petition adding personal services and indoor recreational facilities (such as gyms) as allowed uses in the Industrial II zoning district.
Where it stands: the Planning Board voted 4 to 1 on 2026-11-09 to recommend favorable action.
Next: town meeting vote; any project would still need site plan review and, along Route 146, state highway permitting.
Details
The petitioners, who run a family gym nearby, said the change would let them build a new facility on a vacant lot along the Route 146 corridor. Staff said the gap in the bylaw was found when they asked what was needed, and that the change affects only the Industrial II district (a few small areas), not Industrial I.
A resident raised concerns about use of limited industrial land, traffic and highway access, safety, and the MBTA Communities overlay. Staff said the overlay is optional zoning and is unaffected by a change to the underlying district, and that site plan review is triggered by additions or use changes over 3,000 square feet.
One member said he did not want industrial districts changed for one business; others supported it as an added use.