WESTBOROUGH – As discussions continue for the next phase of the Village Commons project on Gleason Street, the town wants developer Farooq Ansari to finish what’s there already.
During the June 20 meeting of the Planning Board, several residents of the Commons told the board about lack of lighting, the placement of a dumpster, the unfinished clubhouse and other issues.
“There are still a lot of things outstanding,” said Jim Robbins, who was attending his final Planning Board meeting as interim planning director.
“The project needs to be finished,” said Planning Board member Hazel Nourse.
Ansari said that the project will be completed in “five weeks, maximum;” this includes the installation of lights.
Robbins recommended that Ansari hire a project manager to oversee work on the Commons and to have that manager update the Planning Board on a regular basis.
As for the next phase – to build additional units at Gleason Street in exchange for giving the town land at 190-212 Oak St. – the board and Ansari are still trying to decide whether the building should be three or four stories, have elevators and how much green space would be created.
Neighbors at Village Commons want Ansari to install a fence between the two projects.
Board Chairman Mark Silverberg said the projects have a “lot of moving parts,” but he believes some progress has been made.
“I would like to see this move forward,” he added.
The board voted to continue the public hearing to Tuesday, July 18.
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