21 Coslin Drive Costco development

Votes

Every time it came up newest first

1. Mon, Sep 28 · Planning Board

   Costco Wholesale site plan and special permits (21 Coslin Drive)

   Costco Wholesale and its development team presented initial site plans and special permit applications for a proposed 167,000-square-foot retail warehouse and 30-position fueling station spanning 26.12 acres on the Southborough and Westborough town line. The presentation covered site grading, emergency vehicle circulation, lighting, landscaping waivers, and an overview of the traffic study. Several residents raised concerns about traffic congestion on Route 9, cut-through traffic on Flagg Road, truck turnaround issues at the Route 85 interchange, and environmental impacts.

   • Project encompasses 26.12 acres total, with 17.8 acres in Southborough and roughly 8 acres in Westborough.
   • Building includes warehouse, receiving docks, tire installation center, and a 15-pump (30-fueling-position) station with queuing for 60 vehicles.
   • ZBA previously granted variances for 36.5-foot light poles (50 total proposed instead of 103 20-foot poles) and retaining walls.
   • Traffic mitigation currently proposes restriping and retiming the Route 9 and Crystal Pond Road signalized intersection.
   • Town peer review consultant report on traffic is expected by October 9.

   Outcome: Hearing continued to October 19, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

   Watch at 31:54 · See the whole meeting

2. Thu, Sep 17 · Conservation Commission

   Conservation Agent report

   The conservation agent provided updates on regional development and local enforcement. Topics included the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act site visit for the proposed regional Costco, which will require signal timing adjustments at Route 9 and Crystal Pond Road; an active stop-work order for unpermitted tree clearing and grading at 35 Walnut Drive near the Town Forest; and the agent appointment as the town local government representative for expedited clean energy project permitting under new state regulations.

   • Costco project will require an Expanded Environmental Notification Form due to projected traffic trip counts.
   • A building inspector issued an immediate stop-work order at 35 Walnut Drive for unpermitted activity near wetlands.
   • The agent was appointed as the local government representative under state Department of Energy Resources regulations for small clean energy project permitting taking effect October 1.

   Outcome: Information received; no formal votes taken.

   Watch at 1:20:10 · See the whole meeting

3. Mon, Sep 14 · Planning Board

   Town planner's report and project updates

   The town planner reviewed multiple administrative and development updates. Costco submitted major site plan and special permit applications with an 88-page plan set scheduled to open for public hearing on September 28. Staff also reported on the FY28 budget timeline, the state's upcoming ADU regulation revisions, and Attorney General approval of the 2026 Annual Town Meeting bylaws with a noted scrivener's error regarding battery energy storage systems in the Industrial Park district.

   • Costco applications for major site plan, highway retail special permit, and lower impact development special permit will open for hearing on September 28.
   • Nitsch Engineering is revising its scope and fee for traffic peer review on the Costco project.
   • Planning Board FY28 budget submissions are due to the Select Board by October 13, 2026; Marnie Houlihan was appointed budget liaison.
   • Attorney General approved Annual Town Meeting bylaws, noting a cross-reference error regarding battery energy storage systems in the IP district.
   • Town is preparing for the 2027 Tercentennial celebration and pursuing grant funding for Fayville Park expansion parking.

   Outcome: Informational report presented; Marnie Houlihan designated as Planning Board budget liaison.

   Watch at 1:47:34 · See the whole meeting

4. Thu, Sep 3 · Wastewater Study Committee

   Dell property and Costco site permitting status

   The committee discussed how pending commercial developments on Route 9, specifically the Costco project and adjacent Dell property, impact wastewater planning. Ownership of the Dell property has reportedly paused new proposals until Costco secures final site plan approvals and traffic mitigation agreements with MassDOT.

   • Costco has filed its site plan review with the Planning Board.
   • Traffic mitigation on Route 9 and the Crystal Pond road network remains a central focus of state highway and local board reviews.
   • Dell property owners are holding back on development concepts until Costco permitting is finalized.
   • A private sewer connection or onsite system at Dell could serve as an anchor for a wider Route 9 municipal system.

   Outcome: No action taken; the committee will monitor Planning Board hearings on the Costco site plan.

   Watch at 1:00:30 · See the whole meeting

5. Wed, Jul 15 · Zoning Board of Appeals

   21 Coslin Drive Costco retaining wall and lighting variances

   Costco Wholesale Corporation sought variances to construct retaining walls up to 31 feet high in front and side yard setbacks and install parking lot light poles at 36 feet 6 inches, exceeding the town bylaw limit of 20 feet. Representatives explained that the steep 40-foot grade drop across the former Dell campus parcel requires substantial retaining walls to create a safe, level parking field for customers and delivery trucks. They also showed simulations illustrating that the taller poles would reduce the total number of light poles from 113 to 49, improving circulation and safety while remaining dark-sky compliant with zero light trespass at property lines.

   • Location: 21 Coslin Drive (Industrial Park District, Map 25, Lot 4A), spanning the Southborough-Westborough line.
   • Retaining walls will reach up to 31 feet high to address a steep grade change and level the site.
   • Light poles approved at 36 feet 6 inches in height, reducing pole count from 113 to 49.
   • Lighting design will feature downward-directed, dark-sky compliant fixtures with no spillover to adjacent properties.
   • Major site plan review remains pending before the Planning Board.

   Outcome: Approved unanimously.

   Watch at 59:30 · See the whole meeting

6. Mon, Jun 1 · Planning Board

   Town planner report: Valvoline, Costco, and Select Board goal setting

   The town planner reported on several town projects. At 361 Turnpike Road (Valvoline), a minor field change was approved to shift underground drainage slightly around ledge rock. The Costco project team has applied to the Zoning Board of Appeals for variances regarding light pole heights and retaining wall setbacks, and town counsel advised that the town bylaw 10 percent traffic increase standard functions as a scoping guideline rather than a strict mathematical requirement. The planner also noted the Select Board's annual goal-setting session scheduled for June 8.

   • 361 Turnpike Road: Minor field shift in drainage approved by town engineers due to ledge.
   • Costco: Applied to ZBA for variances for light poles and retaining wall setbacks; ZBA hearing targeted for July 15, 2026.
   • Costco traffic: Town counsel advised the 10 percent traffic increase bylaw threshold is a planning guideline rather than an absolute cap.
   • Select Board goal-setting meeting is scheduled for June 8, 2026 at the Public Safety Building.
   • The board submitted a letter of support to EOHLC for Westborough's regional One Stop grant application.

   Outcome: Informational updates shared with the board.

   Watch at 1:11:32 · See the whole meeting