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557 Highland Ave. (former Muzi site)
The Planning Department has created this website to share information about the redevelopment of 557 Highland Avenue, formerly the site of Muzi Ford and Chevrolet and a car wash. The nearly 10-acre site was rezoned by Town Meeting in 2021 and purchased by the Bulfinch Companies shortly thereafter.
The Bulfinch Companies has proposed to build lab, research and office space called the Highland Science Center. This website contains official filings, public meeting and hearing information and other relevant documents and information related to this project. To access the Bulfinch Companies website for further information please go to the following link: http://557highland.com
Sign up for updates here. For questions, please contact planning@needhamma.gov
Planning Board Decision
The Planning Board issued a decision on December 23, 2022 for the Highland Science Center. The decision can be viewed at the following link: https://www.needhamma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=11308
Application
Proponent's Application for Site Plan Review and issuance of Special Permits for the Project (Part 1)
Traffic Appendices (Part 2). This special permit application will be the subject on a public hearing by the Planning Board on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
Revised Materials received on June 30, 2022:
- Cover letter from Attorney Tim Sullivan, dated June 30, 2022 as well as the following documents: Exhibit A - the Applicant’s responses to aggregated comments from the Planning Board Members at the June 7 the hearing; Exhibit B - the Applicant’s responses to comments received from other Town departments; Exhibit C - response from VHB, Inc. to GPI’s peer review comments on the Project’s Transportation Impact and Access Study; Exhibit D - separate response from VHB, Inc. to Nitsch Engineering’s peer-review comments on the Transportation Impact and Access Study; Exhibit E - Preliminary Exterior/Community Noise Evaluation/Narrative prepared by Acentech Incorporated examining compliance with MassDEP noise limits. Lastly, the presentation at the July 7, 2022 Planning Board meeting.
Revised Materials received on August 17, 2022 for hearing on September 7, 2022:
- Revised Plans, 8/15/22
- Cover letter from Attorney Tim Sullivan, dated August 15, 2022 as well as the following documents: a) Boundary Description; b) Revision Letter from Civil; c) Revision Letter re: Transportation; d) Revision Letter re: Landscape; e) Revision Letter re: Architecture; f) Preliminary Exterior/Community Noise Evaluation/Narrative.
Fiscal Impact Report, prepared by Fougere Planning and Development, Inc., dated May 16, 2022
Staff / Town Comments
Design Review Board, May 16, 2022
Building Department, May 25, 2022
Public Health Division, May 27, 2022
Engineering Division, June 2, 2022
Police Department, June 3, 2022
Traffic Peer Review, prepared by GPI, May 27, 2022
Public Documents
Peer Review Scope pursuant to M.G.L. c.44, §53G - Traffic impacts associated with the Highland Innovation Center, 557 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA.
Highland Science Center_ENF_Final_03-31-22
Revised ENF Form EJ Section_04-08-22
Letter from Kate Fitzpatrick, Needham Town Manager, dated April 26, 2022, regarding comments on ENF
Town of Needham Sewer System Impact Program Regulations, October 18, 2016
Public Hearing Notice - Planning Board hearing on proposal, June 7, 2022
Draft Environmental Impact Report, dated July 15, 2022
Letter to Secretary Beth Card, from Town of Needham, Acting Town Manager, dated August 19, 2022
Letter from Rebecca Brown, Greenman-Pedersen, Inc., regarding Traffic Peer Review on Draft Environmental Impact report (DIER), dated August 18, 2022
Background Information on Re-zoning of 557 Highland Ave
Planning Board information on the re-zoning of 557 Highland Ave. in 2021, approved by Town Meeting