4 Massive Warehouses Already Approved and More are Planned

Capital Group could have built 1,200,000* sf of distribution warehouses on Rt 70 by right, under existing bylaws, without a zoning change. The rezoning will allow for a total of 2,400,000* sq ft of distribution warehouses on McGovern Blvd ALONE.

The rezoning that Lancaster approved will allow 2.4 million square feet of distribution warehouses to be built immediately adjacent to an existing neighborhood.

A 2/3 majority vote did not support the REZONE article at the November 14, 2022 Special Town Meeting. A Citizen's Petition called for a second vote at another Special Town Meeting on January 28, 2023. The rezoning passed at this meeting by ~40 votes.

This warehouse distribution/trucking center could have a total of nearly 500 truck bays and bring more than 7000 new vehicle trips and hundreds more heavy trucks/day to our roads.

The developers purchased the land knowing the zoning.

Fiscal predictions by the Lancaster Finance Committee did not take into account increased expenses to town services due to wear and tear on our roads, increased fire and safety costs, and other expenses.

These warehouses will be located within the Central Nashua River Valley Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) which includes a Water Resource Protection District. Read about our ACEC here: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/ru/cnr-des.pdf

Learn more about ACECs and their importance here: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/acec-program-overview

This project will require a MEPA review, but MEPA is not a permitting process. It is the town's responsibility to ensure that our bylaws are followed and that our resource areas and residents are protected.

This developer's last project at this location FAILED the MEPA review in 2020, with a very similar project. You can read that review here: https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/emepa/mepadocs/2020/022620em/sc/eir/16043%20DEIR-Capital%20Commerce%20Center.pdf

Learn more about the MEPA process here: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/purpose-and-intent-of-mepa

40R Housing on Rt. 70

The developers behind this project said they would only build the 40R if voters also approved a rezoning that allowed them to build a massive mega-warehouse development, right next door o the housing.

The 40R bylaw was approved by the MA Attorney General in October 2023.

This project is proposed for the entrance of to the 8-warehouse trucking complex totaling 2.4 MILLION sf, and next to a massive salvage yard.

Environmental Justice state laws prohibit affordable housing in unfavorable areas.

The initial project proposed is 146 units although district capacity will actually allow up to 339 units. These could be built immediately by any landowner in the district as long as they meet 40R bylaw requirements.

If approved, this project will put housing on land zoned for enterprise and commercial use, and could well lead to residential and industrial uses being side by side.

The Town received only CONDITIONAL APPROVAL for this 40R due to the lack of existing infrastructure and SmartGrowth elements at the site.

Lancaster will NOT receive ANY zoning incentive and bonus payments until all infrastructure and SmartGrowth elements are fully completed.

Approved Warehouses on Fort Pond Rd will total >1 MILLION sf.

GFI received approval for three new warehouses at 696 Fort Pond Rd in fall 2023. This facility will be ~615,500 square feet, within hundreds of feet a residential neighborhood. The Lancaster Planning Board invited the lawyer representing GFI to write the order of conditions for this project.

The Unified Global Packaging warehouse was approved by the Planning Board on 9/27/2022 for a stormwater permit for a large addition (222,000 sf), almost doubling its size. The waiver exceeded paved surface limits in Lancaster's bylaws, approving up to 32% impervious surface in this project.

The permitted Unified Global Packaging warehouse addition and proposed GFI warehouses are within a Water Resource Protection District and contain many wetland areas and Bow Brook, a cold water fishery stream.

These are distribution warehouses that operate 24/7/365.

Increased Traffic and Air Quality Dangers

Diesel fumes contain particulates harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and air quality.

Tractor trailers will be stopped at new lights along Rt 70 and 117 and will pollute air next to neighborhoods and schools.

Tractor trailers will put cars at risk as they enter, exit, and park on our narrow country roads.

Tractor trailers will impact pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Tractor trailers and thousands of commuter cars will increase congestion on Rt 70, Rt 117, Main St, Rt 2, and side roads.

What can you do?

Speak up at town meetings in the public comment period about how this will impact you.

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