Hudson outlines plan for reviewing Riverplace proposal

By ASHLEY SMITH, Telegraph Staff

Published: Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007

Hudson town officials issued a statement Wednesday responding to people who have urged the town to bar development of the 375-acre Green Meadow Golf Club into the largest retail center in New England.

The statement outlined the legal process the town must follow in reviewing the Riverplace plan, noting that it cannot deny the property owner’s rights by treating the plan as if it were "dead on arrival."

W/S Development, Inc., of Chestnut Hill, Mass., wants to phase in a mixed-use development, beginning with a 1.1-million-square-foot open-air shopping, dining and entertainment plaza called a lifestyle center.

A hotel and conference center, an office park, 600 apartments or condos, an outdoor amphitheater, a riverwalk and big-box retailers such as Target would be built in subsequent phases.

W/S submitted a site plan application for the first phase last month, but was dealt a setback Feb. 7 when the planning board voted to return the plan because it did not comply with a town ordinance.

Any project that impacts wetlands must seek a wetlands special exception from the zoning board of adjustment before the planning board can begin its review.

In recent months, concern has mounted about the pace of development in Hudson. An email network of more than 80 people called the Hudson Grassroots Coalition has launched a Stop Riverplace Web site. Last week, about 60 people gathered to talk about becoming watchdogs for development.

Official Press Release