[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6244006,"mediaKeyId","3235640-c8132b9c3aa744d19bf526eb08f73e83","parentId",3235640,"title","Southborough ZBA allows taller wall sign at 153 Corteville Road but rejects backlit illumination","audioSeconds",2620,"startMs",1045000,"endMs",3665000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3235640-c8132b9c3aa744d19bf526eb08f73e83&start=1045&end=3665","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3235640-c8132b9c3aa744d19bf526eb08f73e83/thumbnail_1045000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6244006/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Southborough-ZBA-allows-taller-wall-sign-at-153-Corteville-Road-but-rejects-backlit-illumination","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244006-b6b24b840bce10097a2bd0da6118cf19/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448205&Signature=Y5jSW4zpkVfRmOhFSD~cnp0p9La7M1zM1hycMhfu8AZqsO-ojwbXYq7ZPxLMXDWQk6RrI9ySAIdQk1oYt0kpVeEOUlQFj6tf6hmhud6ndgrCdvPAP0-uTMeKbWvHlWBa2IS9-SUarfqj~qcAMUtiGuLzdhfvd71P5pBEoURUGrq3tvr1IzF5-y~~i000uueedSL9a56-CYDWX61TUXe97eLvKIIupmL3H63vCPxJF5OX~OPGU7CFlJfU3HlxhCPs0~agRPpa8udiH7XPYVS49UdKuAVj01tmF9EqgmlmY47Rsg3l94pPH6rZypocpJhUj1rNza2Opu9i-mbdXV6Thg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Southborough, MA","date","2025-05-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Southborough Zoning Board of Appeals on May 7 granted a special permit to 153 Corteville Road LLC to install a wall sign above the town\u000bylaw height limit for a building in the Industrial Park district, but the board did not approve internally backlit (LED) illumination as proposed by the applicant.

Shannon Boyce, real estate permitting manager for Capital Group Properties, told the board the tenant reduced the requested sign area from an initial 80 square feet to 50 square feet after a planning-board review; the board noted 50 square feet complies with the district's area limits and that a special permit is needed only to exceed the 20-foot height limit. \"We have scaled it back down to 50 square feet total,\" Boyce said, and asked the board to allow LED-backlit signs of the type the company has installed on other buildings.

Members of the board and the planning board had raised two recurring concerns: the bylaw's restriction on translucent or fabric-letter panels off Route 9 (cited in the planning-board memo as Section 174-11(c)(3)), and the precedent that would be set by approving a blanket allowance for future signs on the same building. The planning-board report also recommended the sign not be illuminated between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Board members said they were generally supportive of the sign's size and location for the industrial/commercial setting, but raised procedural and precedent questions about backlit illumination. \"I think we do have a problem with doing the backlit illumination,\" the chair said; several members noted that most of the nearby plaza signage was not internally illuminated and that approving LED-backlit signs could invite more applications for the same treatment.

The board closed the public hearing and voted to approve the application to exceed the allowed height while otherwise requiring compliance with the sign bylaws. The vote approved a sign up to the 50-square-foot area the applicant submitted but did not permit the internally backlit LED panels the tenant had requested; the applicant agreed to redesign the sign accordingly.

Board members also said individual signs should come before the board for review rather than granting an open-ended allowance for all future wall signs on the building. Shannon Boyce said she will consult with the tenant and return with a revised sign that meets the board's conditions.

Laura, the board administrator, said staff will prepare a written decision and file it with the town clerk; the board's filing deadline for this matter is May 21. After filing, the 20-day appeal period applies and the applicant can proceed with permits once the appeal period expires.

The board cited the Southborough sign and zoning bylaws in its discussion and relied on the planning board's memorandum for recommended conditions. The approval was recorded as a special permit to exceed sign height with conditions limiting illumination and requiring future signs to follow standard filing procedures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Southborough: Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting 5/7/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Zoning Board granted a special permit to allow a wall sign above the 20-foot height limit at 153 Corteville Road (Industrial Park) while declining to approve backlit LED illumination; the applicant agreed to redesign the sign to comply with the board's conditions.","taxTitle","Town of Southborough, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",56453,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6244010,"Southborough ZBA OKs side-setback variance for garage at 26 Granule Road",967,1000,968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3235640-c8132b9c3aa744d19bf526eb08f73e83&start=1&end=968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3235640-c8132b9c3aa744d19bf526eb08f73e83/thumbnail_1000.jpg","/articles/6244010/Town-of-Southborough/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Southborough-ZBA-OKs-side-setback-variance-for-garage-at-26-Granule-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244010-18420939433087970e8f4c18d1a51960/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448205&Signature=ERdd45T5lAkPfSBjxVT3WM3enON8gUKIf9nUUTyL7AGdCuk4-vJuFypsGCYIckmlaNkgulGWIpDwhCaXFUbqVll49KNJL6Y7Imk6TPGCBvf8pZkvVvp-tdcnHPfZbQEPWcgfvVIbTPes-Ou3ic0yhYUwpdm3nWwa9aULY3HNC2WSUlY9y2PiNrCCzaEfmMvSi4PX-rMKAPV-CTfZuaS8T4gHbmHmLj6lZYOYv5jmwc0rqTbTVJHhOI4vdUg-2ZxwTsk-rFIRQnM6KWS~TI71B4BZRsRxr05ipPVZ8Ivjd3cOdz2stniaj91bbo5M8Sz9nNYYPPk360cAnorPxp~4eQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Southborough Zoning Board of Appeals on May 7 approved a special permit allowing homeowners Sean and Julie Connolly to build a two-car garage at 26 Granule Road that will encroach into the required side-yard setback.

Board members said the property\fonfiguration and site conditions support a variance. \"The shape of the lot very clearly is, is sort of the limiting factor here,\" one board member said during the meeting, and the board's findings cite lot shape and topography as the basis for relief.

The Connollys told the board they do not have an existing garage and that the proposed garage will sit toward the rear and east of the house. \"There's no existing garage,\" Sean Connolly said. The Connollys said they submitted a professional survey to the town the day of the meeting after an earlier version of their plan lacked a PLS (professional land surveyor) stamp; Building Commissioner Chris Lund had flagged the absence of a stamped survey in his review.

Board members also noted that abutting neighbors at 28 (spelled in planning materials) have provided a letter of support. Laura, a municipal staff member who read the public notice, told the board there are wetlands near the back of the property, which further constrains where the garage can be sited and means the owners will need separate approval from the Conservation Commission.

After questions from board members about lot dimensions, frontage and alternatives, a motion to close the public hearing passed with an abstention by Doug; the board then voted to approve the application. Jamie, Doris, Paul, Mike and Williams voted in favor and the motion passed. Board members discussed that the approval should explicitly cite the lot shape and topography as the hardship supporting relief.

Laura told the Connollys the board has 14 days to prepare and file a written decision with the town clerk; the filing deadline for this matter will be May 21. Once the decision is filed there is a 20-day appeal period during which the approval may be challenged; the Connollys were told they may seek Conservation Commission approval during the appeal period and that they will be contacted after the decision is filed.

The Zoning Board's action was limited to the special permit/variance request for the garage setback; no building permit or Conservation Commission approvals were granted at the meeting and separate approvals remain required before construction can begin.","The Southborough Zoning Board of Appeals granted a special permit allowing a new two-car garage at 26 Granule Road to encroach into the side-yard setback, citing the lot shape and neighbor support; the decision must be filed with the town clerk and is subject to a 20-day appeal period.","actionData","errors"]

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Southborough ZBA allows taller wall sign at 153 Corteville Road but rejects backlit illumination

Southborough ZBA OKs side-setback variance for garage at 26 Granule Road