A proposed Walmart warehouse near Forbes Crossing in Foxborough has split the town, with residents who want the jobs and tax revenue squaring off against neighbors who fear added traffic and noise. The roughly 26,000-square-foot facility would sit along Foxborough Boulevard, close to Route 140, I-95 and I-495, and would employ about 25 people.
The dispute spilled into public view last Thursday when the Foxborough Planning Board opened a hearing concerning the proposed site at 300 Foxborough Blvd, according to Legislata. Public meetings concerning the facility are set to continue next month. As WBZ NewsRadio reported, correspondent Chris Fama found residents arriving at the hearing with sharply different takes on what the warehouse would mean for the town.
Turnout and Testimony at Town Hall
About 50 residents attended the October 8 session at Foxborough Town Hall, with roughly a dozen speaking during public comment to oppose the project, per a report cited by Legislata. Some who welcomed the proposal pointed to the town's finances; one resident told WBZ NewsRadio that Foxborough needs the money because officials say the town has no money. Others who oppose the plan said it would worsen traffic and pile noise onto an area that's already busy, with one resident telling WBZ NewsRadio that added noise and traffic in unwanted areas would be an issue.
The proposal remains under review by the Planning Board. The facility would operate seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., a schedule that has become a flashpoint for neighbors worried about added noise and traffic.
Traffic Concerns
Neighbors have raised concerns about how the facility could affect traffic in the area.
The proposal is before the Planning Board for review under a special permit application.
The Foxborough Boulevard Site
The proposed facility would be at 300 Foxborough Blvd. in Foxboro Business Park, near Route 140, I-95 and I-495.
Part of a Bigger Pattern Across Massachusetts
Foxborough's fight is not happening in isolation. Walmart's proposal follows a Newton approval for a micro-fulfillment center, where the Zoning Board of Appeals granted a variance, according to Patch. The Newton center is intended to store and quickly process online orders.
Back in Foxborough, some residents who spoke with WBZ NewsRadio said they felt further discussion was futile, with one telling the station that officials would move forward despite objections no matter what neighbors say. Whether that pessimism holds will depend on the Planning Board's review of Walmart's application.
