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Murray Sandler

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Done: Murray Sandler Redevelopment Gets Final OK

With restrictions in place, work can start on new 'retail village' on Concord Avenue.

After years of waiting, the former Murray Sandler Skate Shop property has the go-ahead to become a viable commercial enterprise. On Tuesday, July 12, the Belmont Planning Board unanimously voted to approve the site plan submitted by owner Robert Orfaly and his development team to build a one-story brick retail village at 70 Concord Ave. The decision came in the wake of the Zoning Board of Appeals decision on Monday, July 11, to grant zoning relief to Orfaly for various bylaw deficiencies at the site including side and rear setback, limited parking spaces and landscaping matters. The Planning Board approved the location of a dumpster, with the stipulation that it cannot be used for restaurant waste; the fencing scheme in the back of the …

Joe

11:33 am on Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Interesting how the dental office is so concerned about where other business employees are going to park. Where do they park, I'm sure right on concord avenue or the side streets. Guess they just don't want their spot taken or rules enforced that may affect them. No wonder there are so many empty storefronts and a few abandoned buildings in this town. Oh my, cars, fences, lights and dumpsters; it…   more ›

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Plans For Former Murray Sandler Site Advance

Zoning Board of Appeals grants relief, now on to Planning Board for further consideration

Belmont’s Robert Orfaly is one step closer to receiving the zoning relief he needs for developing a retail village at the former Murray Sandler Skate Shop property at 58-60 and 70 Concord Ave. On Monday, July 11, the Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously voted to grant Orfaly special permits that will allow his development team to vary the town’s current bylaw for rear and east-side setbacks and a waiver for 11 parking spaces. Moreover, the ZBA stipulated the applicant must provide landscaping that satisfies the Belmont Board of Selectmen’s approval of using the town’s right-of-way and execute a maintenance agreement with Selectmen. Members of the ZBA also decided that any employees at the retail village will not be able to park on the …

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Former Murray Sandler Site Closer to Redevelopment

Planning Board and ZBA ask for revisions and will vote on proposal in mid-July.

The owner of the long-abandoned Murray Sandler Skate Shop property is slowly inching toward obtaining zoning relief for his development plan. Belmont's Robert Orfaly, along with his team and represented by Belmont attorney Joe Noone, appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board on Tuesday, June 28, in Town Hall for a joint public hearing that had been continued from Monday, June 6. Orfaly is proposing to transform the Concord Avenue property that most neighbors describe as an “eyesore” into a one-story "retail village" for between three and five tenants. In order to move forward, however, he must seek special permits from setback and number of parking space requirements as dictated by the town’s zoning bylaws. At their …

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Neighbors OK Sandler Reuse; Zoning Not So Sure

Traffic, parking concerns town boards with redevelopment of long-neglected Concord Ave site.

Most neighbors of the former Murray Sandler Skate Shop property are enthusiastic about a development plan that they say will transform the long-neglected property that has been an eyesore in east Belmont for longer than they care to remember. However, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Belmont Planning Board have reservations about the proposed plan for the location. Those concerns are serious enough, in fact, that a joint public hearing lasting about 90 minutes on Monday, June 6, to grant a special permit to owner Robert Orfaly for the long abandoned site at 58-60 and 70 Concord Ave. was continued to Tuesday, June 28 at 7:15 p.m. in the selectmen’s room of Town Hall. Orfaly and his team are seeking a special permit to maintain the …

Glen Mohr

7:04 am on Thursday, June 9, 2011

At this time when our town is desperate for commercial development, it would be a welcome message to the business community if this project were to go through without unnecessary delay. I am confident that the issues raised by the Planning and Zoning Boards can be addressed satisfactorily. “I’m afraid of it being too commercial-looking for a gateway site in Belmont” “I’m concerned about what all …   more ›

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