Quarter-mile development to stretch from 107 Main Street to Elm Street

At its meeting on Dec. 15, the Medway Select Board approved a Development Agreement for parcels located at 107-119 Main Street and 1-3 Elm Street for “Heritage on Main,” a proposed “mixed-use development consisting of [up to] 267 residential units…and commercial uses in multiple buildings,” according to the agreement. 

The developer is Rte. 85 Realty Corp. of Mendon. The agreement was signed by Kevin Meehan, President and Treasurer; and Medway Select Board Vice Chair Dennis Crowley since Select Board Chair Todd Alessandri had recused himself from the discussion “because it involves a donation of land that abuts my neighborhood.” 

The Select Board’s vote supports the design concept and does not guarantee the project which still needs to make its way through the town’s standard permitting process, which will include public hearings and public input. 

Town Manager Michael Boynton explained that, “This does not require the Planning Board to approve it, but indicates to the Planning Board that the Select Board has seen the concept, and the concept consists of an apartment complex of up to 267 units, a site for a bank, a site for a restaurant, and a general store and gas station.” 

The design concept calls for 15 three-bedroom units, 106 two-bedrooms, and 146 one-bedrooms though the numbers could change - possibly to 247 as suggested at the Dec. 15 meeting. 

Ten percent of the units will be considered “affordable” therefore the entire complex will go toward the town’s affordable housing “safe haven” inventory. 

In recent years, the landscape of that section of Route 109 has changed dramatically with the installation and operation of several new traffic lights, and the closure of, or non-renewal of, leases for several businesses along that stretch.  

The quarter-mile section includes the property of the former Mobil Gas (107 Main St.), former Burger King (109 Main St.), Medway Nutrition (113 Main St.), cell tower (113A Main St.), former U.S. Post Office (115 Main St.), All Washed Up Auto Wash (105A Main St.), Village Pool & Spa and Select Used Cars (117 Main St.), and a wooded lot (119 Main St.) at the corner of Main and Elm Streets. The 107-119 Main St. parcels were purchased together in 2019 for $5,999,000, according to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices sales records.

Boynton said the town has worked with the developer to minimize the impact on the Town of Medway and abutters. He said this project meets the directive of the master plan, to include residential units in that area, as Medway aims to create a “downtown” area. He called the project a “win-win public/private partnership for the Town of Medway on this project, I can’t say that enough.” 

Boynton said the developer has agreed to pay to the town $3.8 million in mitigation fees to include $800,000 to acquire additional sewer capacity, and another $3 million to be paid over 10 years to be used for any “general municipal purpose.” This is in addition to the standard fees a developer must pay. 

They will also donate approximately two parcels – 0 and 26 Kelley Street – totaling 5.5 acres, which abuts the project and includes wetlands. 

The main entrance to the development will be at the traffic light at the former Mobil gas station (107 Main St.) which shares the main entrance to the Medway Place shopping center. That will be the sole entrance for westbound traffic (heading toward Bellingham) though there will be curb cuts on the eastbound side (heading toward Millis) for safe right-hand turns. In concept, there will be a net reduction in curb cuts along that stretch. 

Developer representatives said they will wait for Planning Board approval before starting sitework, which they hope would be “mid-summer.” 

Documents are available at www.medwayma.gov. A recording of the meeting is available at www.medwaycable.com.