Westwood Station’s anchor tenant, Wegmans, will be getting its liquor license. A Canton lawmaker released his chokehold on the coveted license Thursday, ending nearly five months of uncertainty, infighting and back-room intrigue that had stalled much of the Legislature’s year-end work, and threatened to sink the 4.5 million square-foot project.
“The reality is, the business of the House has to proceed,” Rep. William Galvin said on the House floor. House Speaker Sal DiMasi has been leaning on Galvin and Westwood Rep. Paul McMurtry, the sponsor of the Wegmans bill, to resolve the dispute. Westwood Station is also said to be a priority for Gov. Deval Patrick.
“Enough’s enough,” McMurtry said Thursday.
Westwood Station developers Cabot, Cabot & Forbes have said that Wegmans won’t sign its lease before securing the license to sell beer and wine. In turn, one large tenant, Target, and a number of smaller tenants have delayed signing their leases until the Wegmans matter is resolved. Jay Doherty, president of CC&F, recently said he has commitments for 80 percent of Westwood Station’s retail space.
Not Budging
Galvin had iced the Wegmans bill because, he said, CC&F was not addressing traffic impacts to his Canton district. Two weeks ago, Galvin told the State House News Service he would not drop his opposition to the Wegmans bill when the Legislature’s formal sessions resume in January, instead promising to continue to block the bill “until whenever. It probably won’t be January.”
In recent weeks, CC&F began aggressively challenging Galvin’s traffic claims. They point to $120 million in mitigation and infrastructure improvements being completed up front, including the reconstruction of University Avenue and interchanges at Route 128 and Route 1. Virtually all traffic will flow on site directly from those highways, said Doherty spokesman Michael Goldman. Additionally, he said, Canton’s own traffic studies predict the project will improve, not worsen, Canton’s traffic woes.
Even in yielding on Wegmans, Galvin had harsh words for Doherty.
“It’s not that the issue is settled,” he said. “I don’t think the issue is going to be settled for awhile. I still oppose this project, and until we come to an agreement, if any other bills or aid or any kind of help for this developer comes before this House, I will still object, even in the next session, unless the developer and the town of Canton come to an agreement on the infrastructure.”
“Now it goes to the Senate,” McMurtry said. “Hopefully it won’t hit
the same obstacles there.”
