Angus Jennings, a representative of the town's planning department tells GlobeSt.com that the creation of the overlay district is intended to give the town more control over how the parcel is "built out. There's been a lot of development pressure over the years and this is a proactive measure to guide what gets built there."

Jennings says that this office has entertained a "whole range of proposals" over the past few years. The site is currently zoned industrial and he notes that most of the proposals have not been in compliance with that zoning code. Town Meeting has rejected those proposals.

Jennings notes that there has been a lot of popular support for a recent proposal by Roche Bros. to put a supermarket on a 7.6 acre parcel on the site. The Wellesley-based company has a purchase and sale agreement for the property. Jennings points out that under the new zoning district, Roche Bros. will be able to apply to build the store.

Creation of the district requires Town Meeting approval.