Churchill approves new zoning for Westinghouse site

The Churchill Council approved new zoning regulations on Monday for the 150-acre former George Westinghouse Research and Technology Park. This decision paves the way for a mixed-use development, which is set to include housing, grocery stores, a gas station, restaurants, an early childcare center, medical offices, and importantly, establish definitions and regulations for data centers. Commonwealth Commercial Real Estate, the property owner and developer, had presented plans to the community. The site has been vacant since Westinghouse largely ceased operations in the late 1990s. Notably, a previous proposal by Amazon for a distribution center on the same site was withdrawn in 2022 after years of community opposition and a lawsuit. Community members expressed significant concerns during an earlier hearing on the zoning ordinance, including the demolition of existing historical structures, the removal of trees crucial for stormwater containment, and potential increases in traffic on Beulah Road, as well as noise pollution. Residents, like Cathy Bordner, voiced fears that the proposed system could lead to severe flooding if the zoning had been in place for the Amazon project. Developers must now apply for development and conditional use permits, which will again offer opportunities for public comment.