Advocacy Resources

Town of Westwood Officials

Town of Westwood: (781) 326-6450 

Westwood Select Board: (781) 326-4172

Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I'm a Westwood resident. I'm calling about the proposed Costco development in Norwood near Route 1 and Everett Street.

While the project is located in Norwood, its impacts will extend well beyond the town line. I'm concerned that a project of this size will increase traffic on Westwood roads, delay emergency responders and school buses, and place additional strain on local infrastructure. I'm also concerned about environmental impacts, including poorer air quality from increased vehicle emissions, higher noise levels, stormwater runoff that could affect nearby waterways, the loss of green space, increased flooding risks, and the cumulative effects these changes could have on the health and quality of life of Westwood residents.  A retail and gas project of this scale will affect regional transportation, municipal services, and neighboring communities, not just Norwood.

I'm asking the Town to take an active role in the review process by working closely with Norwood, MassDOT, Mass DEP, MEPA, regional planning agencies, and state officials. Please ensure that Westwood's interests are represented, that all regional impacts are carefully evaluated, and that meaningful mitigation measures are secured before any approvals are finalized.

This is a regional issue with long-term consequences, and Westwood deserves a strong voice throughout the process.

Thank you for your time, your service, and your attention to this important matter.

My name is [        ], and my phone number is [        ].

Town of Norwood Officials

Call the Town of Norwood: 781-762-1240

Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I live in [Your Town]. I'm calling about the proposed Costco development near Route 1 and Everett Street.

I understand this project is in Norwood, but it will affect a lot more than just Norwood. I'm concerned about increased traffic, longer emergency response times, public safety, air quality, noise, and the added strain on local roads and infrastructure. These impacts will be felt by neighboring communities like Westwood as well.

I hope the Town will take a careful, long-term view before making any decisions. Please make sure the project receives a thorough review, including its regional impacts, and require meaningful mitigation to address the effects on residents, businesses, and surrounding communities.

This is a project with consequences that extend well beyond the property itself, and I hope those broader impacts are fully considered throughout the review process.

Thank you for taking the time to listen and for your service.

My name is [Your Name], and my phone number is [Your Phone Number].

Call Script for BL Companies

BL Companies is the engineering and construction partner for Costco. Please call them to raise your concerns about the project's location, design, and environmental impact. 

(781) 619-9500, 

https://www.blcompanies.com/project/costco

Hello, my name is [NAME], and I am a resident of Westwood, Massachusetts.

I'm calling to share my concern regarding the proposed Costco location near Route 1 and Everett Street in Norwood. As a firm involved in planning and engineering for this project, I hope BL Companies will ensure that traffic studies, roadway impacts, and neighborhood concerns are thoroughly evaluated and incorporated into the project planning process 

My concern is the potential impact this project could have on already significant traffic congestion along Route 1 and on neighboring roads and residential areas in both Westwood and Norwood. Many residents are worried that the development could further strain local infrastructure, affect public safety, and diminish quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods. 

I respectfully ask that you work closely with the Town of Westwood to fully assess the potential traffic impacts and carefully consider mitigation measures, design modifications, or alternative approaches that could help reduce pressure on the local road network while maintaining a positive and collaborative relationship with the community. 

Thank you for taking the time to listen and for considering the concerns of local residents.

My name is [NAME], and my phone number is [PHONE NUMBER].

Call Script for Costco

Another Alternative: 

Letter's can be sent to: 

45940 Horseshoe Drive 

Sterling, VA 20166

Call the main line for Northeast Costco at 703-406-6800, and request the Real Estate Division.

Hello, I’m a local resident of Westwood, MA and I want to share both appreciation and concern. Many of the residents in Westwood, MA are regular Costco customers and value Costco's products and pricing. We would like Costco to continue being a strong and responsible corporate partner in our region. I'm concerned that a project of this size will increase traffic on Westwood roads, delay emergency responders and school buses, and place additional strain on local infrastructure. I'm also concerned about environmental impacts, including poorer air quality from increased vehicle emissions, higher noise levels, stormwater runoff that could affect nearby waterways, the loss of green space, increased flooding risks, and the cumulative effects these changes could have on the health and quality of life of Westwood residents. 

I’m asking Costco to work closely with the towns of Westwood to fully assess traffic impacts and consider mitigation strategies or alternative approaches that reduce strain on the surrounding road network while maintaining a positive relationship with the community. Thank you for listening.

My name is [        ], and my phone number is [        ].

Call Script for Hon. Paul McMurty

Another Alternative: 

Paul.McMurtry@mahouse.gov 

Call his office number and (617) 722-2013, select 1

Hello, my name is [NAME], and I am a resident of Westwood in your district.

I am calling about the proposed Costco development on Route 1 in Norwood near Everett Street. I am concerned about the regional impacts of a large-scale warehouse and gas station in a densely populated area near residential neighborhoods and schools.

This project would significantly increase vehicle traffic, including tens of thousands of daily trips, leading to higher levels of localized air pollution from exhaust emissions such as nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter, especially during peak congestion and idling conditions. The addition of a high-volume gas station and increased fuel deliveries would further add to ongoing roadway emissions in an already heavily traveled corridor.

I am also concerned about spillover traffic onto nearby Westwood residential streets, increased safety risks for pedestrians and school routes, and broader impacts on neighborhood livability from noise, congestion, and lighting.

I am asking you to engage with MassDOT and relevant state agencies to ensure a full regional review of the traffic, environmental, and public safety impacts of this project.

Thank you for your time. My phone number is [PHONE NUMBER].

Town Administrator:

Connor Read: cread@westwoodma.gov

Select Board: 

Marianne C. LeBlanc Cummings (Chair): marianne.leblanccummings@townhall.westwood.ma.us

Erin O. Sibley: erin.sibley@westwoodma.gov

Joseph E. Previtera: joseph.previtera@townhall.westwood.ma.us

General Selectboard: bos@townhall.westwood.ma.us

Email to Westwood Town Officials 

Subject: Request for Active Engagement on Regional Traffic Impacts from Proposed Norwood Development

Dear [Town Official/Select Board Members],

I am writing as a Westwood resident to express concern about the proposed large-scale retail development in Norwood near Route 1 and Everett Street.

While the project is outside Westwood’s borders, the impacts will not be contained there. Our road network is fully interconnected, and existing congestion on Route 1 and surrounding corridors already pushes traffic onto residential streets throughout Westwood. This includes potential spillover onto roads such as Smith Drive, Pine Lane, East Street, Everett Street, Forbes Road, Carroll Avenue, Washington Street, Clapboardtree Street, and Nahatan Street and other local connectors. These conditions raise concerns about traffic safety, school bus reliability, and emergency response times.

In addition, regional congestion can affect access to key town resources, including schools, the senior center, libraries, and Route 128 access points. Even indirect increases in traffic volume place pressure on municipal services and infrastructure planning.

I respectfully ask that the Town of Westwood take an active role in reviewing and responding to this proposal. This includes engaging with Norwood officials and MassDOT, ensuring that cumulative regional impacts are fully considered, and advocating for meaningful mitigation measures to protect Westwood residents.

Thank you for your time and for your continued service to our community.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

• Start with a clear framing sentence that tells people what the issue is really about

• Limit your speech to 3 to 5 main points so it stays focused and easy to remember

• Translate technical issues into real-life impacts like traffic, safety, schools, and daily travel

• Be specific by naming roads, places, or services to make impacts concrete

• Repeat one or two core themes to reinforce your message, such as “town-wide impact” or “no direct benefit”

• End with a single clear takeaway sentence that summarizes your position

• Keep a calm, organized tone because clarity and structure are more persuasive than intensity

Example: 

Good Evening,

I’m here to speak about why this proposed development in Norwood is not just a local zoning issue, but a town-wide concern for Westwood.

First, the impacts go far beyond the immediate site. Our road network is interconnected, and major congestion on Route 1 and nearby corridors does not stay contained. It spills onto residential streets across Westwood as drivers seek alternate routes. That means increased traffic on roads like Smith Drive, Pine Lane, East Street, Everett Street, Forbes Road, Carroll Avenue, Washington Street, Clapboardtree Street, and Nahatan Street, and others, affecting travel times, safety, school bus routes, and even emergency response.

Second, there are real town-wide costs. Even though the project is outside Westwood, it could still drive up demand for police traffic enforcement, EMS response complexity, and infrastructure planning. At the same time, any negative impact on traffic and livability can affect property values, ultimately reducing the tax base that supports our schools and services.

Third, quality of life is a shared community asset. Whether someone lives next door or across town, everyone relies on predictable traffic patterns, safe access to Route 128, schools, public facilities, and local amenities. When regional congestion worsens, it affects daily life for the entire town.

Fourth, precedent matters. Approving a high-intensity, large-scale development like this can influence what gets approved in the future and gradually reshape the character and expectations for development across the region, not just in one neighborhood.

Fifth, Westwood would not receive direct tax revenue from this project, since the site is in Norwood. Yet Westwood would still experience many of the impacts, including congestion, noise, lighting, and increased roadway strain, without corresponding fiscal benefit.

Finally, this is a retail project of a very large scale, which typically generates continuous traffic throughout the day and week, including peak weekend and evening surges. That pattern is different from other commercial uses and tends to place greater pressure on surrounding road networks.

In short, this is not just a Norwood zoning matter. It is a regional infrastructure and quality-of-life issue that will be felt throughout Westwood, and it deserves careful consideration from the entire community. Thank you for your time.

Small actions scale up quickly through sharing and repetition

• Small actions add up quickly when many people participate (one post, one sign, one conversation, it all helps!)

• Social media spreads updates fast and keeps more people informed with minimal effort

• Signs create consistent visibility in everyday spaces and reach people who aren’t online

• Talking to neighbors builds trust and turns concern into shared community awareness

• Each method reinforces the others, increasing overall reach and impact

• These are low-effort actions individually, but powerful when done collectively

• Helps broaden participation without requiring formal organizing or large time commitments