If a proposed set of special permit applications recently filed with the town are approved by the Planning Board a section of the parking lot of the Burlington Marriott will be converted into a life science laboratory.
According to the application, the hotel property manager is working with Lincoln Property Company (LPC) to split up the property for the new venture due to a lack of use of one of the extra parking areas.
“Situated along the northeastern boundary of the premises is an existing surface parking lot which has historically provided surplus parking for hotel guests and staff but is infrequently used for those purposes,” the application cover letter states. “As such, the Property Owner and LPC have proposed a development concept that would entail the division of the expansive parcel into two lots which would be configured to support the existing hotel and a new, stand-alone life science building.”
According to the application, the “proposal has been carefully analyzed to ensure appropriate vehicular and pedestrian circulation is provided as well as sufficient parking allocated to each operation.”
The application further states the new facility would be engaged in the manufacturing of life science technologies and medicines for commercial production to the market, including the fields of pharmaceuticals, biomedical technologies and engineering, life systems technologies, environmental, and biomedical devices.
Attracting life science and medical device companies has been a big push in Burlington in the last few years. In 2019, Town Meeting approved a change in the Zoning Bylaw definitions and requirements listed under the Maximum Floor Area Ratio to make it easier for life science companies and their laboratories to locate in town and be approved under town guidelines. Burlington also garnered a Platinum rating for biotech from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council or MassBio. This designation makes it easier for a community and developers within that community to attract biotech companies.
The special permit applications are set to be taken up by the Planning Board on Thursday, June 2.
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