Norwood Planning Board Continues McGovern Kia Hearing to Late April

NORWOOD — March 27, 2026 — Norwood Planning Board continues McGovern Kia dealership hearing while approving a six-unit condo conversion near the town library. The board voted unanimously March 27 to push the public hearing on a proposed 24,800-square-foot Kia dealership at 1325-1369 Boston Providence Turnpike — consolidating the former Sky Restaurant, Furlongs Candies, and a Sumner Street residence across 4.6 acres — to April 27, after engineer Matt Smith of Norwood Engineering submitted revised plans the same day. Matt McGovern, owner of McGovern Auto Group, said the project would generate 53 full-time jobs and that his company has outgrown its existing Norwood Kia store at 105 Boston Providence Highway. Attorney Brian Almeida said a previous mixed-use approval for the site has expired and that current zoning no longer allows multifamily use. Public commenters raised concerns about delivery truck traffic near the May Institute special education facility on Sumner Street and about flooding in abutting basements during major storms. Separately, the board voted 5-0 to approve a site plan for attorney James Murphy's client Medfield Holdings to convert a circa-1895 house at 21 Walpole Street into six for-sale condominiums, rejecting the applicant's request to substitute a civil engineer's sign-off for the required certified landscape architect certification.