Hollywood East - More Details

In order to be in position to vote at its September 15th meeting as to whether or not to recommend the Movie and Entertainment Production Overlay District, or MEPOD to the October Town Meeting, The Plymouth Planning Board is continuing its marathon review process. Not only is time short, but due to the fact that Plymouth Rock Studio is seeking an "As-of-Right" approval rather than the more restrictive Special permit, there is added pressure on the developer to provide detailed plans for the project. To date, the review process has already produced a much more clear picture of what is planned for the current site of the Waverly Oaks Golf course.

Plymouth Rock Studios will be a very substantial development for Plymouth consisting of 2 million square feet of space configured in a variety of structures. With an estimated cost of $422 million, the complex will include a dozen sound stages, a back lot, an office building and a 300 room hotel. The site will also include 125 units of housing consisting of ten single family homes that will be for sale, plus 100 apartment units and fifteen condos that will be rentals. The sound stages are expected to be limited to 65 feet in height, except for one that will be allowed to 75 feet. The other buildings are expected to have a 45 foot height limit.

As expected, an investment of this magnitude has garnered a lot of support from Town officials and voters. While it is pointed out that 88% of those voting in the spring election (approximately 25% of the registered voters) voted yes on a non-binding referendum supporting a movie studio for Plymouth. At that time, however, the Waverly Oaks site was not identified. The expectation of up to 1,000 construction jobs followed by as many as 2,000 full-time jobs with an average annual salary of $70,000, would provide significant stimulus to the local economy.

The only fly in the ointment is whether or not a project of this size and scope can be situated in the quiet residential area along Long Pond Road. The developers are quick to reassure residents that the quality of life in the area will not be compromised by the studio. Many of the local residents are not so sure. One of the major concerns would be the traffic, estimated at 9,000 auto trips per day. The proposed solution, a new access road that would parallel Rte 3, south to Clark Road, would seemingly be a solution to the traffic concerns. The one caveat is whether or not the traffic engineers can sort out the stretch of Clark Road from Rte 3, west to the intersection of Long Pond Road. This area is already congested at the busy times of the day.

Plymouth Rock Studios is seeking the "As-of-Right" permit to protect its significant investment, but many are concerned that such an approval gives them a Carte Blanche to develop the site. A Special permit approval would provide more safeguards to the Town during the development process, but that is not what PRS is seeking. Final approval, to a great extent, depends upon whether Town Meeting members are satisfied with the detailed scope of the project.