By James Lomuscio
A site specific text amendment that would allow greater density to facilitate a proposed 32-unit, rental housing development at 1480 Post Road East, the former Roger’s Septic Tank property. raised concerns at Thursday night’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) meeting about its implications townwide.
Plans call for three buildings on the property, including two with one townhouse each. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed graphic
“Text amendments affect the entire town,” said Peter Gold, a Representative Town meeting (RTM) member speaking as a member of the public. “There are other possible sites that it may affect.
“You guys have an obligation to think of the town as a whole, not a specific site,” he added.
His concerns about text amendment 772, designed to increase density in inclusionary zone two- and multifamily lots, were shared by some P&Z members, as well as the public.
Presented by Christopher J. Smith, attorney for the developer 1480 PRE Associates, the text amendment’s first reading was followed by a site plan proposal for the same 1.625-acre property.
According to Smith, the proposal aims to convert the property deemed an eyesore by Cottage Lane neighbors into a three-building complex totaling 32 one- and two-bedroom units, 20% of them affordable.
The property is located in a general business district (GBD) and Residential A zone, and the project has the support of the Cottage Lane Homeowners Association.
The association’s attorney Kevin Gumper said the proposed development would facilitate “cleaning up what has been a bad situation for many years.”
His comment drew angry criticism from commissioner Chip Stephens who said, “A text amendment is not site specific.
“A text amendment is about the whole town,” Stephens said, adding that the applicant was “leading our constituents to believe it is only about this proposal.”
Commissioner Catherine Walsh pointed out that there are two other nearby properties, including A&J.’s Market at 1680 Post Road East, to which the higher density proposal could be applied.
“We could clarify it, so that it would not apply to those properties,” Smith said.
But the townwide ramifications of the proposed text amendment echoed throughout the night.
They included concerns about added stresses on the school, police and fire departments, as well as water resources.
At the same time, it was argued, such developments would not help the tax base as multifamily housing could supplant the commercial base along Post Road East.
Commissioner Daniele Dobin said she wanted to see the proposed development have a greater percentage of affordable units, 40% instead of 20%. Smith said it was not financially feasible.
“For me, the tradeoff is not 20%,” Dobin said.
Walsh said she was worried about the unintended consequences of the text amendment, such as high density developments putting added demands on the town’s water supply.
“This text amendment is opening up big, wide questions,” she said.
Smith is scheduled to come back to the commission on Thursday, June 13.
