ZBA Impressed With Falmouth Housing Corp. Application For Main And Scranton
The Falmouth Zoning Board of Appeals has voted to draft a positive decision in response to the Falmouth Housing Corporation’s request for a comprehensive permit to construct 48 affordable apartments for people ages 62 and older.
The unanimous vote of the four presiding ZBA members—chairman Terrence J. Hurrie, vice chairman Edwin P. Zylinski, clerk Robert B. Dugan and alternate Gerald Potamis—came during the board’s October 21 monthly meeting, which was the second public hearing held on the topic.
“I don’t think we’ve ever seen an application like this,” Mr. Dugan said. “It’s just the second meeting and they’ve worked everything out.”
At the first hearing in September, the board identified some areas for improvement on the development plans for the affordable rental units at 763 Main Street and 24 Scranton Avenue. The building would be mixed use, with the units being located above retail space on the first floor. All of the units would be deed-restricted and affordable for people 62 years and older with an income range between 30 and 60 percent of area median income (AMI).
The changes requested by the board after the first hearing were mostly minor; all requested changes were made by the applicant and presented at the second hearing by architect Cliff Boehmer and engineer Michael McGrath. Changes include better accessibility, such as larger bathrooms and lower, more-gradual staircases; the addition of a loading zone that can be used for drop-off and pick-up adjacent to disabled-accessible spaces at the front of the building; and architectural alterations on one portion of the building to make it more aesthetically pleasing.
The board had previously said it did not like the tower elements that framed the front of the building on either side, so rooftops were added and a large clock with two smaller windows on either side was introduced. Mr. Boehmer said the clock will measure five feet in diameter and be large enough to be seen from both Scranton and Main streets.
“For the most part, all the comments have been addressed,” said peer engineer Matt Cody of Beals+Thomas. “The minor outstanding things are nitty gritty technical things that can be addressed prior to any construction but wouldn’t prohibit the board from granting the permit at this time. There are no deal breakers there, nothing that can’t be addressed.”
The board was overall very satisfied with the project. Mr. Potamis noted that the board received no objections from the public. A positive referral from the select board said that projects such as this one—which increase the production of deed-restricted affordable housing—are a priority.
Falmouth Housing Corporation was repeatedly commended by both the ZBA and the select board for its efficiency and success at proposing, executing and further managing properties such as the one currently before them.
“This is exactly what everybody’s asking for,” Mr. Zylinski said of the project. “This fits the bill. It’s well drawn, it’s well presented, everything’s in line…this is a prime example of how easy the process can be if it’s well done, well thought through, and presented well.”
While there are still conditions to be worked out and it is pending review of other town boards, the project appears to be moving in a positive direction.
“We tried to tidy it all up for you so [everything previously discussed] was either changed, can be a condition, or addressed in waivers,” attorney Laura Moynihan said. “And the point being that some of this stuff is very, very technical. With these 40B projects, it’s very difficult to ask applicants to spend a lot of money at this stage on technical engineering drawings that would be required prior to a building permit. Usually in a case like this, if the board is inclined to grant the permit, then the developer can justify the investment in those additional professional fees. That’s why conditioning those technical matters prior to a building permit is so important for this project.”
The board is expected to review this decision at the next scheduled meeting on Thursday, November 4.