2010-11-01 Community Planning and Development Commission Minutes

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CPDC Minutes of 11/1/2010 Ms. Virginia Adams of the Historic Commission reported the changes would have no adverse effect on any historic properties. There was no other public comment. DT moved the Board approve the draft decision for the alterations to the Scenic Road at 46 Walnut Street conditioned on the Town Engineer's memo of the 11/112010 and the Conservation Commission's Order of Conditions. NS seconded and the motion carried 4:0:0. Discussion: Presentation of proposal to redevelop One Jacob Way Reid Blute, Mark Mastroianni, and Mike Rosati of Pulte Homes were present to discuss conceptual plans for the redevelopment of the former Addison-Wesley property into occupant-owned flats and townhouses. The Town Planner emphasized that tonight the CPDC was not reviewing a formal application from Pulte Homes and provided some background. Town Staff had met with Mr. Blute and his associates for a preliminary Design Review Team (DRT) meeting on 10/14/2010 and the notes of that meeting had been distributed to the Board. When Pulte Homes's plans are more fully developed another DRT will be scheduled and based on feedback from that meeting Pulte would make a formal application for site plan review to the CPDC. The deadline for a project to have started under the 40R Gateway Smart Growth District (GSGD) is June 3, 2011. If a project has not started by that date, the town would have to return an approximately $300,000.00 incentive payment to the State. NS noted that even pulling a permit to 'demolish one of the existing structures would qualify as having started a project. Mr. Blute summarized the proposal. All units would be occupant-owned; no units would be rental. The northeast quadrant "A" would contain 16 townhouses (4 buildings of 4 units) with garages. The northwest quadrant "B" would contain two four-story buildings for a total of 86 senior housing units. The southwest quadrant "C" is the GSGD and would contain four four-story buildings of 50 units each, 200 units total (20% would be affordable units). The southeast quadrant "D" would contain three four- story buildings for a total of 122 senior housing units. Mr. Blute noted that approximately 50% of the parking spaces would be located under the buildings and emphasized that site would be very walkable with pedestrian walkways throughout the site. Construction would be phased over a number of years and driven by market conditions. Pulte's goal is to complete the 40R GSGD section first (quadrant "C"). Mr. Blute informed the Board that, to date, Pulte Homes' representatives had met twice with abutters, once with the Board of Selectmen, and once with Town Staff (pre-DRT). Mr. Mastroianni summarized what comes next: they expect to have plans ready for a formal application within 60 days. They hope to begin demolition late winter or early spring 2011 and break ground in spring 2011. The Board noted that the Smart Growth district requires a separate application. JW asked if the MEPA (Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act) certificate obtained based on the prior proposed project (National Development's) would be transferred to this project or would Pulte Homes ,have to go through the application process again. Mr. Blute said that issue was under review and added that an updated traffic study would be conducted and roadway and intersection changes would be based on it. Page 2 of 5