Swampscott Elm Place Development Set For Final ZBA Vote

Swampscott MA

25 May, 2022

5:08 PM

Description

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — The proposed 114-unit Elm Place affordable housing building appears set for approval with conditions from the Swampscott Zoning Board of Appeals at a meeting set for June 13. The ZBA was scheduled to meet on Wednesday after members signaled tentative approval for the long-debated project at the final full public forum on May 9, but that meeting was canceled and rescheduled for June 13 when a final decision is required inside of the 180-day public hearing window. "We're pleased to have satisfied the town's peer review experts and to have arrived at the brink of a final decision," WinnDevelopment spokesman Ed Cafasso said in a statement to Patch. "We appreciate the patient, thoughtful consideration the ZBA has shown during this process. The delay in final approval does not change the fact that Elm Place is a safe, well-designed apartment community that will bring much-needed, transit-oriented, mixed-income housing to Swampscott. "The ZBA now has a unique opportunity to smartly advance the town's master planning and affordable housing goals. We look forward to a formal vote that moves this project forward at the Board's next meeting." WinnDevelopment made additional changes at the May 9 public hearing that appeared might have swayed some Board members who had lingering reservations about the project, but who also understand the limited means with which the ZBA could deny the comprehensive permit given the town's need for affordable housing. The developer reduced the size of the complex from 120 units — the original proposal was 128 units — to 114 to allow for a wider entrance to the Swampscott Rail Trail through a proposed underpass under the MBTA tracks. It also added more parking spaces to allow for 131 for the 114 units — a ratio of 1.15 spots per unit that was more in line with original town requests. Forty-two percent of the units will be rented at "affordable" market rates with all 114 units counting toward the town's inventory of affordable housing. At 3.7 percent prior to the project, the town is below the state's 10 percent threshold which allows for developers to avoid many local zoning regulations to achieve the "critical town need" of additional public housing. "Abutters, you are going to feel the impact (of Elm Place) more than anyone," ZBA Chair Marc Kornitsky allowed at the May 9 hearing. "I have looked to do what I can to protect your interests given the limited jurisdiction that I have." Kornitsky said a ZBA "no" vote would likely be overturned on an appeal to the state given WinnDevelopment's meeting all peer review criteria and that the concessions gained from the extended hearing process could then be lost. While ZBA members are entitled to change their minds at the official vote on June 13, at least three others in addition to Kornitsky signaled a strong inclination to support the project. "It is far from perfect — all 40Bs are far from perfect — but what we have is as good as the Board is going to do," Kornitsky determined. "It's been a long, arduous process. "I am relieved that we're getting very close to being finished." (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)