[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6193573,"mediaKeyId","3866379-06374b2850f1d2298b5c95fefecb0df8","parentId",3866379,"title","Charles River Center and nonprofit developer outline 86-unit affordable housing plan with on-site services","audioSeconds",725,"startMs",5179000,"endMs",4454000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3866379-06374b2850f1d2298b5c95fefecb0df8&start=5179&end=4454","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3866379-06374b2850f1d2298b5c95fefecb0df8/thumbnail_5179000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6193573/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Charles-River-Center-and-nonprofit-developer-outline-86-unit-affordable-housing-plan-with-on-site-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193573-09b47a56d97229f91362aed68c74ade9/orig.mp4?Expires=1773585910&Signature=h3KFBHSzJoxAd5QCk2B47ebQBdFXasb5XoD~mks7WhM9UFLv3GnEenEq-xMT~MSO~a4lkoOmNJrpXufUWEh3yar1jOxYQ7QsfCDrWqof1Dke8Tyi-Ip~GKvl3S0jm2wBoJgt8fIj39FqTwgd09z106i26Rvzrr85SwoLFHnRL801ESiYpKBUAz4M7T-XwCE10fd-kfM87rWrixbCPLjawLJHfU~dLtsHF94Fg9xgrg2yOcbu2rH3JsB~lOaqB5t6O4MG2BWr1AuY~lBZpecsn0cuNTpZP3eLO9vw0KZKXLB-w4C-s0yjTB0TqrE8aaG2x2GaBoM839h9FUBObTZsTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Needham, MA","date","2025-06-18T13:23:13Z","article","The Planning Board received an informal presentation June 17 from Charles River Center (CRC) and the Planning Office for Urban Affairs on an 86-unit inclusive affordable housing project to be sited on roughly 3.5 acres adjacent to the CRC campus.

Ann Marie Bajra, president and CEO of Charles River Center, described the project as mixed supportive and community housing: “We are developing 86 affordable housing units…half of which will be designated to the general community and half of which will be designated to the Charles River Center clientele,” she said. The CRC team said on-site wraparound services for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities will be funded by state sources and the CRC’s program operations.

Phil Crane, project manager for the Planning Office for Urban Affairs, said the project recently received a $2.8 million Community Preservation Act commitment from the town and that the project team expects to seek a Project Eligibility letter from the state’s housing office before filing a comprehensive-permit application in the fall. Crane described a timeline that would target a funding application in the winter round and construction roughly a year after funding award.

Design details presented by project architect Jay Simanski showed a three-story main building with 61 parking spaces, three single-story six-unit “cluster” buildings intended to provide small-household communal living, and site plans that limit grading to preserve perimeter trees. Rebecca Bauschon, landscape architect, said the team will preserve existing perimeter vegetation where possible, remove invasive bittersweet and replant with native species, and explore sensory and healing gardens tied to CRC programming.

The project team also said all buildings are being designed to meet Passive House standards and include rooftop renewable energy. Parking was proposed at about 61 spaces, roughly one per apartment, and the team said it plans a site shuttle to connect residents to transit and services; the project team is discussing possible shared shuttle arrangements with other local providers.

Board members responded positively to the project presentation and asked for more technical submittals as the team proceeds through the state eligibility, design review, and comprehensive-permit processes. No formal application was submitted to the Planning Board on June 17; the presentation was informational and the project team said it will return with formal filings and state application materials later this year.

The board did not take an action June 17; this summary reflects the content of the informational presentation and the public Q&A at the June 17 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Board 06/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Charles River Center and the Planning Office for Urban Affairs presented an 86-unit affordable housing proposal June 17, combining half the units for CRC clients with state-funded wraparound services and half for the broader community.","taxTitle","Town of Needham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",54445,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6193576,"Planning board hears DPW plan to move fleet maintenance to Cogswell site; traffic and stormwater concerns raised",323,2772000,3095000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3866379-06374b2850f1d2298b5c95fefecb0df8&start=2772&end=3095","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3866379-06374b2850f1d2298b5c95fefecb0df8/thumbnail_2772000.jpg","/articles/6193576/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Planning-board-hears-DPW-plan-to-move-fleet-maintenance-to-Cogswell-site-traffic-and-stormwater-concerns-raised","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193576-38601c6b5d7f59ade43d9b2dcc8900b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773585910&Signature=QAiVBKzNXgxflqNIGiYj~Bjo86gC5UyhUUx718TJBFOzY1TE-246R6ujU83udBa18cnkedffJQyWqY3T1MDdwuuBrWtd2opDb0pOsH7rTF7Mh-vVQ0JBwNXAcK6sUNgsR-jgqpqXJUOQvBKqRhWFTU4VGZ2CjKGt4AxzEEEEv0ZAOBK9r6rrzw5il5TIY-d9eb97pCLmLwZbzdGduz9zn1Q14YU77Ygtu-8L7H2EsyM5StkDA5zhhjeGtFNRaU~iNHASJviy9jSdMpL8omOlw-nS3HYJBVq8wWBC3vJMJbLm2cioD4hfAY7zLSagJRqCTsmsXs6DiAToNhvBRM68Wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning Board continued a public hearing June 17 on a proposal to expand vehicle maintenance operations at the Cogswell site (RTS), including a new fleet-maintenance garage and changes to site circulation and access.

Project representatives told the board the expected net increase in daily trips to the site tied to fleet maintenance would be modest. “In our estimate we came up with 32 trips generated a day from the facility,” a traffic consultant said; the consultant described that figure as conservative and noted some repairs currently originate from the RTS and would shift location but not add comparable townwide vehicle trips. Planning staff and DPW representatives explained that larger DPW vehicles already use a longer, less-congested route through South Street and Central rather than the narrow Mark Tree Road; DPW said supervisors prefer the longer route for heavy equipment.

Neighbors and public speakers pressed the board on cumulative impacts along Central Avenue, noting other proposed and planned projects in the corridor (a daycare, proposed pickleball courts and fields, and other town uses). “There is a traffic issue here,” Holly Clark, a nearby resident and town meeting member, said. Clark recommended the board require conditions limiting truck movements during peak hours and closer study of impacts at the Charles River/ Central Avenue intersection, which she said previously operated at a failing level of service.

DPW staff responded that emergency and snow/ice operations require flexibility: “Limiting the hours that we have access to the facility... could be problematic for our ability to actually triage and repair equipment,” a DPW representative said, noting emergency repairs, night and early-morning work and snow responses occur outside standard business hours.

Stormwater and noise were discussed. Project engineers said they plan to design on-site stormwater management to retain and infiltrate approximately one inch of rainfall, and that the proposed new building will be air-conditioned (closing doors that are currently open at the existing facility) and will include noise attenuation measures such as a sound wall and generator mitigation. The board acknowledged the project will require further technical review and asked staff to confirm stormwater calculations and operational conditions in the draft decision.

The board opened for public comment and heard residents request pedestrian safety improvements at nearby intersections and possible time-of-day restrictions for non-emergency truck movement; the board closed the hearing at the meeting and will prepare conditions in the order for a future decision.

No final permit was issued June 17; the hearing continued with the board asking for additional technical clarifications and proposed enforceable conditions on operations and access.","The Planning Board continued the public hearing on the Cogswell (RTS) expansion for DPW fleet maintenance, where applicants said the project would add about 32 daily trips and that routes used by larger vehicles would continue to favor a longer, less-congested path; neighbors asked for restrictions and mitigation on timing, access, and lighting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6193578,"Planning board agrees to draft decision on minor traffic-condition amendments for Boston Children’s Hospital project",627,806000,1433000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3866379-06374b2850f1d2298b5c95fefecb0df8&start=806&end=1433","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3866379-06374b2850f1d2298b5c95fefecb0df8/thumbnail_806000.jpg","/articles/6193578/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Planning-board-agrees-to-draft-decision-on-minor-traffic-condition-amendments-for-Boston-Childrens-Hospital-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193578-a5581ad71805472d7d1ff758d094bfc6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773585910&Signature=nFGQUAU4E7yXIvPr1Z4uTI6S7aCCPEcgre65VYSee7Pu25pqAQQr-oSop3tKldqI9VggcjV-cgDJW1IVFIfdL8qjs~khUQ1jCW5QBWKMvFa-KsdAQLVCYq86sSdaW6eIHNL47iLLbqh5mZCSXmiUJ8Loynjkh9pRgDT7aUuSo-cAwar361~msSh9KbZ3~PMSsSaCq7r8m02k~VwrnFGgOhTOxaI2KsBQGyspVtvPwjFhTKo4qBvLsX2MkL9nzDRzYa9trgANpygIKQgaYFBYhaa454fCDr8ZcLDMLICqWPkqpskwqXlZR0ISYV1EFwm9e0tokCmmG4pvJ-SWvTxL4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Needham Planning Board closed a public hearing June 17 and authorized staff to prepare a decision to amend three traffic-related conditions in the special permit for the Boston Children’s Hospital project at 360 First Avenue.

The changes the hospital requested would allow the town to use $30,000 the hospital already paid for traffic improvements at the Kendrick Street/Third Avenue intersection at other nearby locations, clarify a $25,000 obligation to fund a signal-warrant study and roadway safety audit, and move required traffic monitoring from one year after certificate of occupancy to three years after occupancy.

Tim Sullivan, attorney for Boston Children’s Hospital, outlined the requested changes and the reasons for them. “We were obligated to pay $30,000 to the town to use for construction of improvements at Third Avenue and Kendrick Street,” Sullivan said. He told the board the Commonwealth would not permit the originally anticipated improvements at Third and Kendrick, and the hospital asked that the payment be usable elsewhere. Sullivan also said the hospital asked that operational traffic monitoring “commence three years after occupancy so that the first monitoring conducted is reflective of a fully operational facility.” On condition 3.5 — the signal warrant analysis and roadway safety audit — Sullivan said the hospital intends to fund that work and estimated the cost at $25,000.

Board members asked clarifying questions about timing and oversight. Adam, a planning board member, called the requested changes “minor” and said they appeared to be factual cleanups to the existing decision. Eric asked whether three years after the certificate of occupancy would allow enough time for the facility to reach full operations; Sullivan and Lee (staff) said the project team expects about six months of pre‑opening activity followed by a ramp-up period and that three years from the CFO would capture operations that reflect expected traffic.

Town departments had no outstanding objections. Lee read responses from police, public health, engineering and the fire chief, noting none had new comments. With no public speakers raising new issues, the board voted to close the hearing and asked staff to prepare a draft decision to grant the requested amendments for signature and vote at the next meeting.

The board made no final change to the decision text at the June 17 meeting; it closed the public hearing and will consider the exact amended language at a future meeting.

A follow-up vote to adopt the final amended decision will be required for the changes to take effect.","The Needham Planning Board closed a public hearing and authorized staff to prepare a decision to amend three traffic-related conditions in the Children’s Hospital special permit, allowing the town to use previously committed funds at alternate locations and postponing traffic monitoring to three years after occupancy.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6193567,"Beth Israel presents revised Oak Street lot with five‑foot planting strip; board asks for planting details",324,4175000,4499000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3866379-06374b2850f1d2298b5c95fefecb0df8&start=4175&end=4499","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3866379-06374b2850f1d2298b5c95fefecb0df8/thumbnail_4175000.jpg","/articles/6193567/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Beth-Israel-presents-revised-Oak-Street-lot-with-fivefoot-planting-strip-board-asks-for-planting-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193567-13f4134c849741e36d57ecedef7cff8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773585910&Signature=Jmh4KDTSnOtlDgIc1FlgzLAdgOVtEtFEXjedVcQhqDQARKBcypD6Yzc~mV7CnGjz3Od-nNOcP8bcQxz0nXR~TDH~xFMDKRR2QTEpSFy1ZqfA4dwtSH-UDVhTO239~bDrvgXKvR1MxZff8ilJvOYDCgDz2QiNkQYJLvDf8KU-P-c-J2wYzUEQ2jQRU5xX9KxCkDt4gGvPNd11EqLHD5ELUY0TB5r1hBLH2P90VsVPryc857l2iLVTrOLpmhSRCQ-jg~7YKe9obCbNHJ5XhjqYc~1Yz7wpXjNI4EO6meLX1HHfyd6c-TGFfOkogRQ1HgQvh0uiNbEjVc9eloZY6AvLEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Beth Israel Deaconess representatives presented a revised Oak Street parking-lot layout June 17 that maintains the proposed 52 parking spaces while adding a five-foot vegetative buffer along Oak Street.

Evan Huber, speaking for the hospital team, said reconfiguring some stall lengths and the drive aisle allowed the team to provide “a 5-foot vegetative space for a 5-foot vegetative border on the Oak Street side” while keeping the target 52 spaces. Hospital counsel and consultants said the drive aisle will remain at least 19 feet wide and that some spaces were shortened by a foot to preserve overall capacity.

Board members welcomed the change but asked for more detail on planting palette and long-term maintenance. “Just get if we could get more information on the types of plantings, that that would be there year round, right, not just seasonal,” Natasha said. The hospital representatives agreed to supply evergreen selections (for year‑round screening) and planting specifications for the formal site-plan review filing.

Staff confirmed the project will require site-plan review because it creates more than 25 parking spaces; the hospital said it will submit a formal application and plant-specifications as part of that package. No vote was taken June 17; the board indicated the revised layout is an improvement but asked the hospital to ensure the buffer will provide effective screening and a planting plan that will be maintained long term.

The board also discussed the condition of existing landscape strips along Chestnut Street on the hospital campus and suggested the hospital consider broader campus plantings while the Oak Street improvements are designed.","Beth Israel presented a revised parking layout for a proposed 52-space lot on Oak Street, adding a five-foot vegetative buffer along Oak; the Planning Board asked the hospital for planting species and specifications and confirmed the project will proceed through formal site-plan review.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6193572,"Planning board members volunteer working groups to study downtown zoning and unlock key parcels",1069,1561000,2630000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3866379-06374b2850f1d2298b5c95fefecb0df8&start=1561&end=2630","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3866379-06374b2850f1d2298b5c95fefecb0df8/thumbnail_1561000.jpg","/articles/6193572/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Planning-board-members-volunteer-working-groups-to-study-downtown-zoning-and-unlock-key-parcels","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193572-65d321b01b989d38b81dc1a849bf65d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1773585910&Signature=ghxLFP4-Gmy5UasxEoRUSUkesJoowpgAINfOJKMSjNRBaKO758MoFID9ADcLeY1pJwKIjgswa8fexa041gjOtueBanrWcQrIBxoTCVy8sFdfIlTcdOH4P5LTNfhs2dnh1DM7je9UTJf3Mon88xs5Ltjz4ektDMBsTa1c6vvhieq2Zdw7hj2Gu629eanez6Tungq6X2~71JxtzStfz7StfmGnhjSkdYCRe7q~UoW816kHr7d0eoClfSV1~Txfbd~~wHO15BcoiHG4wsy5sGgQCdP9aPMD7fli4ci7DRRQ2BigE1wfoF7agAJuUhhuN9KL9Y8GV5zC2O8jwx5zD8Fyow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Needham Planning Board spent substantial time June 17 discussing its work plan and how to accelerate planning work for the town center and other priority items.

Board members reviewed an updated goals spreadsheet and ongoing projects (Large House Review Committee, MBTA Communities compliance, Stephen Palmer RFP work). Members expressed concern that staffing capacity in the planning office limits parallel projects and that the board should identify “low-hanging fruit” while advancing larger master-planning work.

Several members volunteered to lead narrower working efforts. Eric and another board member agreed to focus on Great Plain Avenue and related center-of-town zoning near the 888 Great Plain parcel; Justin and another member volunteered to focus on “unlocking” the Charles River corridor parcels. Members said they will draft a scoped framework — including timeline, expected products, and public engagement steps — and return the plan to the full board for discussion. “If we miss the market we're gonna miss the market by years,” one board member said, urging faster action; others cautioned that any zoning changes that extend into residential neighborhoods would require extensive public process and could prolong outcomes.

Board members also discussed sequencing: pursue a limited set of regulatory or design changes that could be implemented sooner, and run larger master-planning efforts in parallel only where staffing and funding allow. The board asked volunteers to bring back a recommended process, a calendar of steps and suggested participants (town departments, finance committee, community representatives) for review at a subsequent meeting.

The board did not adopt a formal policy at the June 17 meeting; members agreed on the scope of volunteer work and requested staff support and a plan to return to the board for approval of any formal rezoning or design guideline proposals.","At their June 17 meeting the Planning Board discussed prioritizing goals and forming small working groups to accelerate center-of-town planning and zoning changes; members agreed to task teams to advance proposals for the Great Plain/888 parcel and for a Charles River corridor change.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Charles River Center and nonprofit developer outline 86-unit affordable housing plan with on-site services

Planning board hears DPW plan to move fleet maintenance to Cogswell site; traffic and stormwater concerns raised

Planning board agrees to draft decision on minor traffic-condition amendments for Boston Children’s Hospital project

Beth Israel presents revised Oak Street lot with five‑foot planting strip; board asks for planting details

Planning board members volunteer working groups to study downtown zoning and unlock key parcels