Developer requests remap of Cottage Street lots into Zone 3; planning opposition and neighborhood concerns leave outcome unclear

A property owner’s attorney requested that the municipal council consider remapping two parcels on Cottage Street and Van Brunt (Block 7903, Lots 15 and 49) from redevelopment Zone 4 to Zone 3 so the lots could be developed under rules applied to the nearby Homestead Place extension. Charles Harrington, representing the property owner, told the caucus that the change would allow larger development and invoke a 10% affordable-housing requirement for projects of 30 units or more.

Harrington acknowledged that the planning board did not recommend the change and said his client still wishes to pursue a smaller‑scale remapping limited to the specific lots. Council members pressed for maps, planning analysis and clarity about whether the change would be a “substantial change” to the pending redevelopment amendment, which could require restarting the ordinance’s reading process.

Council members also noted strong neighborhood opposition to related construction activity and said they had received complaints about truck noise, sidewalk shedding and other construction impacts tied to an adjacent project. Several council members and the developer’s attorney discussed community outreach efforts; the developer said it held multiple community meetings but planning staff said additional outreach and a planning recommendation are necessary to determine whether the proposed change should proceed.

No vote was taken. The council asked the developer and planning staff to meet with Councilman Solomon, planning director Tanya (last name not given in the transcript) and other staff before Wednesday’s meeting to clarify maps, affordable-housing calculations and whether the change would constitute a substantial revision to the redevelopment ordinance.