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Yarmouth selects BSC Group to assist Mattakee's utilization work; committee narrows three redevelopment concepts
Summary
Planning Board received an update that the Mattakee's Utilization Committee (MUC) selected BSC Group as consultant. Committee members discussed three broad scenarios — sports/event complex, mixed‑use with retail and housing, or mixed residential with community uses — and flagged sewers, parking and infrastructure as constraints.
The Planning Board on April 2 heard an update on the Mattakee's Utilization Committee (MUC): the committee selected BSC Group as its consultant and is developing three high‑level redevelopment concepts for the town‑owned property.
Peter Slovak, speaking for the committee discussion, described three concept areas that the MUC has been exploring: (1) a stand‑alone indoor/outdoor sports complex with event space; (2) a sports complex combined with mixed‑use development that could include retail and housing; and (3) mixed residential development with community uses such as gyms, child care, wellness space and shops. “Some of our ideas were, part of our ideas too was, you know, a walkable mixed use project that included a combination of office space, maybe having the hospital come on board,” Slovak said, summarizing a range of concepts the committee discussed.
Why it matters: the site is one of the town’s largest undeveloped parcels and any decision will affect housing capacity, town services and Route 28’s economic character. Several speakers emphasized that infrastructure — sewage capacity, parking and utility access — will be a primary determinant of what the property can support.
Numbers discussed by subcommittees varied. A housing subgroup presented three rough scenarios: an initial concept of about 6 acres producing roughly 62 units, a larger use of 12 acres yielding approximately 124–135 units, and a mixed‑use scenario with some units targeted as affordable. Committee members and consultants said these figures are preliminary and depend on final design, parking ratios and sewer capacity. The planning board noted that affordable‑housing calculations can affect the town’s Subsidized Housing Inventory differently depending on unit mix and program rules.
Bill Scott, assistant town administrator, and staff are pursuing potential sewer grant opportunities that could make larger‑scale residential or mixed‑use development feasible. Board members repeatedly noted that sewer availability and the cost of extending infrastructure are essential constraints that must be resolved before the town can assess a development scenario’s fiscal impact.
The MUC intends to present three refined concept plans and renderings. BSC Group will coordinate architectural and cost‑estimate work; the consultant team includes planning, landscape architecture and technical staff to prepare site concepts and probable‑cost estimates.
Ending: The committee’s work will continue through spring and summer, and the planning board encouraged MUC and staff to identify infrastructure funding options and to integrate the Mattakee’s concepts with Route 28 corridor planning.
