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Planning commission recommends against annexation and rezoning of 4.7 acres on Baconsbridge Road
Summary
The Somerville Planning Commission voted to send Treat and Woodman LLC’s petition to annex and rezone 4.7 acres at Baconsbridge Road to council with a recommendation that it not be approved after residents raised flooding, traffic and wetlands concerns; a separate street-name request (Judson Lane) was approved.
Somerville Planning Commission members on March 17 voted to send a petition by Treat and Woodman LLC to annex and rezone 4.7 acres at Baconsbridge Road (TMS 1520000227) to the Town Council with a recommendation that the council not approve the annexation and rezoning request.
The petition asks that land now zoned R-2 (single-family residential) in Dorchester County be annexed into the town and rezoned MFR (multifamily residential) to allow about 30 attached single‑family townhome units, an expansion the developer said is designed "specifically for Somerville." Todd Hicks, a developer with Anchor Land Group, told the commission the project would bring "attainable" housing and a product intended to echo downtown Somerville.
Residents and neighborhood representatives urged the commission to oppose the project. Caitlin Scott, a Crestwood resident, said traffic near the proposed site has already produced dangerous conditions at a blind curve and noted a recent fatal crash there, saying adding townhomes ‘‘is an incredibly dangerous proposition that will, without a doubt, result in traffic accidents and loss of life.’’ Multiple speakers cited recurring flooding around Sawmill Creek, the presence of wetlands on the parcel and longstanding drainage problems where their yards and streets remain saturated year-round. Amy Simmons said her front yard and nearby properties remain wet for long periods and asked for a detailed flood‑mitigation plan before any development proceeds.
Other public commenters raised tree‑loss and environmental concerns. Stacy Rudebush, whose comments were read into the record, said the parcel contains "over 30 large oak trees and native magnolias" visible from the road and argued removing them would increase flood risk and harm the Lowcountry ecosystem. Bert Fersner and Alice Johnson said the area’s green space contributes to the community’s quality of life and privacy and that further infill development is degrading that character.
Not all submissions opposed the proposal. Christopher McClure, representing Bike Walk Somerville, submitted written comments supporting the townhouse project on the grounds that placing denser housing near trails could reduce vehicle trips and, if paired with sidewalks and trail connections, help mitigate school‑hour congestion.
Commission discussion focused on traffic, stormwater and site constraints. Commissioners and staff noted the parcel’s approximately 4.7 acres includes wetlands; staff said removing about 1.5 acres of wetlands would leave roughly 3.1 buildable acres, which could raise the effective density to about 10 units per buildable acre if 30 units were proposed. A commissioner asked whether the town or Dorchester County would require a traffic impact analysis; planning staff said the proposal did not meet Somerville’s threshold for a town‑required traffic study but that Dorchester County could require an analysis because the proposed access would connect to a county road.
The commission took a motion to approve the annexation and rezoning, and after public debate the motion failed. The chair announced the commission would forward the petition to the Planning and Development Committee of Town Council and full council with a recommendation that the council not approve the annexation. Planning staff explained the committee would meet on April 7 and full council would take a first vote on April 10; staff also said the developer has not yet submitted final stormwater or detailed site plans and that design review and staff review would follow any annexation or rezoning approval.
Votes at a glance: The commission approved a street‑naming request to designate a new street as Judson Lane (motion and second recorded; vote recorded as ayes). The commission voted against the motion to approve Treat and Woodman LLC’s petition to annex and rezone TMS 1520000227; the motion to approve failed and the commission forwarded the petition to council with a recommendation that council not approve it.
What happens next: Planning staff told residents the annexation and rezoning matter will go to the Planning and Development Committee on April 7 and then to full council on April 10, when members of the public will again be able to comment. Staff provided a planning department contact number for follow‑up questions.
