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Zoning Board Approves 12‑Unit Crompton Street Development with Two Affordable Units
Summary
The Worcester Zoning Board of Appeals on July 14 approved variances allowing a four‑story, 12‑unit apartment building at 18–20 Crompton Street, including two inclusionary affordable units, with staff conditions and an added requirement for architectural details to better match the neighborhood.
The Worcester Zoning Board of Appeals on July 14 approved a variance package allowing a four‑story, 12‑unit apartment building at 18–20 Crompton Street, with two units set aside as affordable housing. The board voted unanimously to grant relief from minimum lot area and frontage requirements with conditions recommended by city staff and an added architectural condition requested by the board.
The applicant, represented by Rafael Hernandez of Acropolis Design, told the board the project will provide 12 one‑bedroom units (each generally under 750 square feet), with one parking space per unit (nine enclosed in a garage and three in a rear lot), covered bike storage for 12 bicycles, 20% EV parking, stormwater management measures and new perimeter fencing. Hernandez said the site is now largely paved and the project will reduce total pavement and add street‑facing landscaping.
City planning staff, represented by Michelle Smith, said the proposal seeks two variances: approximately 2,814 square feet of lot area relief (about 23% below the 11,900 square foot minimum for a multi‑family high rise in RG‑5) and about 5.52 feet of frontage relief from the 96‑foot requirement for that building type. Staff noted parking and detailed site‑plan issues will be reviewed by the Planning Board, and recommended conditions on stormwater, soils, fencing, bicycle parking, and shifting the structure to meet a 15‑foot setback.
During discussion board members expressed general support for the project’s design, its inclusion of two affordable units, and the site improvements. The board added a condition (labelled 1f in the motion) requiring additional architectural detail along the Crompton Street elevation — for example, bay windows or other features reminiscent of the neighborhood’s historic three‑deckers — to increase visual interest and help the building better match adjacent properties.
Motion and vote: The board approved the variances to allow the proposed multifamily building, adopting the staff recommendations on pages 3–4 of the staff memo, the applicant’s requested waivers, and the board‑added condition requiring enhanced architectural details. The motion was moved and seconded on the record and passed unanimously (George Cortez — yes; Eric Tacorno — yes; Eric Barton Hagen — yes; Shannon Campanello — yes).
The board’s approval is conditional: the applicant must address the staff‑recommended soils and stormwater details, fencing and bike rack specifics, and the Planning Board will review site plan elements such as curb configuration, drive aisles and parking assignment prior to issuance of permits. The applicant indicated willingness to meet the conditions and to shift the structure to the 15‑foot setback as requested by staff.
The board’s action allows the project to proceed to the Planning Board and to subsequent permitting steps; the decision will be filed with the city clerk and may be appealed under state law.
