Millis planning board hears updates on housing projects and settlement tied to 114 Union Street
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Summary
Board members reported several proposed housing projects that could add rental and ownership units and discussed a settlement tied to 114 Union Street that may fund PFAS work if the developer secures required permits.
Planning board members on Jan. 14 provided updates on multiple housing and redevelopment projects in Millis, reporting potential new units that could affect the town’s affordable-housing calculations and noting a settlement tied to a project at 114 Union Street.
A board member summarized several proposals: Stony Brook may seek to add roughly 100–160 units, likely using Chapter 40B; another project adjacent to the bowling alley is expected to include about 34 or more rental units; a downtown project (the former Bada Bings site) is advancing with the roof going on and would yield about 20 or more rental units; and a separate proposal off Village Street could produce roughly 16–20 single-family homes depending on whether it is filed as a conventional subdivision or a cluster development. The meeting also referenced a 98-unit rental project that planning staff said would count toward the town’s housing percentage if permits advance.
Board members discussed the town’s “safe harbor” status for affordable-housing percentage and said the town’s current calculated share stood at about 8.8%. Board members noted that projects not yet fully permitted may or may not be counted in official totals until permits are issued.
The town administrator reported that the town has reached a settlement with the project at 114 Union Street and that the developer plans to approach the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) soon to refile for a permit; the town administrator said the settlement funds would be directed to support PFAS treatment infrastructure but that details cannot be publicly stated until the developer secures the required permit. Planning board members emphasized that the 114 Union Street matter is principally a Zoning Board of Appeals issue and that any settlement would take effect after permit issuance.
Board members said they would monitor the permit progress for these projects; no planning-board approvals were issued for the projects at the Jan. 14 meeting beyond the informational updates.