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Developer withdraws large Washington Street proposal after public opposition, will file again
Summary
After extensive public comment and board questioning, the applicant asked to withdraw without prejudice a proposal for a multi-story, 56-unit development at 1139 and 1151 Washington St.; the ZBA allowed the withdrawal.
The developer of a proposed multifamily project at 1139 and 1151 Washington Street withdrew the application without prejudice on Aug. 25 after a lengthy board hearing and substantial public commentary opposing the proposal.
Applicant Steven Young and counsel Tom Kavanaugh described revisions to the proposal, including a reduced unit count (applicant said he was considering 56 units rather than the original 59), added landscape screening along Jefferson Street, changes to balcony glazing to improve privacy, and a wetlands-restoration and stormwater-treatment plan that the team said would remove structures from the floodplain and restore riverfront habitat.
Despite those changes, dozens of residents and neighborhood leaders told the board the project's scale, density and traffic effects would be detrimental to abutters and the wider neighborhood. Speakers cited concerns about parking, unit count, the number of three-bedroom units, potential impacts on schools, and precedent for high-density relief near residential areas. Several citizens said they were prepared to litigate if the board approved the project.
The applicant's team described the site as uniquely constrained by wetlands, riverfront buffer and a 14-foot grade change, and said placing parking under the building would allow restoration of riverfront areas. Engineer Brad McKenzie and others explained proposed stormwater controls and native-vegetation restoration.
Board members debated the difficulty of finding a hardship tied to density and open-space calculations. Some members said the project's number of units (and corresponding open-space-per-unit calculations) remained a concern; others said prior town approvals set a precedent for similar densities near transit. After deliberation the applicant asked to withdraw the petition without prejudice; the board voted to allow withdrawal.
The applicant may return with a revised filing at a later date. The board recorded the withdrawal as without prejudice, meaning the developer can resubmit a modified proposal for future consideration.
