Developer seeks 40-townhouse project at 35 North Main; Planning Board continues hearing to June 4

GM Properties LLC asked the Charlton Planning Board on May 21 to open a public hearing for a site plan and special permit to build 40 townhouse-style residential units in eight buildings at 35 North Main Street and L Stevens Road.

The developer’s attorney, Joshua Lee Smith of the presenting law firm, and lead engineer James Taker described a roughly 6-acre site with an existing single-family home and a large wetland area the plan avoids. The applicant said the development would include two separate development areas connected by roads, about 48,000 square feet of building area across eight buildings, interior one-car garages for each unit plus exterior driveways, and about 10 “satellite” parking spaces for a total of 90 parking stalls to meet the town’s 2.25-spaces-per-unit requirement.

The Planning Board and residents focused on traffic and safety at the proposed access points, proximity to wetlands, dimensions of internal drive aisles, snow storage, fire-department access and visual buffering for adjacent homes. The board and peer reviewer noted several items that will require follow-up, and the applicant agreed to continue working with reviewers and town staff.

Why it matters: The project would add 40 housing units in Charlton’s village district and…