Planning board approves ZOM Living’s 325-unit South Shore Plaza apartments with conditions

The Braintree Planning Board voted 5-0 on May 13 to approve ZOM Living’s special-permit application to build 325 apartments at South Shore Plaza, a $140 million development the applicant says will include extensive open space, landscaping and on-site amenities.

The approval followed hours of presentation, peer review and public comment and includes more than 60 draft conditions covering construction logistics, tree protection, traffic monitoring and payments to town services. Frank Marinelli, representing ZOM Living, told the board the project would deliver “325 beautifully designed apartment homes with substantial open space” and that the development would “create over $500,000 in new net real estate tax revenue each year.”

Town staff and independent peer reviewers recommended approval with conditions, citing compliance with the multi-use planned unit development (MUPUD) concept plan the Town Council approved in November 2024. Assistant Director Connor Murphy summarized department and peer-review findings for the board, noting traffic, stormwater, sewer and public-safety mitigation measures that were negotiated since the March hearing.

Key details and conditions

- Size and layout: One four-story building with 325 one- and two-bedroom units; the applicant says the plan provides about 47% open space and 52.1% lot coverage where 70% is permitted. The applicant said there are no three-bedroom units in this project. - Landscaping and buffers: ZOM agreed to plant arborvitae and augment screening between the residential building and the Flaherty School; the applicant filed a tree protection plan that shows removal of 303 trees and planting of 396 new trees (a net gain of 93). The applicant said it will construct a dense, 10-foot-high vegetated berm on the easterly boundary early in construction to accelerate screening growth. - Traffic and monitoring: Peer reviewer MDM recommended a traffic monitoring and mitigation program, an expanded road safety-audit program at nearby intersections and the addition of safety cameras. ZOM agreed to audits and monitoring; the planning department included audit and monitoring requirements in the draft conditions. - Public-safety and infrastructure mitigation: The applicant agreed to fund equipment and improvements recommended by the police and fire chiefs, including funding for a mobile command relay, EV fire-suppression blankets and license-plate-reader cameras. The draft conditions also require the applicant to contribute roughly $290,000 toward pump and grinder upgrades at the Common Street sewer pump station and to follow DPW requirements for water delivery if on-site improvements are needed. - Affordable housing and school mitigation: Conditions reflect the town’s affordable-housing requirement and a school mitigation contribution of $204,920 that staff and the peer reviewer calculated. - Shuttle and transit: The decision’s draft conditions require ZOM to operate a private shuttle and to perform an annual tenant survey; the shuttle may be discontinued if surveys show low ridership after an initial stabilization period.

Public comment and board questions

The public hearing drew dozens of speakers. Some neighbors raised concerns about traffic, construction fencing and potential impacts on Flaherty Elementary School and the dam/Old Quincy Reservoir. Jennifer Wadlins and Liz Page, speaking for nearby residents, requested a larger vegetated buffer, stricter controls on access between the development and Lakeside Drive, additional construction-phase rodent controls and clarification of rooftop uses. Justine Huang and other neighbors said they were worried about safety and circulation near the school pickup area.

Other residents and business groups urged approval, citing the town’s fiscal needs and the potential to revitalize the plaza. Logan Brown, a Braintree resident, said the town must grow its tax base to maintain services; others noted the project’s projected net tax revenue and upfront permit fees.

Board action

After closing public comment, the board voted to approve the project and the draft conditions. The motion for a positive endorsement of Planning Board File 25-02 was made by Member McCamey, seconded by Member Connolly and passed 5-0.

Related Simon Property request

Earlier in the meeting the board approved a related minor modification requested by Simon Property Group (Planning Board File 803) to remove 7 acres from the South Shore Plaza parcel, with the vote conditioned on execution and board review of an easement agreement addressing shared access, landscaping maintenance and coordination on post-construction traffic monitoring and mitigation. Tim Fox of Simon told the board an easement agreement was being negotiated and that Simon is willing to cooperate on reasonable mitigation such as lighting, walkway improvements and traffic-calming as needed. The motion to approve the minor modification, subject to the easement agreement and consistency with the ZOM decision, was moved by Member Kent, seconded by Member Mikami and approved by voice vote.

What happens next

The project will enter the construction-permitting phase after the final decision is filed and required agreements are recorded. Conditions include a pre-construction coordination meeting with town departments and detailed construction management measures; the planning staff also recommended a community meeting once the construction logistics plan is finalized so neighbors can review timing, fencing and circulation plans.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke at the May 13 meeting and are listed in the article’s speaker section. The planning board’s written decision will list the final conditions and any required recorded easements.

Ending note

Board members and town staff said they would monitor compliance with the decision’s conditions throughout construction and after occupancy to ensure mitigation measures—traffic audits, landscaping, and public-safety equipment—are implemented as agreed.