Tiverton Planning Board reviews 105‑unit age‑restricted manufactured‑home concept on Stafford/Glendale

The Tiverton Planning Board on May 20 heard a pre‑application concept from Tiverton Investments LLC for a proposed age‑restricted manufactured‑home community totaling 105 units on two parcels with access to Glendale Road. The applicant described a two‑phase project with 47 units in Phase 1 and 58 in Phase 2, and said the plan would come as a comprehensive permit and include deed‑restricted affordable units as required.

The applicant’s attorney, Matthew Landry, said the proposal was an alternative to an existing comprehensive permit application for a 55‑unit multifamily project already pending for the same site. He said manufactured homes can sometimes be counted as half a unit under state affordable‑housing rules and that an age‑restricted community typically reduces school‑system impacts and overall fiscal costs to the town. The applicant confirmed the project would rely on on‑site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) rather than municipal sewer and said they were pursuing options on municipal water service and had ordered hydrology work and OWTS test holes.

Board members asked about the project timeline, access, wetlands approvals and density calculations. Several members emphasized the need for more detailed engineering, hydrology and wetland data before preliminary review. The board and applicant discussed an existing deeded easement to Glendale and whether Glendale is a town‑accepted street; the applicant and other speakers said the property has deeded access and the town historically plows Glendale, but board members asked staff to validate the road and easement status.

Dozens of nearby residents spoke during the public comment period. Concerns included possible impacts to private wells, the local water table and surface drainage; proximity to wetlands; potential traffic congestion and diminished sight lines at the Glendale/Stafford entry; the number of physical structures (residents noted the plan increases the number of buildings versus the previous application); effects on wildlife, including bald eagle and osprey nesting; setbacks and tree clearing; septic loads and proximity to neighboring septic systems; emergency vehicle access and fire‑service capacity; and the potential for downstream drainage impacts across the Massachusetts border.

The board and applicant agreed the submission is at a conceptual stage and that more detailed hydrology, OWTS test hole, and traffic analysis will be required before preliminary plan review. The applicant said they anticipate returning within a few months once additional engineering and test‑hole work is complete.