Needham — Charles River Heights LLC and partner organizations presented a comprehensive‑permit (Chapter 40B) application on Dec. 10 for a 3.5‑acre project at 59 East Militia Heights that would create 86 affordable residential units, including supportive units serving people with autism and intellectual disabilities under Charles River Center staffing.

Philip Crane, the project manager, described a four‑building plan with three one‑story buildings containing six apartments each and a three‑story building with 68 units (mix of studios, one‑ and two‑bedrooms). The proposal lists a total of 61 parking spaces, with most located behind the three‑story structure; Charles River Center will also provide shuttle services and property management will promote bicycle storage and MBTA reduced‑fare signups.

Applicants submitted Phase I and Phase II environmental reports by McPhail that found no recognized environmental conditions after sampling 24 soil borings and concluding no remaining underground heating‑oil tanks. The stormwater consultant (VHB) presented a stormwater management plan that models existing and proposed conditions for the 2‑, 10‑, 25‑ and 100‑year storms, asserts lower post‑construction runoff rates than current conditions, and treats 1.5 inches of runoff (following the town’s more stringent standard) with modelled phosphorus removal of about 97% and total suspended solids removal of 80–90%.

Traffic analysis indicated relatively low new peak‑hour trips (worst case under 40 trips; in some modeling scenarios approximately 16 new peak‑hour trips dispersed across the nearby street network) and found the increases below MassDOT signal‑warrant thresholds; the applicant expects some residents will not own cars and that Charles River Center shuttle service will reduce car reliance.

The applicants requested a package of waivers typically associated with a comprehensive permit, including multifamily use in a single‑residence A district, reduced front/rear/side setbacks (front reduced to 8 feet in the waiver chart), a half‑story height waiver (to allow a 3rd story), and several technical waivers related to landscaping, tree placement, retaining walls and stormwater administrative sequencing.

Town letters read into the record included a design review‑board memo supporting the project design, and a Department of Engineering letter (hot‑off‑the‑press) stating the stormwater plan meets state and town standards subject to standard public‑awareness and operation‑and‑maintenance commitments; the historical commission requested a commemorative plaque acknowledging prior Cold War‑era military housing on the site.

Several neighbors who live at the base of North Hill raised questions about groundwater, basement flooding, snowmelt and the subsurface fate of infiltrated water. Speakers asked whether increased infiltration could raise groundwater levels affecting neighborhoods downhill and requested an independent peer review and additional detail on assumptions (treatment of future climate change, rapid thaw events, seasonal high groundwater elevation and snow‑storage/melt handling). The applicant and project engineer agreed to meet offline with residents and the town engineer to review technical details and to provide an updated operating budget showing long‑term commitments for road maintenance and snow removal.

Neighbors also raised concerns about tree removal, habitat loss and visual impact from a three‑story building close to abutters; applicants said they expanded walking‑trail connectivity, proposed screening and evergreen plantings, and offered to provide sectional drawings, abutter‑distance measurements and a balloon/stake visual exercise to help neighbors assess view impacts.

Supporters from Charles River Center and its board described the nonprofit’s mission and urged the ZBA to consider the project’s benefits in providing affordable and supportive housing for residents who otherwise lack local options.

After discussion the board voted to continue the hearing to Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. to allow the applicant to supply clarifying materials (an updated budget, additional stormwater details, abutter distances/visual studies and any required documentation for waivers).

What’s next: Applicant to meet with residents and the town engineer, provide requested material to the board docket, and return Jan. 15 for continued review.