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55 Lenox Street redevelopment draws split public reaction; developer presents stacked parking and a large stormwater system
Summary
The Planning Board heard a full public hearing on a special permit and site plan for 55 Lenox Street (96 units). The applicant proposed mechanical parking lifts to meet the 1.1‑space per unit requirement and an infiltration system the engineer described as exceeding MS4 standards; the board closed public comment and continued deliberation to Jan. 5.
The Planning Board on Dec. 15 heard a lengthy, often emotional public hearing on a proposal to redevelop 55 Lenox Street into a 96‑unit apartment building that would seek a zoning density bonus by exceeding stormwater and heat‑island standards.
Developer John Shelby told the board he revised the project to address parking concerns and now proposes a combination of surface spaces, stacked mechanical parking lifts and 106 total parking spaces to meet the Town's 1.1‑spaces‑per‑unit requirement. "Parking lifts are not experimental," Shelby said, listing multiple Massachusetts municipalities that have permitted similar systems and noting that the lifts are inspected under the state elevator regulations.
Civil engineer Scott Henderson described the stormwater approach in detail and said the design surpasses the bylaw standards the project must meet to earn the additional…
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