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Developer proposes rezoning 1 Research Drive for 372-bed multifamily project; offers 1.5-acre firehouse parcel
Summary
Ferris Development presented a concept to rezone 1 Research Drive from industrial to highway business to allow a 4-building multifamily project (roughly 372 beds) and offered to donate 1.5 acres for a satellite firehouse; the Select Board voted to refer the zoning petition to the Planning Board, with members pressing concerns about spot zoning, sewer capacity and affordable-unit commitments.
Ferris Development Group representatives presented a conceptual plan for 1 Research Drive on Sept. 9, seeking rezoning from General Industrial to Highway Business so the company can develop multifamily housing on the underused site and retain the existing office building.
George Bonon, assistant general counsel for Ferris Development, said the firm proposes four residential buildings of roughly four to five stories with a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, underground parking and no three-bedroom units to limit school impacts. "We're proposing 33 one-beds and 32 two-beds in each building," Bonon said, describing a total of about 372 beds across the project.
Bonon said Ferris would donate about 1.5 acres to the town for a satellite firehouse as part of the proposal and noted that the site currently has roughly 1,134 parking spaces that are underutilized. He also said the town has some remaining sewer allocation for residential development and that the developer prefers to move forward at the fall town meeting because sewer capacity might be constrained later.
Select Board members acknowledged the potential benefits — added tax base and a firehouse site — but repeatedly raised concerns about spot zoning given the parcel—s noncontiguous relationship to existing Highway Business districts, possible impacts on downtown retail patterns, and the portion of town sewer capacity the project would consume. Select Member Mark (surname not provided) called for Planning Board review to avoid creating zoning that benefits just one owner.
Town staff and Ferris agreed the next step was a formal referral. The Select Board voted to submit the requested zoning change to the Planning Board under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40A for public hearing and recommendation.
Next steps: The Planning Board will hold a public hearing and complete a recommendation before the article is scheduled for a town-meeting vote. Additional technical analyses such as traffic, school impact and sewer allocation studies were discussed as part of the future permitting process.
