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Large Lyman Street proposal advances but paused while board seeks written DPW, trail and subsidy commitments
Summary
Developers of 18 & 30 Lyman Street offered multiple technical responses and a proposal to raise affordable housing from 20% to 25 with a $750,000 Affordable Housing Trust subsidy; the board continued the hearing to July 16 to allow consolidated responses, DPW confirmation on sewer allocation and Affordable Housing Trust detail, and further review of BWALT trail conditions.
The Planning Board devoted substantial time on June 18 to a continued public hearing for a large mixed-use proposal at 18 & 30 Lyman Street (Calangelo Massachusetts Real Estate LLC). The applicant’s attorney, Mark Donahue, reported material progress with peer reviewers and town engineering and said the development team had incorporated the town engineer’s recommended changes into draft conditions.
A central change announced by the development team was a proposal to raise the project’s affordable housing component from 20% to 25 percent. Donahue said the Affordable Housing Trust Task Force had provided a memo and later, the Trust as a body voted to approve the subsidy approach; the applicant said the Affordable Housing Trust would provide a subsidy of $750,000 to subsidize additional affordable units, with a local preference for Westborough residents and a particular preference for veterans who qualify. The applicant said the Trust’s memo contemplates affordability at 80% AMI in perpetuity and that a binding subsidy agreement would be drafted to spell out conversion and long-term restrictions.
Board members pressed for written confirmation of a DPW agreement in principle on sewer allocation; the applicant said they had met with DPW and the town engineer and reached an agreement in principle but that a formal written agreement had not yet been drafted. Donahue said he would work with DPW and town counsel to produce a definitive document for the board’s review.
A second major focus was the proposed BWALT (BeeWall) trail alignment and construction conditions. The Active Transportation & Safety Committee sent a letter (unanimous vote) expressing concern that the trail as currently proposed may be substandard for a commuter trail and could limit future state or federal funding for upgrades. Transportation planner Vinod Kalikiri (BHP) explained lane-width and shoulder recommendations for heavy truck movements and urged 12-foot lanes with 1-foot shoulders to safely accommodate large delivery vehicles. Public comment from Ellen Gugel (chair of the Active Transportation & Safety Committee) urged the board to consider whether the town should instead reserve the option to seek grants and build a higher-standard trail later.
Because several revised conditions and memos had been circulated close to the meeting and outstanding items remained (DPW written confirmation, consolidated written responses to traffic and transportation letters, and Affordable Housing Trust documentation), the board voted to continue the hearing for 18 & 30 Lyman Street to July 16 and asked for a single comprehensive applicant response and DPW memo in advance of that meeting.
