Staff previews preliminary site plans for relocating employee housing to 159 Hunt Pond Road

Land Bank staff presented very preliminary site plans for relocating existing employee-housing units to 159 Hunt Pond Road, across from the community garden, and asked commissioners for early feedback.

Staff said the concept would move two units from 41 Jefferson to the 159 Hunt Pond Road site and described two general approaches: converting a one-story unit by pouring a full foundation to create separate upstairs and downstairs apartments, and making limited exterior changes to a more historically significant building to create a larger, three-bedroom family-style unit. "This is a very, very draft plan," a staff member said, emphasizing multiple outstanding design questions and the need for permitting and approvals tied to a heritage-protection line shown on the plan.

Staff noted potential changes such as adding a communal garage and the need to consider new curb cuts; commissioners and staff discussed whether permitting would delay resident moves and staff said they did not expect permitting to affect move dates because temporary storage or staging options exist. Several commissioners encouraged keeping the design modest and advised further vetting; staff said the drawings will appear again in the next meeting packet for more detailed review.

Next steps: staff will refine the drawings, return them in a future packet and bring forward permitting information and cost implications before asking the commission to vote on any relocation or construction.