Auburn planning board approves waiver for 53‑unit Auburn Town Center Apartments, continues final review to February

The Auburn Planning Board on a 6–1 vote approved a waiver that would allow a building frontage substantially larger than the 110‑foot form‑based‑code standard for the proposed 53‑unit Auburn Town Center Apartments at 15 Academy Street and agreed to continue final action on subdivision and site‑plan approvals to a date‑certain in February for a combined special‑exception review.

The waiver vote followed a lengthy public hearing, applicant presentation and board questions about on‑street parking, sight distance, deed restrictions and whether the project should be reviewed under the form‑based code’s special‑exception standards. Acting Chair (speaker 1) opened the hearing and staff summarized that the board had granted preliminary approval at its December meeting but that the building‑width waiver remained outstanding (staff noted the code’s 110‑foot maximum and the applicant’s larger proposed frontage).

The applicant, Cale Barasso of Goral Palmer, said the project is…