Commission approves revised historic‑preservation redevelopment at 204 Flax Hill with drainage upgrades
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Summary
Planning staff and Workforce Partners described a modified special permit at 204 Flax Hill that preserves and rehabilitates a historic mansion, replaces two nonhistoric structures with a single cohesive building totaling 53 units, and doubles required onsite stormwater storage with detention systems; the commission approved the modification unanimously after noting conditions for construction coordination and DPW/WPCA requirements.
The Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously on April 8 to approve a modification to a previously granted special permit for 204 Flax Hill that preserves a historic mansion and replaces two nonhistoric rear structures with one new building, keeping the previously approved total of 53 dwelling units.
Attorney Emma Dignani and Doug Adams of Workforce Partners presented the change in layout and design, emphasizing rehabilitation of the mansion’s historic features and a redesigned rear building the applicants described as "more cohesive and aesthetically pleasing." Workforce Partners said the revised plan keeps the previously approved unit count, adds two workforce housing units, and increases on‑site parking to 54 spaces — more than required under the zoning adjustment for historic preservation.
Civil engineer Andy Sumalidis (LandTech) detailed stormwater upgrades: the project will remove roughly 1,000 square feet of impervious surface compared with existing conditions and install two substantial detention systems beneath the new parking area with high‑level overflow to a level spreader. He told the commission the proposal reduces peak runoff for storms up to 100‑year events in the most critical drainage areas by as much as 40–80 percent and provides nearly double the water‑quality storage volume required by regulation.
Neighbors from the adjacent 208 Flax Hill Condominium raised concerns about driveway easement use, traffic and safety, sewer capacity/backups on their property and construction impacts. The applicant acknowledged the long‑standing easement and offered to direct primary construction access to a new front driveway and to hold monthly coordination meetings with the condominium association during construction. Staff and the applicant said sewer connections will be made per WPCA recommendations, and some existing discharges to the problematic line will be removed as part of the redevelopment.
Commissioners and staff included conditions addressing construction phasing, WPCA/DPW technical sign‑offs (including flow monitoring if required), landscaping/screening adjacent to neighbors and monthly neighbor coordination; the commission approved the modified special permit on a unanimous roll call.
