Agency discusses waterfront zoning tweaks needed for Tova Living third tower at Gillette Towers

The agency’s attorney reviewed proposed amendments to the waterfront redevelopment plan intended to clear a zoning obstacle for the third building in the Gillette Towers/Tova Living project. He told commissioners that a minimum lot size in the existing ordinance is too large for the proposed third building and that the amendment would change the lot‑size standard to allow the building to be developed.

The attorney said a late engineering recommendation requires the tower’s driveway to be a right‑in only and that other exits should be routed to Kennedy Drive. He also told commissioners that the planning board should request a traffic study for the Kennedy Drive intersection when the project reaches that board. "When it gets to the planning board, they should request a traffic study for the Kennedy Drive intersection," staff said during the attorney report.

Agency staff recommended that the agency forward the proposed amendments to the governing body for review and then to the planning board for site engineering review. The attorney emphasized that the redevelopment agreement and final planning approvals will follow the ordinance adoption process and that the designation of a conditional redeveloper does not replace required planning‑board and council approvals.

What happens next: the agency will forward the draft amendments to the council and planning board; planning‑board review will include the traffic study and engineering checks before the council considers any ordinance to adopt revised zoning standards.