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Design board grants preliminary approval for Lincoln Square townhomes with design conditions
Summary
The Somerville DRB gave preliminary approval to the Lincoln Square townhome (HPR) project, asking the developer to treat the product as single‑family attached for design standards (facade/color variation), preserve perimeter trees where feasible, and provide detailed landscape, pump‑station screening, and circulation drawings for final review.
The Somerville Design Review Board on April 23 granted preliminary approval to the Lincoln Square townhome development, subject to multiple design and landscape conditions aimed at improving neighborhood fit and pedestrian experience.
Jason Hutchinson, civil engineer for the project, told the board the product is an HPR (home‑product regime) comprised of townhomes sold without land transfer and that the revised layout added internal circulation to break up ponds and create more open space. “We’re a little bit over on the required active space,” Hutchinson said while describing trails, a playground, a grilling area and a fire pit added to the plan.
Board members and staff asked the applicant to preserve perimeter B and C grade trees where practical, to show clearer sidewalk connections to buildings, and to provide more detailed landscape plans and streetscape elevations so the board can judge the lived experience of the entrance road and internal drives. The board pressed for a designated dumpster location, photometrics at final, and clearer screening and siting for a small pump station so it does not occupy prime frontage or appear as a prominent object.
Design guidance included treating the project as single‑family attached for certain UDO design standards (particularly colors and facade variation), increasing variation in unit elevations and colors to avoid repetitive ‘flip‑book’ facades, and showing stoop/porch design options. The board also asked for a more accurate depiction of existing trees to confirm which will be saved and canopy extents.
A motion to grant preliminary approval subject to these conditions carried on a voice vote. The board directed the applicant to return with detailed landscape enlargements, more complete elevations and technical plans for utilities and the pump station at final review.
Next steps: applicant will provide detailed landscape and streetscape plans, dumpster location, photometrics and refined elevations for the board’s final review.
