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Planning board approves five‑unit townhouse at 7–9 Fern Street with recording condition
Summary
After hearing neighbor concerns about scale and privacy, the board approved a five‑unit townhouse development at 7–9 Fern Street in the T4.2B district, subject to recording final plans at the registry of deeds before permits are issued.
The Auburn Planning Board voted to approve a five‑unit townhouse subdivision proposed by Dargo Architectural LLC on behalf of Woo Lake Street Properties for 7 and 9 Fern Street.
Staff told the board the applicant had revised the design to meet the T4.2B form‑based code and noted retaining walls (1–5 ft), a six‑foot fence and landscaped buffers. Tom Perkins, the project representative, said the project would be sprinklered, would reuse utility access, and had transitioned from a condominium model to rental apartments for legal simplicity.
Neighbor Lin Civiel spoke against the project during public comment, saying it did not preserve neighborhood character and citing Auburn zoning sections 60‑1277 and 60‑1336. "I respectfully request that the planning board denies or require major modification of the 79 Fern Street proposal," Civiel said. Board members discussed setback measurements, the project's fit in the form‑based district and whether evidence of financial capacity was adequate; staff confirmed the plan met site‑plan and subdivision criteria. The board approved the application with the condition that final plans be recorded at the registry of deeds prior to issuance of building permits.
