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Planning board approves conversion of 297 University Ave garages into four townhouses
Summary
The Lowell Planning Board on May 18 approved a special permit and site plan to convert an eight-bay commercial garage at 297 University Ave into four townhouse-style residential units, subject to engineering sign-off, a final landscaping plan and screening along the westerly boundary.
The Lowell Planning Board approved a special permit and site plan review on May 18 to allow Cassandian Enterprise Inc. to convert an eight-bay commercial garage at 297 University Ave into four townhouse-style residential units.
Attorney John Geary, representing the applicant, told the board the two parcels together total about 11,778 sq ft and argued the change from storage/garage bays to residential use is "less detrimental to the neighborhood" and aligns with the City of Lowell’s housing goals. "We are replacing eight commercial garage bays ... with four residential units," Geary said during the presentation.
The proposal includes a rear entrance drive that provides parking for each unit, subsurface drainage and landscaping. Matt Hammer of LandPlex described unit floor plans and said the redevelopment will replace a wide non‑conforming curb cut with a compliant curb and reduce vehicles backing onto University Avenue.
Board members focused on site circulation, curb/sidewalk reconstruction, landscaping and screening. Members sought clarity about snow storage, tree removal, and the extent of new plantings; the applicant confirmed four 2‑inch diameter shade trees and landscaping beds across the front of each unit, and said the city’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) would select final species at planting.
Neighbors’ concerns about privacy and safety at the rear property line led the applicant to propose a 6‑ft high white vinyl fence along the northerly/westerly lot line and to retain an existing chain‑link fence where serviceable. The board also requested small architectural revisions (cornice returns on certain overhangs) and a full‑size plan submission.
Approval was conditioned on final engineering plan approval by the city engineer, DPD sign‑off on the final landscaping plan (including the four shade trees and four‑foot planting strips with shrubs/ornamental grasses/perennials), and coordination with the engineering department on trenching/roadway milling or patching as required by staff. The motion to approve the special permit and the site plan passed with members voting in favor and no recorded opposition.
The applicant said it would submit revised plans to satisfy the engineering conditions and return to DPD with final screening details as requested. The board’s approval allows the project to proceed to the building‑permit phase subject to the listed conditions.
