Dennis officials say 187 Depot testing set to start; Bob Crow Road plan faces legal questions

Town officials at the June 8 meeting reported progress and outstanding legal issues on two locally significant projects.

Paul reported that the town's RFP for 187 Depot Street (a 1.6-acre site proposed for 16 housing units) attracted two proposals and that the selected developer is preparing to move forward. He said a Phase I environmental test is scheduled to begin the next day because earlier reports were more than five years old and lenders require current assessments. "We're starting with the Phase 1. Hopefully, if that passes, we're done," Paul said.

On Bob Crow Road, Paul said town staff received a draft project plan from the consultant team but identified legal questions that must be resolved before presenting to the select board. Among the questions: whether the parcel (voted by town meeting for affordable housing on a 99-year lease) can host homeownership units if the land remains leased rather than sold or donated, and whether certain DPW operations can remain on the site if development proceeds. Paul said town counsel has been asked to review those questions before a formal select board submission.

The Trust recorded that regulatory agreements and state requirements (including lottery and tenant-selection processes for SHI-eligible units) remain points of negotiation for several projects. The meeting included public references to project timelines and next steps rather than final approvals.

Next steps: environmental testing results for 187 Depot Street, town counsel review of Bob Crow Road legal questions, and a follow-up report to the select board before any final proposal or vote.