Committee recommends ZBA approve Habitat for Humanity Wood Road neighborhood plan

The Yarmouth Community Housing Committee voted June 8 to recommend that the Zoning Board of Appeals approve Habitat for Humanity’s Wood Road neighborhood application, which proposes multiple owner‑occupied units with a mix of one‑ to three‑bedroom homes and local preference provisions.

Staff and committee members reviewed the submitted plans and timeline. The project as discussed would include three houses along Wood Road, one unit fronting Route 28 (with special architectural treatment), and two units abutting the existing neighborhood; the committee said half the homes will be targeted to households at 60% of area median income (AMI) and half to 80% AMI, with a local preference on at least four units and a veteran preference on one unit.

Committee members noted program specifics common to Habitat projects: a sweat‑equity requirement for buyers (about 250 hours per working adult), a lottery process that matches households to units based on need and household size, and construction timing tied to sewer hookup expected in early 2028. Members also raised design and parking questions (visitor parking and driveway sizes) and discussed screening and buffering for abutting neighbors.

After discussion, a motion to recommend approval to the ZBA passed on a roll call vote with all recorded members voting in favor. Committee members said they would forward the committee’s recommendation and plans to the trust and the ZBA and encouraged a trust representative to confirm compliance with the trust’s agreement (the trust previously helped Habitat acquire the site). The committee chair noted she would send the ZBA agenda to members in case one of them could attend the ZBA hearing on June 25.

Next steps: the committee will transmit its recommendation and supporting documents to the ZBA; the ZBA will hold a public hearing on June 25 where abutters and the public may comment.