Board schedules site visit to 35 Pro Road as consultants study feasibility for affordable housing and wastewater recharge

Planning staff told the board that consultants from Ty and Bond will conduct a site visit to 35 Pro Road and analyze the financial and technical feasibility of using the parcel for affordable or workforce housing, town storage co-location and wastewater recharge.

Staff said the select board previously targeted the parcel for affordable housing and that the town received a grant from a housing partnership to support consultant work. The consultants will assess costs — staff cited a rough estimate that building to rehouse occupants could cost about $4,000,000 — examine water-table constraints for potential recharge areas, and recommend whether the town should pursue a housing RFP. Staff said they plan public outreach in January and February and expect a feasibility study around March or April to inform next steps.

Board members discussed technical constraints, including Zone 2 recharge boundaries, proximity to Kelly's Bay and Bass River, and the town’s broader $246,000,000 wastewater project. Members debated whether the town should seek recharge locations on town land or pursue intermunicipal partnerships; one member said earlier DHY (Dennis-Harwich-Yarmouth) partnership talks had broken down and that lost partnership savings could have been significant.

Staff said they will bring images and additional data to the next meeting and try to involve department heads for a multidisciplinary site visit. The board will review the consultants’ feasibility study and public outreach plan once available.