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Town meeting rezones St. Camila’s parcel and approves dimensional rules to allow proposed assisted‑living project
Summary
Town meeting rezoned roughly a 4–4.5 acre portion of St. Camila’s property from R1 to R6 (Article 50) and amended dimensional/density rules for assisted‑living developments on large R6 lots (Article 51), enabling the developer’s proposed 145‑unit assisted living and memory‑care facility to proceed to special‑permit review.
Town meeting approved two linked zoning warrant articles concerning St. Camila’s property along the Conquered Turnpike: Article 50 amended the zoning map to rezone about 4–4.5 acres from R1 to R6, and Article 51 amended the zoning bylaw’s dimensional and density table to allow an assisted‑living facility (three stories, up to 50 feet, floor area ratio ~1.2) on qualifying R6 lots over 20,000 square feet.
Steve Revlac (vice chair, Arlington Redevelopment Board) introduced the petitions and said the ARB recommended favorable action (5–0). Presenters Marywin Stanley Oconor (representing the proposed developer, HYM Investment) and Sheamus Joyce (HYM) described a preliminary proposal for a 145‑unit senior‑living community (110 assisted living units, 35 memory‑care), three stories, with approximately 0.7 parking spaces per unit (roughly 100 on‑site), 24/7 staffing, and a proposal to repave and maintain portions of church parking as part of the arrangement. Presenters estimated the project could return the currently tax‑exempt parcel to the tax rolls, projecting roughly $600,000 in annual real‑estate tax revenue and creating up to 150 jobs in phases.
The neighborhood record included both strong support (abutters who said the developer engaged residents, and those who preferred this use to high‑density apartments) and opposition (concerns about a former landfill on the Poet’s Corner side, shadowing, parking/traffic impacts, loss of open space, and church/community uses). Town staff (assessors and town manager) flagged fiscal and infrastructure questions: assessors said rezoning raises the land’s buildable value but taxes are realized only when a taxable owner operates a taxable use; the town manager and public safety staff noted potential water/sewer and emergency response impacts, and the town manager noted that top tax‑title receivables carry substantial accrued interest.
After extended debate, town meeting voted to terminate debate and approved Article 50 by a two‑thirds electronic vote (207 in favor, 10 opposed, 3 abstentions). The meeting later terminated debate on Article 51 and approved the zoning bylaw change (reported as 270 in favor, 4 opposed, 3 abstentions). Passing these amendments does not approve any specific building permit. The project next proceeds to the Arlington Redevelopment Board for special‑permit review and to the usual downstream reviews (infrastructure, traffic, special permit conditions, and Attorney General review for zoning changes). Proponents said a development agreement is being finalized to limit the site to an assisted‑living/memory‑care use rather than other residential uses.
