Developer updates plan for 4–6 Depot Street, board continues public hearing to Aug. 6

Developer David Pine provided the Bellingham Zoning Board with updates to the proposed project at 4–6 Depot Street, saying he had incorporated neighborhood feedback by increasing parking, adding landscape buffers and shifting building footprints to reduce perceived intrusiveness.

Pine told the board the project now shows about 116 parking spaces to serve residents, and that the project team applied for affordable units targeting rents lower than market—"we applied we're trying to go under that 8% AMI... we applied to go $2,000," he said—while clarifying that local and veterans preferences apply only to the affordable units, not to market-rate units. He also said the team plans to file an LOI (Letter of Intent) with the Conservation Commission because the plan’s no-cut line comes close to a wetland across the street.

Board members and neighbors asked for more detail on septic connections, exact property setbacks, a full landscaping/photometric plan, and confirmation from the water department and ConCom (Conservation Commission). The board scheduled a site visit for mid-July (week of July 13–17) and voted to continue the public hearing to Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. so the applicant can provide the requested materials and departmental sign-offs. The board listed items it wants before reconsideration: a clearer parking plan/property-line survey, peer-review comments (Beals & Thomas), confirmation of prior permitted uses and any abandonment history, and fire-marshal input.

The continuation leaves open the project’s permit status while the applicant prepares additional documentation and the board seeks departmental reviews.