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Planning Board discusses 27 Water Street, SHI impacts and Butler Avenue site
Summary
Board members reviewed a multi‑address development that adds four units to 27 Water Street and debated how those units affect the town’s Subsidized Housing Inventory. Marissa, the town’s senior planner, described inclusionary zoning and Chapter 40B differences and outlined upcoming Housing Trust engagement and Butler Avenue remediation planning.
The Wakefield Planning Board spent a substantial portion of its July 14 meeting discussing recent housing submissions, how added units affect the Town’s Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI), and potential development options for the Butler Avenue remediation site.
A board member raised questions about a filing referencing 27 Water Street (part of an application also listing 37 Water Street and 450 Main Street) and asked whether the addition of four residential units would change SHI counts or trigger additional affordable units. Marissa, the senior planner, said the project materials list the development as a maximum of 46 dwelling units (31 one‑bedroom and 16 two‑bedroom units) and specified that five one‑bedroom units and three two‑bedroom units are already identified as affordable in the permit language she reviewed: "The development shall be limited to a maximum of 46 dwelling units comprised of 31 bedroom units and 16 2 bedroom units. 5 of the 1 bedroom units and 3 of the 2 bedroom units shall be affordable dwelling units," a board member read from the packet.
Marissa explained the distinction between units created through local inclusionary zoning (local action units) versus Chapter 40B projects: inclusionary zoning produces affordable units that are added to the SHI only for the affordable units themselves, while Chapter 40B language can result in both market‑rate and affordable units appearing on the SHI. She said she had advised the Zoning Board of Appeals chair that adding four units to Water Street would typically trigger one additional affordable unit under the town’s inclusionary zoning (18% threshold for developments of eight units or more) and that she would confirm permitting language and SHI reporting with the ZBA materials.
The board discussed next steps for tracking changes to the SHI and the housing trust’s work. Marissa said she and Gail Seivert, chair of the Housing Trust, will present a "Housing Trust 101" briefing to Town Council on July 20 to outline the trust’s role, policy options (including a fee‑in‑lieu approach), and how the trust intends to move a fee‑in‑lieu policy forward for potential referral to the planning board in the fall.
On Butler Avenue, Marissa reported remediation appears to be finishing and the site could be available for development; she described an interest in cottage‑cluster or similar smaller‑scale, naturally affordable housing and noted the trust is considering subsidy strategies and nonprofit partnerships such as Habitat for Humanity. She also cautioned that the town’s legal and disposal path (select board, town council or town meeting vote) would need to be clarified before a development path is finalized.
Board members asked for follow‑up to confirm whether the Water Street filing is governed by Chapter 40B or local inclusionary zoning, to document the SHI change when units reach certificate‑of‑occupancy status, and to receive the Housing Trust’s fee‑in‑lieu proposal when language is finalized.
