Following a review, the Planning Board has given the green light to a proposal for an eight-unit, four-story condominium located at the intersection of Spencer and Eastern Avenues, even though some members expressed concerns regarding traffic and the scale of the development.
The project, situated at 254 Spencer Ave., will now be submitted to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for approval of several variances, notably related to parking requirements. The developer is planning to provide eight parking spaces at the site, whereas the city mandates 12.
The current two-family house on the 5,000-square-foot lot will be demolished and replaced by market-rate condo units. Each unit is expected to be approximately 1,000 square feet and priced around $500,000. The new development will be adjacent to the larger Acadia affordable housing complex.
Although several members of the Planning Board voiced concerns about the scale of the project, Mimi Rancatore was the sole board member to vote against it.
Rancatore acknowledged the aesthetic and quality of the new building, “but I think it is just too big.”
Rancatore noted that the four-story building would be similar in size to the Acadia project but larger than other homes and structures in the neighborhood. She expressed concern that it could lead to a domino effect, with other developers acquiring smaller homes and replacing them with taller buildings in the area.
City Council President Damali Vidot also praised the overall appearance of the project but was concerned it might establish a precedent that could result in more densely developed neighborhoods.
However, several residents in the area expressed support for the project and questioned why the Planning Board had not taken stronger action to halt the larger Acadia and 1005 Webster Avenue projects if they were truly worried about traffic and overdevelopment.
“Why give (the developer) a hard time about
this when it is the same level as the Acadia,” said neighborhood resident Barbara Richard. “We in the area approve of it.”
The Planning Board approved the project with the stipulation that the developer explore options for adding more trees and shrubs near the front of the building.
“In my opinion, the project will make a nice
transition from the Acadia down to the two- and three-story buildings next to
it,” said Planning Board Chairman Tuck Willis. “Certainly, what is there now is
underutilized and in bad condition, and this building would clean that up.”
•In other matters, the Planning Board discussed a proposed zoning amendment from the City Council regarding off-street parking regulations. Under the proposed change, residents of buildings where developers have requested zoning relief for the number of on-site parking spaces would not be eligible to participate in the City’s off-street sticker parking program.
“This would be a way to encourage
development but not further burden the residents who live here,” said Vidot.
Rancatore, however, argued that the amendment would be difficult to enforce and could potentially encourage illegal parking.
The Council, Planning Board, and City officials plan to meet in the fall to continue the discussion on parking regulations.
•GreenStar Herbals has withdrawn its site plan for a retail marijuana facility at 200 Beacham St., but the company is expected to return to the Planning Board with a revised plan in July.