The Norwell Zoning Board of Appeals heard initial plans for a 56-unit rental housing project proposed for High Street.
WATD’s Lenny Rowe files this report.
Northland Residential Corporation is applying for a comprehensive permit from the ZBA, the units would be located in 10 townhouse-style buildings.
Peter Crabtree, a Senior Vice President and Director of Acquisitions and Development, says their plans are focused towards empty-nesters and the 55 and older community.
“We loved the location, we really liked the town, and we thought it had good connectivity,” said Crabtree.
An initial meeting was held at the Norwell Middle School. Future hearings will cover architectural designs and traffic impacts.
“We’re developing it, but it’s something that we think is going to be appropriate for the neighborhood,” said Steve Gallagher, a manager for the development team. “It’s going to be a nice development.”
The Norwell Zoning Board raised initial concerns with traffic, lighting, and density with the site.
“This is a big project,” said High Street resident Dave Doyle. “It looks like it might need its own zip code.”
He was concerned with kids walking to and from the nearby Cole Elementary School. Traffic is difficult in the area, with Grove Street and Route 53 located nearby.
Doyle said he’s impacted by light pollution from the nearby CVS Pharmacy.
“You cannot minimize the impact that more than 125 vehicles will do to that intersection,” Don Therrien told the board. “If there’s traffic at the front of that driveway, people are going to go right, fly through High Street, or cut up Oak Street.”
He urged the applicants for the project to conduct a traffic study during peak hours, not during a Sunday evening.
“There was a gentleman who was hit by a car last week on a bike,” said Kim Zayotti. “Traffic is just too fast, even though the school zone is there. One direction, it’s one speed, the other direction it’s another speed. [Route] 53, they talk about people walking to stores – nobody walks on 53. Nobody is going to live there and walk over to T.J. Maxx, that’s just not going to happen.”
High Street resident Joy Lavery said the neighborhood is mostly single-family homes.
“Here, they have a three-acre parcel that’s going to have 56 units,” said Lavery. “That just doesn’t fit the neighborhood.”
The next meeting was set for 7:30 p.m. on July 7th at Norwell Town Hall.
Plans for the project can be found here.
The Norwell Zoning Board of Appeals on June 2, 2021. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
