BOS requests more info on senior housing proposal

Canton selectmen like many of the benefits of a proposed senior housing facility on Turnpike Street at the site of the AA Will Sand and Gravel pit. However, they are requesting more information from the developer — including a formula for how they arrived at a $300,000 cash contribution to the town in lieu of affordable housing units — before offering their support at the upcoming May town meeting.

Selectmen Chairman Bob Burr said he wants the best deal for the town while Selectman Victor Del Vecchio questioned how the developer, BrightView Senior Living, arrived at the $300,000 cash figure instead of setting units aside for affordable housing.

In a presentation to the board on Tuesday night, local attorney Dick Staiti and BrightView Development Director Michael Glynn said the proposal had many advantages to the town, including additional tax revenue and substantial improvements to the property in question. They also noted that the project would fulfill a need in Canton for this particular type of senior housing.

The proposal calls for 175 to 200 apartment units divided between two three-story buildings that would cover roughly five percent of the 32-acre site. Staiti said there would be a considerable amount of land preserved for open space, including 15 acres of wetlands, and BrightView is willing to plant more trees in the area.

The housing would be reserved for seniors who are 62 years or older. An estimated 75-90 units would be set aside for independent living while another 80-90 units would be designated as assisted living units. Staiti said there would be no impact to the school system, and the roads would be plowed privately along with private trash collection. There would be some need for town ambulance services, although the development would hire a private ambulance service for transporting residents during the day.

The proposal has the unanimous support of the Planning Board, and the developers have met on three occasions with Turnpike Street residents.

BrightView has many such developments around the state, with the closest one being New Pond Village in Walpole. Glynn said they do not have any affordable housing set aside in their other developments as it does not fit their business model, but they agreed after discussions with the Planning Board to make a cash contribution that would be earmarked to support affordable housing, based on a working number of 10-12 units.

The resident rates are $3,500 per month for independent living and up to $7,000 monthly for assisted living services.

In other news Tuesday night:

* Burr said he is hoping to give residents an updated report on the status of the Plymouth Rubber project either at the board’s next meeting or by the May 13 town meeting. Burr said ultimately it will be the selectmen’s decision whether to pursue a special town meeting in the fall to vote on the possible rezoning of the property.

* Selectmen commended the actions of Fire Chief Charlie Doody and Police Chief Ken Berkowitz during a very turbulent period last week following the Boston Marathon bombings. The Police Department sent several officers and the chief to assist in Boston and Watertown. Selectmen also held a moment of silence in memory of the four people who died from the bombings and the subsequent events of Thursday evening, April 18.

* Selectmen held a moment of silence for the late John Brennan, a former chairman of the Finance Committee. Selectman John Connolly said Brennan was in part responsible for creating a very successful Finance Department as he pushed for a full-time finance director.

* Selectmen announced that the Canton Little League has donated five defibrillators (worth $10,000) to the Canton Fire Department to be used on Canton’s recreational fields. The Little League will also hold its annual opening day parade this Saturday starting at CHS and ending at the Kennedy School.

* Selectmen approved the dates of September 21-22 for the fourth annual Life is good Festival to be held on the grounds of Prowse Farm.

* Selectmen will next meet on Tuesday, May 7, at 7 p.m.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Apr 25 2013. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.