Housing Headlines

ROCKLAND --- With the planning board's recent approval, a series of zoning changes that would change an industrial area into a mixed-use district is headed for final approval by voters at Rockland's May 3 Town Meeting. If approved, a development in this area could include 164 housing units, an 80-room hotel, retail, restaurants, a supermarket, offices and a public plaza. The impetus for the change came from the A.W. Perry real estate company, which owns some of the land and came to the town looking to develop the area.

AMHERST --- Some 200 residents have signed a petition calling for a 180-day moratorium on new buildings with three or more residential units in several zoning districts, including downtown. The petition asks that the town do outreach to determine design standards and to amend various zoning requirements before creating what one resident described as more "slum-like" developments. Several town councilors objected, saying construction brings activity to downtown and helps it reach its goal of diversifying its housing stock.

EASTON --- The town's OK of two multifamily housing proposals by Rick Lincoln of Coneco Building will yield 152 apartments and $1.8 million in mitigation payments to the town to support public health, safety, public works and historic preservation.

WESTON --- The town's attempt to stop 200 apartments has been turned down by the state's Housing Appeals Committee, which ruled that only 0.29 percent of the town's developable land is being used for affordable housing, below the 1.5 percent threshold that would allow the town to reject developer applications for Ch. 40B comprehensive land use permits. In arguing against the Hanover Weston proposal, the town claimed 1.64 percent of its land was being used for affordable housing but the state found fault with its calculations.

FRAMINGHAM --- A proposal by local businessman Vinod Patel to build a 36-unit apartment building on property owned by the state's Department of Corrections is drawing mixed reviews, with some residents saying it will bring much-needed energy to the south side and others saying it will further compound the high traffic problem in that part of the city.

AMHERST --- With the continued use of two churches for homeless shelters up in the air, Town Manager Paul Bockelman is forming an advisory committee to help identify suitable sites for a permanent seasonal or year-round shelter, as well as reviewing surplus town buildings or land suitable for providing such services to the homeless.