Marblehead board to submit two housing plans

MARBLEHEAD – Selectmen have cleared the way for the Smart Growth Committee to submit mixed-use affordable housing plans for the former YMCA building and the Marblehead share of the General Glover site for state review.The application was scheduled to go in today.Smart Growth Committee Chairman Gordon King and consultant Angus Jennings said the state will review the proposal to make sure it is in line with Chapter 40R and return it for Town Meeting approval. The town will control the design and construction through the Planning Board.Smart Growth is a way of increasing the town’s amount of affordable housing without allowing developers to circumvent town bylaws. Chapter 40R offers communities a bonus of $3,000 per unit when building permits are issued, a priority on state capital funding for any needed improvements and a payment for school costs for any school-age children living in the new units.Jennings said the initial design for the YMCA showed a 45-foot building with commercial space on the first floor, 20 units upstairs and underground parking, but that concept is being rethought.The committee did not describe its design for the General Glover property, which includes land in Salem and buildings in Swampscott as well as the Marblehead land.Several Essex Street neighbors attended the meeting to ask questions about parking, height and drainage.Town Planner Becky Curran said the committee will hold a public design workshop Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Marblehead Community Center.”We want to hear your comments and deal with them at the workshop,” Jennings said. He and Gordon remained in the hall after the hearing for further discussion with the neighbors.