SWAMPSCOTT — The Housing Authority held a special meeting Tuesday night about the Elm Place Chapter 40B project and unanimously voted to not allow any kind of easements on their property on Pitman Road, which abuts the development.
The special meeting was held prior to the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting — set for Nov. 30 — which will determine whether a comprehensive special permit is issued for the proposed 120-unit mixed-use development.
Swampscott Housing Authority members decided to hold such a vote to demonstrate their stance on the proposed bike path/access bridge to the Commuter Rail that WinnDevelopment included into the project and that was mentioned in the $250,000 Housing Choice Community Capital Grant application, which Swampscott has been recently awarded.
“Who is going to be responsible for injuries on our property?” said the Chairman of the Housing Authority Richard Callahan.
The board agreed that both the Elm Place project and the bike path would affect the safety, comfort and quality of life of their senior residents on Pitman Road. The Housing Authority also owns several properties on Burrill Street and Doherty Circle.
The Elm Project will affect the privacy of the neighbors due to its height and closeness, block the sunlight and bring more cars to an already congested area, said Tara Cassidy-Driscoll, treasurer of the board. Currently, the Elm Place project plans to provide 1.03 parking spaces per unit.
To put a bike path between the properties, the Elm Place project would need to use an additional 10 feet of the Housing Authority’s property. Besides, residents of the Elm Place development would probably start using the opening in the fence that was put up by the Housing Authority to separate its property from the commuter rail, said Cassidy-Driscoll.
Catherine Esteverena, vice chair of the board, suggested putting a gate in the fence opening and closing it up. Callahan agreed, saying that this way they won’t have any problems with the insurance company regarding their liability.
Members of the board and Executive Director of the Housing Authority Irma Chez agreed that their senior residents don’t ride bikes or use the Commuter Rail to go to Boston, thus the bike path and/or a bridge would not benefit their residents.
Callahan went to Town Hall to look at the blueprints of the Elm Place project and found out that the variances around the building had been reduced from 15 to two feet, which seemed extremely small to him, he said.
“We’ve never been consulted about variances,” said Callahan. “These variances will have an impact on the residents.”
He highlighted poor communication between the project developer, the town and the Housing Authority. Chez confirmed that they have not received any emails or correspondence from the developer or the Select Board about the Elm Place project.
Although the Housing Authority was mentioned in the Housing Choice Community Capital Grant application as a benefactor, Chez said, neither she nor the board were consulted about the needs of their residents. She said that when the Town of Acton received the same grant for 2019 in the amount of $165,000, they used it for improvements for 45 units owned by the Acton Housing Authority, including the repair of sidewalks, roads, parking area and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant features, such as ramps and tactile landings.
The Chapter 40B Elm Place project was approved by the state Department of Housing and Community Development in March, despite a letter sent by the town’s Select Board opposing it.
Somewhat downsized in June due to neighbors’ opposition, it currently proposes 120 housing units in a more traditional, “New England coastal” style and 124 parking spaces. The building will have several parts of various heights (two, four and a half, and five stories) with a maximum height of 45 feet.
