Reminder: Selectmen receiving West Street LLC 40B presentation tonight

Good morning residents, 

 

This is a reminder that that West Street LLC will be presenting their proposal for a MGL chapter 40B affordable housing development at 101 - 104 West Street at tonight’s 7 pm Board of Selectmen meeting taking place in Room 9 at the Town Hall.  The presentation is scheduled to begin at 8:00 pm.  Due to an appeal filed by a citizen’s group of the Princeton Property affordable housing development on Jefferson Road, Wilmington has fallen below the state’s required 10% affordable housing threshold.  As a result, the Town is subject to 40B developments. 

 

Neither town staff nor the Board of Selectmen have endorsed or collaborated on the West Street LLC proposal.  The Board of Selectmen has no statutory authority to approve or deny this project and will not be taking a position on the proposal. The project was initiated by the owner of the property, Derek Santini. The proponent’s application is now being considered by the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MassHousing).  MassHousing has given the Town until March 2, 2022 to provide written comments about the West Street affordable housing proposal.  Comments from both town officials and residents at tonight’s meeting may be incorporated into the comment document. MassHousing will review the Town’s comment letter before deciding whether to approve the application.

 

Residents who wish to offer comments tonight may do so, however, residents who wish to also have their comments received on the record and considered when the Zoning Board of Appeals is deliberating over the merits of the proposal should plan on attending future Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) public hearings regarding the West Street LLC 40B development project. If MassHousing approves the application, the applicant is expected to file with the town’s ZBA. The ZBA will then conduct a public hearing to review the proponent’s application and to receive comments about the proposal before rendering a decision.  

 

In summary, there will be an opportunity to make comments to MassHousing at tonight’s Selectmen’s meeting as the Town works to prepare their comment document, but the ZBA will also be receiving comments during their public hearing on dates yet to be determined to consider the application for affordable housing.  Comments offered during the ZBA public hearing will be considered as they decide whether to approve the application with conditions or deny the application.

 

For information on tonight's meeting and other agenda items, please visit https://www.wilmingtonma.gov/town-manager-selectmen/agenda/board-selectm....

 

Sincerely, 

 

Jeffrey M. Hull

Wilmington Town Manager