Developers of a proposed affordable housing project delay their hearing with town regulators.
Representatives of the Mugar property along route two in east Arlington were set to have their second hearing with the zoning board of appeals October 18th, but have asked for a delay. Oaktree development initially made its case before the ZBA in late September. Developers want to build two-hundred plus housing units on 5 acres of land, some of which contains wetlands.
Under the states chapter 40-b comprehensive permit law, developers can bypass local zoning laws if 20 t0 25 percent of the developments is affordable. The town is fighting the proposal, claiming it has met the state’s minimum affordable housing requirement.
The board of selectman voted against developing the Mugar land at its meeting October 17th. The vote is simply a recommendation to the zoning board of appeals. That board must make its own determination. The next hearing on the matter is now set for November 15th.
Also, the issue of a medical marijuana dispensary was recently taken up by the Arlington redevelopment board.
The ARB took on the issue of setting up a 500-foot buffer zone around a planned dispensary in town. Dispensary operators are looking to open a location in a medical building at 11 Water Street. The members were set to vote on the issue of the buffer zone but instead voted to take no action presently.
The actual location of the dispensary was not discussed at the meeting but will be reviewed at the next ARB meeting on November 7th.
