Easton to begin talks with 40B developer to add 108 affordable apartments on Brockton line – Enterprise News

Blackledge would be a Chapter 40B affordable housing project.

EASTON Blackledge, a 108-unit affordable housing apartment complex proposed on Union Street near the Brockton line, recently received a positive vote from the Easton Select Board to move forward.

The board voted 4-1, with member Marc Lamb opposed, to authorize Chair Dottie Fulginiti, Town Administrator Connor Read and town counsel to negotiate an agreement with the developer, Rick Lincoln of Coneco Building in Bridgewater, to address town concerns about the project.

Lamb voted against the motion after expressing concerns about the number of projects approved in town.

In the past 10 years theres been so much development, Lamb said. We are on trajectory to add 1,000 units to this town in 10 years. I feel we are doing a lot. At this point I feel strongly about pumping the brakes.

The other four members supported moving forward but acknowledged Lambs points.

I appreciate Marcs comments and concerns, select board member Craig Barger said. But Id like to move forward from an economic and affordable housing standpoint.

Lamb said the project is not in any of the areas the town is encouraging economic growth like the Avalon project, a 40B apartment complex on Robert Drive, was.

This is in the middle of nowhere, he said. I dont see it contributing anywhere economically.

Rick, I do think you are the right partner, Lamb told Lincoln. For me, at this time and that location, Im a hard no.

Blackledge would be a Chapter 40B affordable housing project.

Chapter 40B is a state statute which allows local zoning boards of appeals to approve affordable housing developments under flexible rules if at least 20-25 percent of the units have long-term affordability restrictions.

If approved, the project would help the town continue to meet the states 10 percent affordable housing guideline. Easton currently is at 10 percent, but the town anticipates it will dip below the requirement once the census is complete and will need about 80 more units, Read said.

As a rental project, all the Blackledge units, even the market rate ones, will count toward the 10 percent.

There are also other approved affordable housing projects in town, but they have not been constructed as yet.

Nonetheless certainly adding some units would make that much more of a sure thing, Read said.

The town conducted a preliminary analysis of the project. Among the recommendation made by the towns affordable housing trust was that developer include more market and affordable three-bedroom units. The current plan proposes 50 one-bedroom, 46 two-bedroom and 12 three-bedroom apartments.

The affordable housing trust also asked the developer to consider setting the affordability rate at 50 percent of area median income rather than the standard 80 percent. At that rate, only 20 percent rather than 25 percent of the units would need to be affordable.

The median income in Easton is $121,000, Read said. At 80 percent, thats still a relatively meaningful income.

The one thing you hear most from young people is that they are never going to be able to afford a place in Easton, Fulginiti said.

She suggested considering a mix of units some based on 50 percent and some on 80 percent.

The analysis also encourages keeping and rehabilitating the 1795 house on site, which once was Benson Concrete Products. Lincoln said they plan to relocate the house and use it as an amenities building for the development.

The report recommended the project tie into Brockton for water and sewer. The site is located on the Brockton line and some of the land is in Brockton.

The project is estimated to increase police calls by 41, fire calls by 7.3 and emergency medical service calls by 13.8, a year, according to the analysis.

The school district could see approximately 26 students from the development with nine being current Easton students who relocate to the project, according to the analysis. Because the town is about to begin construction of a new regional elementary school, the increase is not expected to burden one neighborhood elementary school over another. Overall enrollment is also slightly down, the report said.

Once the agreement between the town and Coneco is complete, it will be brought before the select board for approval.

The project will also need to be submitted to MassHousing and file for a comprehensive permit for the towns Zoning Board of Appeals.

If approved, construction could begin in about a year.

Reach Donna Whitehead at dwhitehead@wickedlocal.com

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Easton to begin talks with 40B developer to add 108 affordable apartments on Brockton line - Enterprise News