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Image capture Apr 2022 from Google Maps. Pictured is a portion of the property at 22 Everett Street in Westwood which is being proposed for mixed used development, including 158 new residential units.
6-04-2023 10:32pm
Public Hearing on Tuesday for Multi-Family Housing Development Proposal in Westwood
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Westwood Planning Board will hold a public hearing this Tuesday evening, June 6th, on a development proposal by PP Everett Street LLC (PP Everett Street) for the site known as the "Tumblebus lot" which would create multi-family residential housing at a density of about 23.24 units per acre. In May 2022, Westwood voters approved the Tumblebus lot as the location for state-mandated multi-family housing.
The proposed density of 23.24 units per acre exceeds the 15 units per acre in Westwood's By-Law which would be permitted as of right. Given the greater proposed density, the project requires a Mixed-Use & Multi-Family Residential Overlay District (MUMFROD) Special permit.
PP Everett Street is proposing to develop the property at 22 and 34 Everett Street, containing about 6.8 acres, by demolishing the existing "1-story masonry/concrete industrial building" on the site, and constructing two four-story buildings (Building A and Building B) with 158 residential units. Of these, 24 units would be "Affordable Units," or units available at a cost not to exceed 30 percent of gross household income for households at or below 80 percent of the Boston PMSA median income.
The majority of residential units - 98 units - would have one bedroom. Another 44 units would have two-bedrooms, and 16 units would have three bedrooms.
In the developer's Fiscal Impact Analysis, it estimated that 26 school age children would reside on the property. It also predicted that the project would generate revenue to the town, through real estate taxes and other means, in the amount of $797,293, or a 1,708 percent increase over the $41,942 in real estate taxes that PP Everett Street says is currently generated by the property.
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Image from Project Narrative (p.4) by PP Everett Street, LLC, filed with Westwood Planning Board.The proposal envisions 248 parking spaces including ADA compliant parking spaces. There would be 46 spaces in the first floor garage of Building A and 58 spaces in the first floor garage of Building B. The remaining 144 parking spaces would be located in outdoor parking areas throughout the property, with "43 spaces located between Building A and Everett Street." The proposal describes the property as containing 551.5 feet of frontage on Everett Street.
Amenities proposed to be included in the project design are walking trails, sports/pickle courts, a playground, electric vehicle charging stations, bike racks, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, and solar panels. There will also be "river access," possibly referencing access to South Brook and Purgatory Brook which run through the property. A dog park is also proposed, and potentially open to the public if liability concerns are addressed, says the proposal.
The developer also notes that as it stands currently, the property has "significant environmental/hazardous waste contamination issues which must be addressed prior to any redevelopment." PP Everett Street states that in the property's past use in the concrete industry, underground storage tanks were used to store diesel fuel and #2 fuel oil. Additionally, hydraulic fuel was stored in 55-gallon drums. The developer notes that in May 1987, a release of petroleum products was reported to Mass DEP. PP Everett Street estimates clean-up costs to exceed $1 million.
The public hearing will be held remotely at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Westwood's Conservation Commission is also expected to simultaneously hold its public hearing on the Notice of Intent for this project.
