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Image from Application for Modification to a Mixed-Use Multi-Family Residential Overlay District (MUMFROD) Special Permit at 22 Everett Street. Above is a rendering of The Block at 22 Everett, as submitted to Westwood Planning Board.
9-17-2024 12:17am
Select Board Endorses Westwood's First Development Produced in Response to MBTA Communities Act
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Westwood Select Board on September 9th has unanimously approved Westwood’s first project to submit to the state for certification under a housing production plan created to comply with the MBTA Communities Act, and it will be a housing development with 160 units, with density of over 15 units per acre, located at 22 Everett Street.
According to Amanda Wolfe, Westwood Housing and Land Use Planner, the project would be the first new development in the town’s newly zoned Mixed-Use & Multi-Family Residential Overlay District (MUMFROD). MUMFROD was created to comply with the MBTA Communities Act that requires towns like Westwood, that have transportation hubs like commuter rail or bus stations, to zone for multi-family housing development by right, in close proximity to those transit stations.
The project, which Supreme Development calls, “The Block at 22 Everett,” would be the first such development in Westwood with units restricted to 60 percent area median income in perpetuity, said Ms. Wolfe, in presenting the application of developer Giorgio Petruzziello and requesting Select Board’s endorsement.
As explained by Ms. Wolfe, the Local Action Unit Application describes a development of 2 buildings at 22 Everett Street made up of 160 units in total, of which 24 units will be affordable housing units, additional units would be commercial, and the rest would be market rate units. Of the 24 affordable housing units, there would be 12 one-bedroom units, 8 two-bedroom units, and 1 three-bedroom unit that will be designated for prospective residents earning 80 percent of area median income (AMI). There would be three units (one unit of each size) that would be designated for residents at 60 percent AMI.
Town officials have been in discussions with Mr. Petruzziello on a potential project at the 22 Everett Street location, also known as the “Tumblebus lot” for the buses that have parked there, since at least around June 2023 when Mr. Petruzziello brought the project to Westwood’s Planning Board.
Image capture Apr. 2022 from Google Maps. Known previously as the "Tumblebus Lot," the property at 22 Everett Street will include the first affordable housing units produced in Westwood's new zoning district that was created to comply with the state's MBTA Communities Act to encourage affordable housing.Ms. Wolfe noted that by working on developing the application with Mr. Petruzziello, town officials could ensure that units can be added to Westwood’s subsidized housing inventory.
Ms. Wolfe explained that because the development will be located in a congested part of town, developer Petruzziello has agreed to have a full-time transportation demand manager. The manager will look at alternative transportation to driving for employees and residents.
Mr. Petruzziello was present at Select Board’s remotely held meeting last week, but did not say much. In few words of affirmation, he confirmed the existence of the full-time position.
There were no comments or questions from the public.
Select Board unanimously authorized its chair to sign the application to submit to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and to sign the regulatory agreement upon EOHLC’s approval.
Updated 9/17/2024 at 5:54 p.m.
