A proposed development with 66 new housing units caused a stir among residents who attended a Planning Board meeting on Tuesday night, many of whom who said the development was too big for Rindge.
Nathan Chamberlin, an engineer with Fieldstone Land Consultants, representing Navian Development of Rindge, outlined the project, which would be built on 110 acres of currently wooded area off of Route 119.
The proposed development would include 26 single-family units, 16 three-bedroom units in four four-unit buildings, and 24 two-bedroom units in four six-unit buildings.
Sixteen of those units – 10 in the multi-family buildings and six single-family homes – are planned to be workforce housing.
By state law, “workforce housing” must be what is considered “affordable” for a family of three making 60 percent of the area’s median income for rentals, and a family of four making 100 percent of the median income for homeowners.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development considers $86,500 the median income for a family of four in Cheshire County, meaning the “affordable” price – with 30 percent of income going to housing and utilities – for a home is $278,500.
For a rental for a family of three, the median income is $46,710, and the affordable rent is considered to be $1,170 monthly.
“As everyone knows, there’s a need for workforce housing in the state,” Chamberlin said.
Not everyone who attended the meeting agreed.
“Workforce housing? I don’t think we need it in Rindge,” said Pete Worthley, an abutter living on Foster Terrace. “Single family homes, I’m for, but apartments, I don’t think we need. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t want the whole project. If it was in your backyard, would you want it?”
Resident Judy Unger-Clark said these kinds of developments were too big for Rindge, and took issue with the town’s Planned Unit Residential Development, or PURD, ordinance, which allows them, saying they’re not consistent with the rural character outlined in the town’s Master Plan.
“What I would really like to see is a moratorium on this. No more PURDS until we get things aligned,” Unger-Clark said.
Resident Penny Rodriguez said she’s against the “spread” caused by large developments, saying she moved to Rindge for the small-town atmosphere. She said she saw a similar slow creep in her former home of Pelham, which she said eventually ruined the small town atmosphere.
“It’s gone,” she said, of the Pelham of her childhood. “It’s gone.”
“This is exceptionally large for Rindge,” said James Golisano. Golisano said he was concerned about the runoff from the property affecting the wetlands, which he said can gather a large amount of water. He said he was concerned run-off could change the water quality, especially as Rindge relies on wells.
Other residents also brought up concerns about run-off, particularly as a large part of the parcel is wetlands and also contains a stream that eventually feeds into Lake Monomonac.
Others said the development would put pressure on town services and the schools.
However, Chamberlin said based on analysis, the schools could absorb the population of the development without adding additional teachers, and the housing stock is needed in the area.
“People need this type of housing, whether you accept it or not,” Chamberlin said.
Though the Planning Board did agree to take some public comment on Tuesday night, they did not officially accept the application, requesting more information on several points, and requesting a T-shaped street be changed to a cul-de-sac at the recommendation of the fire and life safety personnel. The board also agreed that the application could have regional impact, and neighboring towns should be noticed before the next public hearing on the matter, which has been scheduled for Sept. 1 at 7 p.m.