Thirty-three new housing units are planned for Rindge after the Planning Board approved two housing developments during its meeting Tuesday night.
The first development is for a 20-lot subdivision off Route 119, with a new road called King’s Way to be constructed.
In a letter to the Planning Board, the Conservation Commission Chair David Drouin requested the applicant, King’s Way LLC, receive relief from the Zoning Board of Adjustment for any work done within the 50-foot buffer around wetlands on the property, including grading work done during construction.
Kirk Stenersen, who was representing King’s Way as the project engineer, objected to that request, noting multiple other projects dating back to 2015 which were approved without special relief that included grading done in wetlands buffers. Stenersen also noted the town’s Zoning Ordinance required a special exception only when a project threatened to disturb the actual wetlands, not the buffer.
Ultimately, the board approved the project with several conditions, but none of the conditions required the project receiving relief from the Zoning Board.
The board also approved a separate project on Route 119, directly across from the Main Street intersection, which includes 13 two-bedroom housing units, as well as office and garage bays for commercial use on the lower levels of the housing.
The same property was approved in 2005 for a retail development for a strip-mall style plaza with businesses like a bank or gym. Developer Jamison Van Dyke said during Tuesday’s meeting that the mixed use seems a better fit for the current needs of Rindge.
“I wanted to create another little hub,” Van Dyke said. “That mixed use zoning seemed to be perfect.”
The development would include three buildings – a six-unit housing with office space on the basement level, which is only accessible from the backside of the development, a three-unit building with two garage bays and office space on the basement level, and a four-unit building.
The total size of the development is 4.96 acres over two lots, which will be merged.
Rindge Planning member Katelyn Smith noted that the area is zoned for just this type of use, and to be a transition point from commercial to residential uses.
“There’s a huge need for housing right now,” Smith said. “High density housing if for these districts.”
“I would much rather see this, than a strip mall,” said Planning Board member Julie Sementa.
Some residents asked for better screening of the buildings from Route 119 and the Main Street intersection, or objected to the aesthetics of the units, which they said were out of step with the rural character, particularly for someone coming from the historic Main Street.
“Show me the rural or natural character in this,” said Rindge resident Ronnie Hamilton. She said the current landscaping plan, which would partially screen the development from Route 119 was, “not cutting it.”
Van Dyke did not object to making some aesthetic changes to the buildings, including a discussion on using more muted colors, but ultimately, the board did not make any changes to the aesthetics or landscaping a condition of approval. The board agreed 6-1 to approve the application.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.