On Monday, Nov. 13, the Peterborough Planning Board is scheduled to hear a preliminary review application for 116 units of multi-family workforce housing on two undeveloped properties off Mercer Avenue and Goyette Drive. Fieldstone Land Consultants is submitting the application on behalf of Mercer Holdings, LLC.
The properties are located in the Rural and Family districts. In an Oct. 30 letter to Planning Board members, Town Planner Danica Melone notes that both lots total 11.39 acres – without knowing the amount of wetlands, which could reduce that number – and the town’s standard of 10 units per acre of elderly/workforce housing would only make it eligible for 110 units.
According to Melone, portions of the proposed parking area would encroach into the 30-foot building setback line, and off-street parking must have a 20-foot setback from the property line. Furthermore, Melone is recommending a traffic study to determine how the project would affect the Route 101/202 intersection, the Route 101 Elm Street intersection and how traffic lining up to turn left on Mercer Avenue may disrupt traffic along Route 101 West.
The board is also scheduled to hear a preliminary review application for a 66-unit open-space residential development at 468 Greenfield Road, 16 Burke Road and 36 Burke Road. Fieldstone Land Consultants is submitting the application on behalf of Star Mountain Properties, LLC.
The properties are in the Rural District. In an open-space residential development, homes can be placed closer together than allowed through a traditional subdivision, in exchange for permanently protecting open space.
In her Nov. 1 letter to Planning Board members, Melone noted that the applicant is providing slightly more than the minimum required open space, but that it is unclear how much of the property is wetlands or slopes, which would have to be subtracted from the amount of buildable land and likely reduce the number of house lots.
Additionally, Melone asks how the neighborhood will encourage walkability, and whether there will be sidewalks, bike and pedestrian paths or trails.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Peterborough Town House. The Mercer Avenue project is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and the Greenfield Road project for 6:45 p.m.