By Scott MacKeen
Staff Writer
12/3/09
The developers of Residences at Brook Hill, the planned unit development at 36 Central Ave., will ask the Board of Appeals Dec. 15 to grant a variance to build beyond the height restriction. The developer, Milton Partners LLC, wants to increase the height of the residential building currently being constructed. According to a letter from the developer, they feel the building’s height needs to be raised 30 inches to give the living quarters 8-foot-high ceilings – making them more attractive on the market. It requires a variance from the Board of Appeals to build beyond the 45-foot limit set in the zoning.
The developers of Residences at Brook Hill, the planned unit development at 36 Central Ave., will ask the Board of Appeals Dec. 15 to grant a variance to build beyond the height restriction.
The developer, Milton Partners LLC, wants to increase the height of the residential building currently being constructed.
According to a letter from the developer, they feel the building’s height needs to be raised 30 inches to give the living quarters 8-foot-high ceilings – making them more attractive on the market.
It requires a variance from the Board of Appeals to build beyond the 45-foot limit set in the zoning.
A special permit issued by the Planning Board sets the Residences at Brook Hill development at the 45-foot limit. At a recent meeting, the Planning Board expressed opposition to allowing the additional 30 inches above the building limit. They recommended that the Board of Appeals consider allowing a smaller height increase of no more than a foot.
“They’re supposed to be discussing this with the neighborhood and reporting to the [Board of Appeals],” Town Planner Bill Clark said.
However, according to one neighbor, no such public outreach on the part of Milton Partners has taken place.
“To put it mildly, we’re not happy campers,” said Margaret Donovan, of 41 Central Ave., who contacted the Times with her concerns. “[They are] supposed to be communicating with the neighborhood. They’ve communicated with none of us.”
Donovan said she and a neighbor canvassed the neighborhood recently and received 81 signatures on a petition opposing the extra height to the building. She said people signed willingly once they understood the concern.
“We had a picture of what the building would look like. We didn’t have to beg, borrow or steal to get signatures,” Donovan said.
Clark would not comment on opposition to the project.
He said once the Board of Appeals makes its decision, the Planning Board would have to consider whether to amend its special permit.
A phone call to Milton Partners LLC was not returned.
The Residences at Brook Hill will include 18 residential condominium units on the upper floors, with three additional business units downstairs. The permit requires that two of the condos be “affordable” and that the 884 square feet of business space be used strictly as office space.
The Board of Appeals public hearing takes place Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, located at 525 Canton Ave.