Planning Board Grants Special Permit for Muller Road Development

After years of going back-and-forth with the developer, the Planning Board voted last Thursday to approve a special permit for an "" on Muller Road.

The plan originally began as 80 proposed condominiums but after resistance from local neighbors the plan was changed during the special permit process. The approved plan now includes 33 separate town houses. In order to keep the town compliant with the affordable housing laws, there will be three affordable units with the project. As of last week's meeting, the developer stated the intent is to have one affordable housing unit on site and two others in other locations in town.

The approval of the special permit was contingent on approval of the Conservation Commission, which will be conducting further evaluation of the project and site this month.

Chair of the Board Paul Roth congratulated both the developer and the abutters for having the project discussion come to a conclusion after two years and for the fact the neighbors' influence helped curb the extent of the original proposal.

"I think all the way around people have been understanding of a the long process and congratulations to both sides," he said.

Jeffrey Rhuda of Symes Associates, the company behind the project, said was pleased with the decision.

"I’d like to thank the board for its patience," he said. "It been a long process and I’d like to thank the board for their professionalism."

Not everyone was happy with the decision, however. Planning Board member Paul Raymond, the only member to vote no, said he thought the project was still too large for the neighborhood.

I thought there would be more open space, but this looks like a standard subdivision," he said. "This looks like there are too many units and I thought we might be able to back it off a bit."

Resident David Webb, who lives near the project, said he was still opposed to the plan.

"We've been fighting this battle for two years and I don't think congratulations are in order," he said. "This is way too dense."

Webb asked why, if the developer was allowed 19 units 'by right,' the board approved 33 units. It was explained that by having open space, commitments to traffic improvements and affordable housing allows developers to petition for an increase in total units.

Rhuda had previously said that in order to be "economically feasible" he needed the full number of units.