Selectmen Approve Avalon Bay Affordable Housing Project

A proposed 292-unit affordable housing project has been given the ok by the selectmen.

The Avalon Bay Communities plan was approved by the selectmen 3-1 with Carol Nestler giving her support for another plan from the Dolben Company.

Selectmen Chairman Daniel Murphy said he supported the proposal from Avalon Bay because it would get Easton’s affordable housing numbers to the 10 percent required by the state. The town’s safe harbor provision expires in late July, meaning that if Easton was unable to meet the 10 percent or extend the provision, a developer would be able to bypass local regulations.

“I assume (the developers) would wait seven months and our control is diluted,” Murphy said about not approving one of the projects.

The proposal for the Dolben project would extend the safe harbor provision by two years but would take the town longer to get fulfill their affordable housing obligation.

Consultant Judy Barrett of RKG Associates called impact from the proposals neutral to mildly positive.

Selectman Carol Nestler said she supported the Dolben project because it would allow the town to take a slower, more methodical approach to affordable housing.

“I’m partial to the smaller project. I look at fit in the community and these big structures seem out of character with Easton,” Nestler said.

Also approved 4-0 was Meadow View Commons, a 36-lot single-family home development located at at 310-318 Turnpike St. The project will be considered an affordable housing development.

As part of the mitigation agreement for Meadow View, the town will receive $3,500 per unit, about $94,500 total. During the meeting it was proposed that the money be used to fund economic development and to attract business to come to Easton.