Controversial Forest Ridge Development's Application to Undergo Changes

WINCHESTER, MA — An application for a proposed housing development which became a crucial issue in the recent elections is currently undergoing changes before it is re-submitted to the quasi-state agency MassHousing, according to spokesman Tom Farmer.

Farmer told Patch that the Forest Ridge Residences application which proposes a 296-unit development in the Forest Circle area of Winchester is currently undergoing changes to the application. Farmer told Patch that the applicant, Krebs Investor Group LLC (KIG), had requested to make changes to the application, which is a common request during the process.

Justin Krebs, the President and Founder of Krebs Investor Group, told Patch that the project is not on hold.

"This is the 40B process," Krebs told Patch in regards to the decision to make changes to the application."We demonstrated to MassHousing that we have a good project. Because of the size of the project, we're exploring different options."

In a press release issued Monday, the offices of state Rep. Michael Day and Sen. Jason Lewis announced announced that KIG had put its application on an indefinite hold. The legislators further added that it is currently unclear why the group made the move, but that MassHousing is not currently considering the application for site approval.

“I am very happy that MassHousing met with us and was receptive to our concerns about this ill-conceived project,” said Day in a press release. “I understand that MassHousing relayed our concerns and the gravity of community opposition to this project to the developer and am happy that the developer has apparently decided to re-evaluate their application at this time.”

The proposal was submitted under the Chapter 40B affordable housing laws, which allow developers to sidestep local zoning laws if at least 25 percent of the project has affordability restrictions. The Forest Ridge development was met with heavy pushback from both local officials and residents, as well as both Day and Lewis, who met with MassHousing to express their opposition to the project.

Krebs said that his team is currently looking at the massing of the project, and considering breaking the development up into several clusters of units as opposed to a linear approach. KIG is hoping to receive an eligibility letter from MassHousing, one of five agencies with the authority of 40B approval.

Krebs also added that the group will take feedback from the community into account when making the changes, and that given the upcoming holiday season, his team expects to finish its revised plan in the first quarter of 2017.

"This is very common," said Krebs."We go through the initial review and get feedback from the community. Responsible developers go back and see if they can address those concerns. It would be disingenuous not to listen to the community."

Images via the Offices of Rep. Michael Day and Sen. Jason Lewis.