Graystone Development to Move Ahead with Proposed Changes

The finally received approval from the Planning Board to make changes to six units along Cambridge Street, which Duffy Realty had claimed were

According to the developers, the condos were receiving very little buyer interest because the front doors are set to Cambridge Street, so they proposed turning the front side into fenced in backyards with extensive landscaping to buffer the road for the condo owners.

At a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting in February though, Planning Board Chair Drew Bottaro protested Duffy Realty’s new plan.

“It was a fundamental part of the ACP (area comprehensive plan) that the streetscape be viewed as active,” he said.  “We could be looking at a canyon of cars; that it not be a walled off development is fundamental.”

The ZBA concurred and gave the developers two months to work with the Planning Board to come up with a solution.

Duffy Realty’s revised plan still calls for the main entryways to be at the rear of the condominium next to the driveway. Their approach to the Cambridge Street challenge is to provide a faux front entrance.

The artist’s design that was presented to the board showed a door with mounted lamps above it, and stairs leading up to the entrance. The proposed landscaping around the units includes shrubs (some of which are flowering) Norway spruce trees, Red Maples and evergreens.

Unlike the secluded barrier approach that was presented to the ZBA in February, the new design appears to be a front yard. There is even a small 30-inch high stonewall that provides a subtle barrier between the units and the sidewalk.

The board, and the residents in attendance at the meeting were pleased.

“I’m impressed with the change,” said Planning Board member Betsy Cregger. “With a few tweaks we should be set.”

The board gave its unanimous approval on two conditions. They will require that the gates to each unit be made of wood and that the stones on the wall around the perimeter of the units be of mixed scaling.

In addition, the board provided a strong recommendation that the condos have some sort of slight projection over the doors.

“I don’t know how much more we can do,” Drew Bottaro said. “I think it will improve your marketing for the development and I wish you well.”

Duffy Realty’s Graystone development has one hurdle left. On April 26 they must go before the Zoning Board of Appeals to have these proposed changes approved.