Hamilton Planning Board Approves Bridge Street Land Division, Advances Flexible Zoning Bylaw

HAMILTON -- December 15, 2020, Hamilton Planning Board unanimously approved a seven-lot land division at zero Bridge Street and set developer feedback as the next step for a new flexible density zoning bylaw. The board voted five to one, with Bill Weeden abstaining, to approve the approval-not-required request filed by Summit Real Estate Strategies LLC for a roughly 19.74-acre parcel; applicant engineer Aaron Mackey of Allen Major Associates said percolation tests are set for early January and stormwater mitigation will include infiltration trenches and dry wells on the steep site. On the flexible density bylaw, members agreed to cap qualifying developments at 50 units per project and 100 units town-wide, matching the existing senior housing bylaw, and to circulate the updated matrix alongside the senior housing bylaw to developers with the question of which they would find more profitable to pursue. The board also opened preliminary discussion on rezoning the town-owned Winthrop School site, a roughly 12-acre parcel whose lease to the regional school district expires in two to three years, with Chair Brian Stein and Town Planner Patrick Lynch tasked with drafting a proposed zoning map for a future meeting.