Hamilton Planning Board Backs Two Asbury Street Affordable Housing Projects, Names Associate Member

HAMILTON -- May 4, 2021, Hamilton Planning Board reviews 55 proposed affordable housing units on Asbury Street and unanimously appoints a new associate member. The board conducted courtesy site-plan reviews of a 10-unit Habitat for Humanity ownership project at 434-438 Asbury Street and a 45-unit Harbor Light Community Partners rental project at 455 Asbury Street, both heading to the Zoning Board of Appeals for formal 40B permitting. Planning Coordinator Patrick Refferd said the Habitat project may reach the ZBA as early as June 2. Board members pressed Harbor Light's Andrew DeFranza on the massing and orientation of the three-story, 45-unit Asbury Commons building, with member Rick Mitchell telling DeFranza that "99 percent of the people are going to ask you to turn that" building away from Asbury Street. DeFranza confirmed the project pays property taxes at deed-restricted value and said it is Harbor Light's development priority over a far more complex, multi-transaction redevelopment of the former Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary's 211-unit student housing stock. The board voted unanimously to recommend Pat Norton, a facilities engineer, as associate member, after civic veteran Jack Lawrence withdrew from consideration. The meeting was the last for Chair Brian Stein, who stepped down after approximately 11 years on the board.