$675,000 in Mitigation for "Brookview Village" Approved

The Zoning Board of Appeals voted through the final conditions for "Brookview Village" at their meeting Tuesday night.

The approval of conditions is the final step in the ZBA's approval of the 225 apartment units that will be placed off of Ames Street in an area in the middle of industrial and commercial developments that had previously been zoned commercial. It is being developed by the Gutierrez Company.

The final conditions included provisions for access by the fire department. The board also agreed to $675,000 in mitigation money to be paid to the city for the loss of the industrial and commercial use of the property. Half of the funds will be paid on the receipt of the permit of occupancy with the rest to be paid within six months later.

The board agreed to a proposal by Mayor Arthur Vigeant, City Council President Patricia Pope and Councilor Joseph Delano to put the money into one fund rather than be doled out to individual departments.

“I like the mayor’s proposal," said ZBA Member Mitchell Gorka.

At the opening of the meeting, ZBA Member Jay Whittaker who was brought on to replace two members who had resigned following the approval of the proposal, spoke out against how the apartment complex came to the board. He said that he has no problems with the property, but would not have voted for it because it was brought forward as a 40B project and did not go through the regular approval process.

“I believe very strongly you submitted a 40B was to circumvent the normal process," he said. "I have no issue, but I want you to know I think what you did is wrong."

The conditions were sent to the city's attorney to be reviewed.