Thursday, November 8, 2012
City officials have called into question the financial benefit of "Brookview Village" to the city.
Taxes and mitigation funds will benefit the city say developers of "Brookview Village" while city officials contend that one special education student could make the 225 unit apartment complex a losing proposition for the city. "It is going to be one or two special education students at $100,000 to $150,000 each," said City Councilor Joseph Delano of a scenario that would turn the profitability of the project on its head for the city. Delano said he was not speaking against special needs students, but that these costs should be considered when discussing the project. He also spoke out against how the project was proceeding during the meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
It was a fiery conversation that preceded the Zoning Board of Appeals postponing a vote on "Brookview Village" Tuesday.
City Councilors questioned the speed at which the "Brookview Village" "friendly 40B" is being processed, with Councilor Joseph Delano saying that it could be construed that there were behind the scenes dealings. "This thing is being rushed through at breakneck speed," said Delano who described the 225 unit development as "mediocre housing." "There is no way this is a good project for the city. It its that good they would have brought it in the front door." Brookview Village is a 225 unit "friendly 40B" apartment complex that is planned to be located off of Ames Street. It is being developed by the Gutierrez Company. Delano hit upon the major objections of many people in the audience Tuesday night: the speed of the approval process, going …
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
The final vote on the proposed 40B development was postponed Tuesday.
The final decision on the "Brookview Village" 40B development has been postponed until December as the Zoning Board of Appeals seeks out additional information. The ZBA is looking for information from the school district on the potential impact of the 225 unit apartment complex. They also will be seeking final numbers on mitigation being requested by various department heads based on the estimated impact the project would have on those departments. Brookview Village is a 225 unit "friendly 40B" apartment complex that is planned to be located off of Ames Street. It is being developed by the Gutierrez Company. The ZBA and representatives from the Gutierrez Company discussed $675,000 as a figure for mitigation. This works out to roughly $3,…
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The developers have cut the numbers but the controversy remains around Marlborough's proposed "friendly" 40B.
The developers of the "Brookview Village" 40B have cut the number of units at the complex down to 225 following a request by a Zoning Board of Appeals member. "I think that would remedy some of the issues that you have," said Board Member Paul Giunta in reference to drainage and wetlands at a meeting with the developers last month. The developers responded with a plan that cut the development down from the proposed 243 units to 225. The portion of affordable units remains the same although the number drops to 56. This would continue to ensure that Marlborough would not go below it's 10 percent affordable housing requirement until 2029, according to representatives from the developer. Brookview Village is a 225 unit "friendly 40B" apartment…
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Governor Deval Patrick recently paid a visit to a nearby apple orchard while the ZBA prepares to delve back into the proposed "Brookview Village" 40B development.
1. Governor Deval Patrick paid a visit to nearby Northborough at Tougas Farm last Friday and Northborough Editor Charlene Arsenault was there to capture the visit. They spoke farming, policy and toured the farm. Sounds like a grand time to us. 2. The Zoning Board of Appeals is set to continue its discussion of the Brookview Village 40B affordable housing development tonight at 7 p.m. The mayor and City Council have already voiced their opinions on the issue. Where do you stand? 3. The traffic commission will meet today at 10 a.m. Among their items for discussion is a communication from City Councilor Jenkins regarding the Framingham Road and Walker Street intersection. Christian Dumais has chosen to take this opporunity to voice concerns …
Monday, September 10, 2012
Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant is in favor of the additional control over affordable housing units that "Brookview Village" gives the city.
Mayor Arthur Vigeant recently spoke in favor of the “Brookview Village” development and the control it gives over additional 40B units in the city. “We will be above our 10 percent threshold for years to come, “ he said during a recent interview with Patch. While the merits of putting residential housing among the industrial properties off Route 20 have been discussed at an ongoing public hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals, the mayor says that this “friendly” 40B affords the city more control as it is already above the required threshold for affordable housing. The city has more say over the development when it is above the mandated threshold, he said. Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to …
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Zoning Board of Appeals members voiced the need for a city planner as they continue to work on the "Brookview Village" 40B development, while one board member requested to see plans reducing the number of units to 225.
The need for a City Planner was raised by the Zoning Board of Appeals as they continue to work on the "Brookview Village" 40B development proposal. "It's not coming from a planner looking at the entire city of Marlborough," said ZBA Member Lynn Faust who explained she was also concerned with a lack of impartial data on the need for housing in the area."We have planners for your company but not a planner for the city." She questioned whether a 243 unit residential property — with 61 affordable units — was the best use for this land, something that she said would normally be answered by a city planner with a larger view of what the city needs and where. This position has not been filled for years, she said. The discussion was sparked as the …
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
With the Zoning Board of Appeals set to continue a public hearing on the "Brookview Village" development tonight; we have all the information to get you up to date.
The proposed "Brookview Village" housing development public hearing will continue tonight in front of the Zoning Board of Appeals. The details that have been laid out about the complex are straight forward enough: it will include 243 rental units on an 18.73 acre plot of land along Route 20 near Ames Street. The development would be on land zoned for industrial use. However, the concerns of neighbors, and city councilors have already begun to be officially voiced with continued concerns set to be raised in a continueation of the August 7 hearing. At the top of residents concerns from the first portion of the public hearing were the environment and safety. At that portion of the hearing, resident Ron Bucchino said a second opinion of the …
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Here are 5 facts about the proposed affordable housing project.
Clarification: This article has been amended to include a more specific time table for construction. Want to know more about Brookview Village? We have some facts for you: 1. Brookview Village would be a rental property, offering studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedrooms units. Rent would be $1,000 to $1,600 a month. 2. Fire officials have expressed concern about access to the complexes: a problem that the company will work through with the fire chief as the proposal moves forward. 3. Marlborough currently has 10.2 percent of housing units designated as affordable; this is in excess of the state requirement of 10 percent. In Brookview Village, 61 units would be offered at affordable prices, while the remaining 182 units would be…
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Developers will meet again with the city next month.
In a public hearing Tuesday night, developers of a proposed affordable housing apartment complex along Route 20 met with the Zoning Board of Appeals to hear officials and residents' concerns. “Brookview Village” would include 243 rental units on an 18.73 acre plot of land along Route 20 near Ames Street. The developers would be using previously designated industrial land for a residential use—a choice made because there is much larger demand for places to live with a much smaller supply, said Arthur Bergeron, legal representative for the Gutierrez Company. This development is “only sucessful if it’s really part of the community,” said Ted Doyle, a spokesman for the Gutierrez Company, adding that concern “is a normal parameter for these …
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Anne Burke
4:59 pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012
Mr Delano ~ Your attitude revealed in your statements are sadly, all too common. Your are blatantly discriminating based upon socioeconomic class and possible educational disability. Like Mr Fitzpatrick, I too would like to know when your term expires. more ›