SWAMPSCOTT — The Select Board decided on Wednesday to dedicate its whole meeting next week to public comments about a new proposed Chapter 40B project at 0 Archer St./ 54 Foster Road, after learning that the developer indicated no interest in a public discussion.
Marzie Galazka, director of community and economic development in Swampscott, brought to the attention of the Select Board, at the meeting on Wednesday, that the town was expected to provide comments to MassHousing on a new proposed Chapter 40B project at 0 Archer St./ 54 Foster Road by Jan. 28.
A developer represented by Peabody-based Panos Law Group is looking to build Atlantic Bay View Residencies, a five-story modern building on a 4.8-acre wooded plot of land at the end of Archer Street. The main access to the site is proposed to be on Foster Road.
“The Archer Street parcels pose a unique development opportunity because it is one of the few remaining, undeveloped and underutilized parcels in the town,” the developer’s pre-application said.
The apartment-style rental development would consist of 160 units, including 16 three-bedroom, 48 two-bedroom and 96 one-bedroom units. The project’s plan provides for 243 parking spaces in two enclosed garages under the building and open-air lots.
The project would create 40 affordable-housing units for households earning 80 percent of the Area Mean Family Income adjusted for the household size, in accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40B.
The pre-application was submitted to MassHousing on Nov. 24, 2021. MassHousing determines whether Chapter 40B projects are eligible for their financing program or financing through the New England Fund (NEF). This project eligibility approval is a required component of any comprehensive permit application to be submitted to the local Zoning Board of Appeals.
The town had 30 days to send its comments on the project to MassHousing, Galazka said, but because of the holidays she had filed for an extension.
In December 2021, Galazka offered the developer the opportunity to hold a hybrid public meeting at Swampscott High School via Zoom; however, the developer and their attorney, Jason Panos, indicated that they did not want to participate in a public discussion and would rather meet with the Select Board and the town boards and committees.
“Unfortunately, statutory they are not required to have a public meeting,” Galazka said.
Select Board member David Grishman was able to attend the site visit on Dec.15, 2021 along with Galazka, MassHousing, Swampscott’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the Fire Department. Abutters and neighbors from Archer Street, Foster Road and Eureka Avenue were not invited onto the site, Grishman said.
“This is an extremely difficult site, mostly on rock,” said Grishman. “It is going to require significant blasting in a very densely populated area, according to the site engineer.”
Both Galazka and Grishman noted that the access through Foster Road to the site is difficult and dangerous.
“I can’t state enough about how upset I am that there is no public meeting and there is no ability for the citizens that are going to be in a close proximity and/or impacted — not only by the quarry blasting but by this proposed blasting — to not have any say or any questions answered whatsoever,” said Grishman.
Grishman said that there is a lack of transparency, which is supposed to build trust.
“We frankly have the responsibility to protect the interest of Swampscott. This project, as presented, really creates a grave incompatibility with a number of important municipal concerns, including public safety,” said Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald.
Peter Spellios, member of the Select Board, said that since the board’s role is to comment on the proposed project in accordance with the regulations, it is entirely appropriate for the board to hear from the residents about the things it might not be aware of.
“I think giving an opportunity for the neighbors to show up and for us to hear it will make for a better response,” Spellios said.
After listening to her colleagues, Polly Titcomb, chair of the Select Board, decided to clear the agenda for the next board’s meeting and create room for public comment on the project.
“I look at this as fulfilling our duty to the residents and hearing what they have to say and writing a really important letter,” Titcomb said.
The virtual public meeting discussing the Atlantic Bay View Residencies will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m.