By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD – A proposed subdivision at 154-158 Salem St. is making its way through the local permitting process in front of the Planning Board, the Conservation Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The plan calls for the creation of four lots. Two of the lots would each house a duplex. One of the lots would have a single-family home. The fourth lot – the one in the rear of the property – would have eight attached residential units (reduced from the 13 originally planned).
Only that fourth lot with the planned eight units falls under the Board of Appeals’ jurisdiction. The remainder of the project, the subdivision and the proposed new cul-de-sac, named “Timberwood Circle,” is a Planning Board matter.
Attorney Brian McGrail and his client, developer Nick Leo, were at last week’s ZBA meeting for a continued hearing on the project.
McGrail told the board that the town’s Engineering Department was reviewing the stormwater report that was revised after the 13 units in the rear were reduced to eight. He also noted that an abutter – a business on Nablus Way – had hired a consultant to look at the potential of drainage from the development impacting the neighboring property.
McGrail said that the Traffic Advisory Committee had already looked at the plans and had no issues or concerns.
ZBA chairman Thomas Lucey asked McGrail to provide a brief review of the proposed project, with a deeper dive expected at the board’s May 28 meeting.
McGrail displayed a map of the site, showing where the various structures would be located along the proposed new street. He noted that only 16 parking spaces would be required for the eight units on the rear lot, but 34 would be provided, so on-street parking would not be an issue. Each unit would have a two-car garage plus room for two more cars in the driveway, he added.
McGrail also reviewed the landscape plan for the project, which includes 92 new trees, 163 shrubs and 190 perennial plants. An existing tree line on the property would also be protected, he said.
He also displayed some preliminary architectural plans, adding that the idea is to make the new homes blend in with the landscape.
Lucey said that that the project was headed in the right direction.
When the hearing was opened to the public, Tom Swanson, a construction manager for the business on Nablus Way, described the drainage concerns related to the neighboring property.
Scott Hanley of Tobey Lane said that he appreciated the reduction in the number of units but still felt that the project was too dense. He also asked about the proximity of the units in the rear of the property to a nearby wetland.
Richard Williams, a civil engineer working for the developer, said that the rearmost yards would all be outside of the wetland buffer zone. He added that the ConCom would require markings to prevent people from encroaching on the wetlands.
Edward Smith, a direct abutter at 162 Salem St., said that he was concerned about traffic coming out of the development. He asked the board to request police records related to motor vehicle crashes and speeding along that stretch of Salem Street.
Lucey assured Smith that the board would assess those concerns but noted that the Traffic Advisory Committee, which includes public safety personnel, had reviewed all of that data and had no concerns.
The ZBA continued the hearing to its May 28 meeting, when it expects to delve more deeply into the architecture and landscape plans.
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Also at last week’s meeting, the ZBA granted eight separate variances to allow for the upgrade and replacement of freestanding monument signs for each of the buildings at Edgewater Park (off Audubon Road). The signs being replaced are for 0, 101, 201, 301, 401, 500, 601 and 701 Edgewater Drive.
McGrail also represented this project and said that in most instances, the new signs would be smaller than what is there presently.