Manchester sends housing plan to the state, hears smaller Pine Street apartment plan

Manchester-by-the-Sea will send its new housing production plan to the state for approval after a Select Board vote Sept. 21.

The board also heard a scaled back plan for apartments on Gordon College land off Pine Street, updated its tree policy and set out the schedule for a Nov. 16 special town meeting.

Housing plan heads to the state

The board voted to submit the draft housing production plan to the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. The Planning Board had already approved the draft. The state has 90 days to respond.

The town's previous plan has expired. A state approved plan is required before Manchester can claim "safe harbor" protections under the state's Chapter 40B affordable housing law.

Director of Land Management Marc Resnick said the plan is consistent with the town's 2019 master plan and builds on its 2020 housing plan. It focuses on smaller scale projects, accessory dwelling units and use of public property.

Board member Ann Harrison said the plan still lists the original unit counts for the Shingle Place Hill and Jefferson Apartment Group proposals. She said they should read 136 and 245. Staff said those corrections can be made before the plan is sent.

Some board members questioned whether the plan's production goals are realistic, noting the town did not meet the goals in its last plan. One of the plan's presenters answered that "this is just a plan. It's not a promise."

Pine Street apartments shrink to 245 units

Jefferson Apartment Group returned with a smaller version of its proposed Chapter 40B apartment complex on about 20 acres of Gordon College land off Pine Street near Route 128.

The plan now calls for 245 units, down from 285 in May and 300 when talks began. There would be 160 units in two western buildings and 85 in an eastern building, with 404 parking spaces. The developer is proposing to protect about 6 acres of wetlands and vernal pool areas as conservation land.

A fiscal study done for the developer estimates the project would bring the town about $430,000 a year more than it costs in services, plus almost $2 million in one time permit and sewer connection fees. It projects about 27 new students.

Board members pushed back on some of those numbers. One said the school cost estimate appeared low compared with the regional district's per student spending. Another asked Town Administrator Tony Barletta to call Boxborough, which has a similar project, to learn how actual costs compared with its forecasts.

Board members also raised the combined effect on sewer capacity of this project and other proposals in the same part of town. Barletta said the treatment plant has room, but capacity is divided by district. He said the town is meeting with its engineering consultant, Wright Pierce, about reviewing its wastewater plan.

The developer asked the board to consider a letter of support so the project can move to the state eligibility step and then to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The board did not vote on a letter. The developer still plans to meet with the Planning Board and is before the Conservation Commission on its wetland lines.

Other business

• Tree policy. The board approved a revised tree policy. It drops the "heritage tree" designation, which could reach trees on private land, and asks the tree warden to report pruning and trunk size data. Supporters said private tree rules should come from a town bylaw voted by residents.
• Sauna days at White Beach. Board members agreed by consensus to let Barletta permit a few fall days for mobile saunas at White Beach through December. Let's Sauna asked for Oct. 4, Oct. 25 and Nov. 15. Each day will get its own special permit so the town can respond if neighbors object. The permits carry no fee for now; the board may look at charging vendors over the winter.
• Appointment. The board appointed Jennifer Saviano, a retired Coast Guard officer who recently moved to town, to the Manchester Coastal Stream Team through June 30, 2027.
• Town meeting calendar. Barletta said draft articles are due Oct. 5, and residents planning citizen petitions should talk with the town moderator by then. The warrant is to be finalized Oct. 19. The special town meeting is Monday, Nov. 16, with a special election Thursday, Dec. 10.
• Possible articles. Items under discussion include senior community center construction, the Essex Elementary School project, about $710,000 more from free cash for a new fire engine, a change to the town's special act that requires a ballot vote on any borrowing over $1 million, and a sign bylaw for the downtown district.

The board ended the night in executive session to discuss the DPW union contract.