132-Unit 40B Project Filed For 100 West Street Wilmington

WILMINGTON, MA — A new 40B housing development application has been filed in Wilmington that would bring a 132-unit complex to 100-104 West Street.

The project was filed with MassHousing on Jan. 28, the town said Tuesday.

Because the town is below the state's threshold of 10 percent affordable housing, developers can apply for comprehensive permits from the Board of Appeals for projects that are at least 20 percent affordable.

The West Street project would include 33 income-restricted units for households making no more than 80 percent of area median income, qualifying it for a 40B permit. The other 99 units would be market rate.

The proposal is for a four-story apartment building featuring 124 units as well as three duplexes. Ten percent of the units, including all six townhouse units, would be three-bedroom units, another 40B requirement.

The project would sit on a 4.7 acre lot that currently contains an abandoned single-family home and two other deteriorating structures, all of which will be demolished. The lot is wooded with wetlands on the eastern and southern ends.

According to a notice from the town to residents, the town has fallen below the 10 percent affordable housing threshold because of "an appeal of the Conservation permit by a group of residents" of the proposed development at Middlesex Avenue and Jefferson Road. The Board of Appeals approved the 108-unit project's comprehensive permit in July of 2020.

Conservation permits are the only other permits needed for 40B Projects.

The West Street applicant will present their project to the Board of Selectmen Feb. 14 for informational purposes, but the selectmen have no authority over 40B projects. The Board of Appeals will discuss the project at a formal hearing Wednesday. Residents can offer comment at both meetings but only Board of Appeals comments are "on the record," the town said.

Wilmington will provide comments to MassHousing March 2.

"Following the issuance of a Project Eligibility Letter from MassHousing, the Applicant, 100 West Street LLC, will be eligible to file an application for the project with the Wilmington Board of Appeals for a Comprehensive Permit under MGL Chapter 40B," the town said. "The Board of Appeals Comprehensive Permit process takes the place of all other local approvals (Board of Health, Planning Board, Water & Sewer Commission, etc.) except that a permit from the Conservation Commission will also be required."

The Board of Appeals will hold another public hearing during the Comprehensive Permit process, the town said. The board meets the second Wednesday of each week.

All of the project's materials are available here.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or [email protected].