Selectmen consider two Chapter 40B developments
By Ken Powers Contributing Writer

Southborough - Among the many items on the town's Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) plate these days is the pair of Chapter 40B affordable housing proposals recently sent by the Board of Selectmen.

Instead of choosing one of the two proposals presented to it to forward to the ZBA, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to send both projects to the ZBA and let it decide.

Both proposals call for the development of 200-unit apartment complexes, 25 percent of which would be rented at affordable rates.

The proposals are from the AvalonBay and Trammell Crow residential development companies.

The Trammell Crow project would be built on land north of Route 9 and east of Interstate 495. The AvalonBay project would be south of Route 9 and less than a mile from Interstate 495.

Representatives for both companies gave brief presentations to the Board of Selectmen last month, follow-ups on presentations originally given in August.

Southborough resident Kevin Giblin, representing AvalonBay, asked the selectmen to choose one plan to move forward and also petitioned the board to raise the size maximum of a Chapter 40B development in town to 250 units. That maximum currently stands at 200 units.

Phil Jenks, the attorney representing Trammell Crow at the meeting, suggested the board send both projects to the ZBA, a suggestion the board ultimately heeded.