HUDSON – A proposed mixed-use commercial and residential property would add just over two dozen residential units and nearly 5,000 square feet of commercial space to a site on Main Street in Hudson, if approved through the town’s permitting process.
Currently under review by the Planning Board, the matter has prompted some discussion about parking availability within Hudson’s downtown area.
“It’s an exciting redevelopment project,” Hancock Associates’ Joe Peznola told the Planning Board on June 7. “I think it will bring some vibrancy to an already-vibrant downtown.”
The project is being proposed by 136 Main Street Condominium.
The site sits at 136 Main Street, which is currently occupied by a number of buildings and tenants, including a Domino’s Pizza location.
Peznola said that his team was proposing the project for the whole site, retaining the building housing the Domino’s while demolishing or repurposing other structures.
Developers hope to update the parking area in front of the Domino’s while also adding new sidewalk space.
“We’re trying to have pedestrian connectivity between Main Street and the site proper,” Peznola said.
The entire project will contain 27 residential units and about 4,800 square feet of commercial space.
Peznola said that they had calculated an estimated parking demand of 93 spaces for the whole site. They would provide 79 spaces onsite, with a shortfall of 14 because they expect people who live and work at the site would not all have to park there at the same time.
Peznola said developers calculated their need for 93 parking spaces based on an average of 1.5 parking spacesper unit. That figure, he said, drew from knowledge of other Hancock Associates multi family developments.
It falls short of town guidelines, however, which call for 2.5 parking spaces per unit.
“When you say 79 parking spaces were required, it’s really 103 that were required by our bylaw,” said Planning Board Chair Robert D’Amelio.
Peznola replied that the bylaw itself does not actually require any number of parking spaces in the downtown zoning area.
In a conversation with the Community Advocate, Hudson Director of Planning and Community Development Kristina Johnson confirmed that there is no required ratio of parking for units in the downtown area.
Overall, D’Amelio said that he was “all for” the project, adding that he could not envision a better use for the property.
However, he added that it is necessary to ensure that sufficient parking would be available for residents.
Discussed last month, the Planning Board has voted unanimously to continue the discussion on July 19.
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