Discussions between the Windham Town Manager and the developer of a proposed new senior affordable housing project off Angler’s Road may result in significant changes to the development and the creation of a special Tax Increment Financing District for the site.
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| Members of the Windham Town Council participate in a discussion about a proposed senior housing project behind Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church during a meeting on Tuesday evening. From left are Councilors Bill Reiner, Jarrod Maxfield, Mark Morrison, and Nick Kalogerakis. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE |
The area also lies within Windham’s Farm Zone and to gain approval for the scope of the project, zoning and many other issues would need to be resolved such as building height, lighting, and water quality.
Barry Tibbetts, Windham Town Manager, told councilors that he became involved after hearing concerns from residents about the project.
“There are a number of issues to be addressed before anything could be done with that site,” Tibbetts said. “There’s the proposed building height, the setback, water quality, the impacts of lighting, noise concerns, traffic, and its architectural features.”
A compromise solution could be found by working within the framework of the existing Farm Zoning, creating a TIF and modifying the proposal by changing the building height to 35 feet and the setback to 150 feet in keeping with current zoning rules. The modification would also include creating 42 one-bedroom apartments instead of 24 duplexes.
“We looked at how this building fits within the neighborhood and showed the developer how creating a senior housing TIF would be beneficial,” Tibbetts said. “For us, this is really about the TIF and if we as a community want to put a TIF on this property.”
The project itself would take about two years to complete because of engineering, site evaluations, financing and approval from the Windham Planning Board, Tibbetts said.
Councilors also listened to the concerns of residents and abutters during the meeting.
Annie and Mike Swisko of Windham said they downsized a few years ago and sold their home to live in a townhouse. They said more senior housing is needed in town and like the idea of creating a TIF for senior affordable housing, but they thought that two-bedroom units would be better.
Several residents on Angler’s Road voiced concerns about development in the area in general, the aquifer, and said they wondered if this was the right type of project for that site.
Barry Bernard, who lives on Shore Road in Windham, said he’s happy to hear that the developer is open to modifying the plan which was first proposed last fall, and he realizes development at that site is going to happen eventually one way or the other.
“My preference is no development at all but I’m not a not-in-my backyard type of person,” he said. “I don’t want 24 duplexes going in there, that would be horrendous. I would much rather see the footprint of 42 single bedrooms going in there.”
Councilor Jarrod Maxfield thanked residents for expressing their concerns about the project.
“It’s great to see members of the community and the town work together to find something that will work,” Maxfield said. “I will support this TIF decision and believe it will help pave the way for a better project.”
Councilor Bill Reiner said he’s optimistic that addressing these issues now will result in a better solution for everyone concerned.
“This is a great compromise between residents, the town, and the developer to address a growing need in the community.” Reiner said.
A public hearing about creating a Senior Housing TIF will be conducted at a Windham Town Council meeting in March. <
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