More changes are coming to the Town of Milton. In the midst of the Geyser Road revitalization project, a concept plan for a new senior housing development on Rowland Street was rolled out at a Wednesday, Jan. 16, meeting of the Town Board.
Joe Dannible from Environmental Design Partnership and representing RJ Taylor Builders outlined a plan for a mixed-use development consisting of 56 duplex units of senior housing, 22 residential units and commercial usage on 43 acres.
The plan is being pitched as a planned development district, because the area is zoned for both commercial and residential — which doesn’t allow for duplexes — in different areas. The PDD designation would allow a special zoning use for just the project in question.
Dannible said there are some constraints on the site including wetlands, a stream corridor overlay district and steep slopes. All those areas have been avoided in the plans.
The senior housing component would sit on 20 acres of land and a private road would be constructed. The project would require a special use permit from the Planning Board because the town zoning doesn’t allow for duplexes. The minimum lot size for the duplexes would be one acre.
Plans for commercial use on the property are for a 20,000-square-foot shopping strip with parking for around 100 cars.
“This is something that we’re going to continue to develop as tenants express interest and as we move forward with the Planning Board,” said Dannible. “As we find out what those tenants need for planning space, that may be altered.”
Dannible said the developer would like to begin construction as soon as approval is secured.
“All we are asking from this board tonight is a referral to the Planning Board for the senior section,” he added.
The board granted the referral later in the meeting. The next step will be a presentation to the Planning Board as a comprehensive plan for all three uses of the site.
Dannible argued there is a need for senior housing in the area, even though there is an empty senior PDD approved in the town on Northline Road.
“There is still a need for the senior,” he said. “There are reasons that we believe that one’s not been developed. We believe the main reason that one has not taken off is because it’s not located in any proximity to commercial development.
Dannible said this project has the potential to have connections for seniors to be able to walk down to the various commercial properties. The developer said the location is ideal for other reasons, too.
“This is a little closer to sewer and water,” said Bo Mylo of RJ Taylor Builders. “This is a little bit more feasible for us to move forward with this project. There is a market for it.”
Dannible said the plan is for all the residential traffic to come out on Rowland Street.
“This will keep the property separate, therefore avoiding any cut throughs,” he said.
Dannible said there will be very minimal traffic impacts during peak hours.
The units themselves will be between 1,600 to 1,900 square feet with their own garages and will have several upgrades available, including granite countertops and fireplaces. The expected leasing price for a rented unit would be around $1,600 a month and the expected sale price would be around $300,000 to $400,000.