Font ResizeBRATTLEBORO -- The Development Review Board wants a little more information before issuing a permit for a proposed 34-unit senior housing development in North Brattleboro.
Property owner John Brunelle came before the board Monday night with a list of changes he made for Black Mountain Estates following his initial hearing in May, where the board expressed some concerns about the plan.
The board was largely satisfied with the alterations, but still wanted to see a detailed storm water plan before issuing the town permit.
The hearing was continued until the September DRB meeting.
"The town liked everything we did but they just need a little more information," Brunelle said Tuesday. "They’ve been great to work with, and I don’t think this is going to delay us at all."
Brunelle and his wife, Lori, want to build the senior housing development at his 33-acre property on Buttonwood Hill Road off of Black Mountain Road, just west of where it crosses Interstate 91.
The proposed plan includes 34 independent two-bedroom apartments, arranged in clusters around common areas and green spaces.
The housing units will be priced for middle income residents, and will not be subsidized for low income seniors.
The estimated cost of the project is about $3 million.
The board members, at their meeting Monday, asked Brunelle for a storm water runoff plan.
Brunelle knew he would have to have
He was going to put together a storm water plan for the Act 250 process, and will now get a plan together in time for the September DRB meeting, he said.
At the July DRB meeting the board asked Brunelle to make changes to how he had the buildings arranged on the property.
The board was looking for a tighter, more concentrated footprint, and at the meeting Monday Brunelle turned in the new plan which showed the number of units reduced from 41 to 34, and the buildings facing each other.
There are fewer internal roads than were on the original plan and the Brunelles purchased an additional 18 acres of land to reduce the overall footprint in relation to the size of the entire property.
The board was also looking for more green space, and by reducing the number of units and moving them closer together developers were able to increase the public open space.
Brunelle also said he has been working closely with the SIT Graduate Institute, which owns a right of way on to the property.
"So far we have not heard any negative comments from the neighbors," Brunelle said. "Everyone has been helpful."
If the DRB approves the plan, and Brunelle gets his Act 250 permit, he hopes to begin construction in the spring.
He said he wants to have a model home available for inspection in late spring and expects to have the initial units available in the summer.
"This is not going to slow us down," Brunelle said. "It was a good hearing Monday night and we are going to keep going. We knew this was going to take some time and we think it is moving along at a good pace. Everything is moving along just as it should."
Howard Weiss-Tisman can be reached at hwtisman@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 279.
