It’s not right nor fair.
That’s what some town residents said about a proposal by Central Park Associates LLC to put 164 townhouses on 58 acres between Christian Street and Larkey Road.
More than 150 people packed the Planning and Zoning public hearing on the topic Thursday night.
Many residents opposed the plan, citing concerns about traffic, impact to the schools and density.
“We have children waiting for buses in the dark on a road that is already busy,” said James Thomas. “It is only a matter of time before there is an accident.”
Edna Cruz, of Larkey Road, said she lives with her four grandchildren and is worried traffic will only get worse with the housing development.
“This is taking advantage of the people in the area,” she said. “This is not right and not fair.”
Affordable
About 30 percent of the development, or 50 units, would be designated affordable, with sale prices ranging from $131,000 to $190,000.
The rest will be priced at about $280,000.
Including affordable units in an application gives a developer more leverage because the state law meant to encourage affordable housing trumps local zoning.
Central Park had originally received site plan approval to build 82 units of elderly housing there in 2006. But on Feb. 24, the developer presented a proposal that dropped the age restriction and added the affordable units.
The application came one day before an affordable housing moratorium went into effect in Oxford. The town proposed the moratorium to get some room to breath while it develops affordable housing guidelines.
“The developer was quick to modify this application to beat the deadline,” said Ed Carver, president of the political action committee Keep Oxford Green. “This is not in the best interest of Oxford residents.”
Carver suggested the property should be made affordable, but restricted to elderly and handicapped citizens.
The Developer Says
Previously, developer Matthew Zaloumis has said the recent economic downturn influenced his decision to change the project.
His attorney, Ryan McKain, said Thursday the biggest change from the original project is the elimination of age restricted housing.
The new proposal also doubles the number of units proposed.
The project has received approvals from the Inland/Wetland Agency and the Sewer Authority, McKain said.
Fred D’Amico, engineer on the project, said a traffic study done on the site showed no averse effects from the development.
Following the public participation McKain said he would prepare a written response to all of the questions presented by residents.
The public hearing was continued until June 17.
