SOUTH DEERFIELD — A proposed age 55-plus development at the base of Mount Sugarloaf is moving forward toward conditional approval — which could happen next month.
On Monday, the Planning Board unanimously voted to have the project reviewed by Civil Engineering Consultant Sara Campbell. Last month, members decided to post a public advertisement seeking review proposals from engineers. Four proposals were received as a result, including the proposal submitted by Campbell.
The proposed senior housing development, called The Condominiums at Sugarloaf, outlines 35 buildings and a total of 70 units on 22.8 acres off Sugarloaf Street and beside Mountain Road. If approved, the condos would have a 55-and-older deed restriction and price tag of about $300,000 each.
“We’ve been active since our last meeting, and this coming month should be very active,” said Engineer Tony Wonseski, representing SVE Associates. Wonseski said the applicant, Mark Wightman, is “looking for (conditional) approval at our next meeting.”
Also at the previous meeting, the board asked Pat Smith, Senior Land Use Planner at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, to review the plans for technical discrepancies. In an update Monday, Smith said, “there are a number of items here, none of them are a huge deal, they just need to be cleared up.” Problematic items include discrepancies in the table of contents and the location of trees.
Since the last meeting, Wonseski said a soil sample report has been revised and finalized. Among revisions, the property’s northwest zone has been raised slightly to help with storm water concerns.
During Monday’s public comment section of the meeting, a few residents cited concerns that the development will increase traffic, creating a safety hazard. The development’s application includes a curb-cut waiver, requesting a distance of 285 feet between its two entrances instead of the town-required 600 feet.
Wonseski said because Sugarloaf Street is controlled by the state, Mass. Department of Transportation will give input on the project. Other agencies that will give input on the project include the town’s highway superintendent, tree warden, town council, fire department, police department, Board of Selectmen and water commissioners.
At the end of the meeting, the Planning Board voted to continue the Public Hearing early next month.
“We submitted the Definitive Plans Dec. 16, and regulations state (the Planning Board) has 90 days to review and make decisions, whether it’s denial or acceptance, or ask for an extension,” Wightman said about when he hopes to see the project approved by the Planning Board.
Wightman added, “we’re very excited that we’re moving forward in a positive fashion.”
Referring to the March deadline, Planning Board Chairman John Waite said, “This is the biggest development I’ve seen in my time in Deerfield. We’re not going to rush this.”
“We have 14 buyers already,” Wightman said after the meeting was over, pointing to a few locations marked on the project’s designs. “These are the locations that’ve been taken already — it’s been amazing to have such an incredible outpouring of interest without any advertising. It shows that there’s a demand for this project.”
You can reach Andy Castillo
at: acastillo@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 263
On Twitter: @AndyCCastillo