Commission hears 76‑unit multifamily and mobile‑home reconfiguration; applications fail amid traffic and flood concerns

The commission heard two linked applications for 500 Washington Street: a multifamily development (two 3‑story buildings totaling 76 units/94 bedrooms) and a mobile‑home park reconfiguration for 23 spaces. The applicants presented site plans showing building pads outside the FEMA flood zone, two stormwater basins sized for compensatory excavation, 122 parking spaces (including EV/ADA provisions), and a looped 8‑inch water main with service laterals and sanitary sewer connections. The plan included 20 garage spaces and designated mail/package areas.

The applicant’s traffic engineer performed counts and standard LOS analysis and reported negligible change to the studied intersection’s level of service after the development. Residents near Palmer Field and Washington Street, and multiple speakers who live on the property, said sight lines are poor, the driveway is hard to exit during peak flows, and that Palmer Field historically receives overflow where basins ultimately discharge. The town engineering and water & sewer memos indicated most technical comments had been addressed but asked for plan notes, flood‑compliant garage venting, and legal easements. After deliberation, motions to approve both the multifamily plan (6.5) and the mobile‑home reconfiguration (6.6) failed to obtain sufficient affirmative votes.