Planners review The Hive at 132 Cherry Street: parking option selected, gym and towpath added

On Feb. 13 the Planning & Development Board Project Review Committee reviewed updates to The Hive at 132 Cherry Street, where applicants from CJS described changes intended to increase street activation and meet earlier board comments.

The project team said it elected to adopt on‑street parking Option C to maximize parking while preserving tree lawns, and has retained other streetscape elements such as a bus stop and bike racks. The southwest commercial space will be converted to a publicly accessible fitness center with an exterior-only entrance; the applicant said the gym will be accessible from the street and used by residents and the public.

Along the waterfront edge the team proposed a "towpath"‑style pedestrian route to improve access to the water's edge, with added landscaping and a hedgerow separating the towpath from an internal courtyard. The hedgerow will be paired with a gated key‑fob entry so residents can access the towpath while the courtyard remains secure.

Applicants provided a landscape plan with tree counts and species, reporting that the lot will show 26.9% green space. They said a bioswale is not required for the project, and described a storm‑drain system in the submitted drawings; staff suggested bringing a civil engineer (Jamie from Fagan) to answer technical questions about stormwater at the next meeting.

Board members pressed the applicants on management and accessibility issues. Several members referenced lessons from Art House nearby, urging the team to explain how management, tenant screening and operational practices will prevent similar problems. Board member Andy Rollman asked for precedents showing open garages that have worked; applicants said they would present examples. The committee also discussed whether courtyard separation and the street‑level gym create accessibility issues for residents with mobility limitations; applicants suggested management could prioritize assignments to address resident needs and said accessible routes are included.

Staff and the team noted a zoning consequence of shifting the building east for floodplain reasons: upper‑floor projections advance into side‑yard setbacks, so an area variance is expected. Staff reminded the committee that area variances expire after two years and that an amended "seeker" determination and a public hearing are on the path to the March BZA.

The committee requested more detail at the full board meeting: specifically, stormwater clarifications, management/operations plans addressing Art House lessons, and precedent projects demonstrating successful open parking garages or screened alternatives.