Planning commission approves Park Place Villas site plan, grants irrigation waiver

The Worcester County Planning Commission approved the site plan for Park Place Villas at its March meeting, granting the applicant’s request for a waiver of the new irrigation requirement and requiring the removal of a small roof hip so the building complies with the 45‑foot height limit.

For the record, my name is Hugh Propper, I represent Park Place, the applicant, and this proposal adds 12 multifamily units to the existing Park Place commercial development, Propper said. He described the units as intended workforce housing for year‑round residents and said the project meets or exceeds applicable code percentages and the county’s comprehensive‑plan goals.

The developer said the residential component will connect to existing commercial uses on the property and will include a mix of two‑ and three‑bedroom units. Propper told commissioners the project has 124 parking spaces and thus meets the site’s parking requirement of 122 spaces. He also said the building will include an elevator, and that an existing stormwater pond at the rear of the property could be maintained as a water feature subject to environmental review.

Staff reported the issues in the staff report had been satisfied. Staff did raise a minor concern about a pitched architectural element that could push a measured peak above the 45‑foot maximum; the applicant and staff discussed measured elevations (applicant figures of roughly 42.8 feet versus a potential 45.8‑foot peak) and agreed to eliminate the small hip/roof feature to ensure compliance.

Commissioner (S2) moved to approve the site plan as presented and to grant the requested irrigation waiver; a second was given by Commissioner (S1). The commission voted to approve the site plan and the waiver, with a recorded voice vote that included at least one opposition point. After the vote Propper thanked the commission and confirmed he would ensure the hip feature is removed.

The applicant also said they will post a maintenance bond and maintain landscaping for the required period; Propper noted the applicant intends to cover two years of bonded maintenance and to hire contractors for ongoing upkeep.

Next steps: the applicant must submit final revised elevations showing the removed hip/roof detail and demonstrate compliance with the 45‑foot height standard before permit issuance. The commission’s approval included the irrigation waiver and the requirement that the building meet the applicable height measurement standard.