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Home My Public Portal AboutAppl and supporting docs PERMIT APPLICATION FORM I ZLY , Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals riECEiV ED BY 149 Main Street f 1}"►d!r CLERK'S OFFICE Watertown, MA 0247 ► 1�lait:�t034'rl, MASS. •,R w � �F (617) 972-6427 �`_`'_'b`� www.watertown-ma.gov Nl3 ,;X 24 Ali b= 45 TO BE COMPLETED BY STAFF Case Numbex: Notice to Aunlicant: An application may be denied for outstanding / "� taxes or charges to the Town(Watertown Ordinance, Chapter /j �Q�� ❑ Fees received: XVII). Upon deeming the submittal complete,the application will Town Clerk Stamp be s filed a o lerk's office by DCD&P/St i� Required ❑ Complete submittal: `/ Date: 7 To easure A royal A r,quh•ed by Ch.40,Section 57) TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Site Address: List application requests below: 527 Pleasant Street Special Permit(SP) X Variance(V) Watertown, MA 02472 Site Plan Review(SR) SP/SR Parcel ID#s: 80540 Special Permit Finding(SPF) For an amendment to previous relief,provide case#s: Zoning District: Pleasant Street Corridor-2(PSCD-2) SR(Site Plan Review)meeting date,if required: Petitioner(s): VBR LLC Phone: 978-758-6664 Address: 52 Oak Trail, Bolton, MA 01740 Email: rvbhakta@gmail.com Signature(s): 4Z✓h, —- Date: July 10,2018 Owner(s): VBR LLC Phone: 978-758-6664 Address: 52 Oak Trail, Bolton, MA 01740 Email: rvbhakta@gmail.com Signature(s): Date: July 10,2018 Agent: Phone/Email: Other Contacts: victor Bhakta Phone/Email: 978-758-9698/victorbhakta@gmail.com The Petitioner must be the fee simple owner or hold sufficient "interest"in the subject property (in which case evidence must be pro- vided as to the nature of the property interest and the fee owner shall co-sign this application. For legal entities such as corporations, LLC, etc, list the type and legal status of ownership, the name of trustees/officer members, their affiliation and contact information.. NATURE OF REQUEST Applicable Sections of Zoning Ordinance(Sped)Section(s)of the ZONING ORDINANCE f om which relief is sought): SECTION 9.11 of Watertown Zoning Ordinance allows for the Special Permit for Temporary Structures for less than one year.The proposed use is for Temporary Modular Housing Staging. Brief description of the project as it relates to the zoning relief requested—Include existing dimensions,proposed dimensions, and any non-conformities that exist: This project proposes to use the existing vacant lot at 527 Pleasant Street for Temporary Modular Housing Staging. Each module is approximately 13'wide by 63'long by 11'tall. This site will be used to store units for a period of 3 months starting September 15,2018 until December 15,2018 with and option to extend by one month to January 15,2019. These units will be transported to their construction site at Newton's Ausin Street Municipal Parking lot in where a mixed-income,sustainable housing complex is being built from them. Total number of modules on-site will never exceed approximately 25 units at any given time. The staging area will be used to unwrap and prepare the units for construction. The proposed Temporary Modular Housing Staging use is a low impact short term use with little or no discernable noise or traffic impacts on surrounding properties and it will facilitate construction of badly needed regional housing. THIS APPLICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED IN PERSON TO THE ZONING OFFICE The ZONING ORDINANCE can be found online at:\vnvw.watertown-ma.eov Written Supporting Statement Petition for Special Permit Finding(s) Sec. 4.06 (a) (project must meet the following criterion) 1. Is the p osed change substantially more detrimental than the existing non-conforming use,structure,or building to the neighborho ?YES/NO, Explain why. N/A-Tempo ry use Petition for Special Perm it(s)/Amendment Sec. 9.05 (b) (project must meet all of the following criteria) 1. Is the subject site an appropriate location for such use,structure,and/or condition? YES/NO, Explain. Yes, the project site at 527 Pleasant Street is an appropriate site for the proposed Temporary Modular Housing Staging. The existing site is a vacant lot without any structures. The existing tree on the lot will be preserved. 2. Will the proposed use/structures adversely affect the neighborhood? YES/NO, Explain. No, the use of Temporary Modular Housing Staging will not adversely affect the neighborhood. The use will be only for a period of 3 months after which the lot will be returned to existing conditions. 3. Is there potential for nuisance or serious hazards to vehicle or pedestrians?YES/NO, Explain. No, the site will be protected from other vehicles and pedestrians by a fence. The trucking routes will be certified by MA DOT. As appropriate coordination of activites with the Town of Watertown and abutting properties to minimize impacts to community. A 24-hour hotline will be maintained and information posted. 4. Will adequate and appropriate facilities be provided for the proper operation of the proposed use? YES/NO, Explain. Yes, the site will be appropriated designed to accomodate Temporary Modular Housing Staging. A perimeter fence, temporary security lighting, two 30 cubic yard dumpsters, and a portable toilet will be located on site. All parking will be on site. I Petition for Variance(s)/Amendment Sec. 9.14(b) (project must meet all of the following criteria for a variance) Is the variance being sought due to circumstances related to the soil conditions,shape,or topography of such land or structures, and especially affecting such land or structures but not affecting generally the zoning district in which it is located? YES/NO, plain. A- No variance is requested as this use is permitted under 9.11 Temproary Structures. 2. Woul\enfo cement of the Zoning Ordinance involve substantial hardship,financial or other? YES/NO, Explain. No, enforcement would beonly for a period of 3 months where the project team will work closely with the Town of Watertown 3. Would granting of the d��ired relief be a substantial detriment to the public good? YES/NO, Explain. No, granting this requL t would only be for a short term use and allow for much needed housing in the area. 4. Would granting the desired relief nu I'fy or substantially derogate from the intent of this Zoning Ordinance? YES/NO, Explain. No, as this proposed use is cur ntly allowed by the Zoning Ordinance. IF NEEDED, ATTACH ADDITIONAL SHEETS OF PAPER TO THIS APPLICATION 3 527 Pleasant Street Proposed Modular Housing Staging Area September— December 2018 Developer: Austin Street Partners LLC, a joint venture of Dinosaur Capital Partners and Oaktree Development General Contractor: NEI General Contracting Modular Consultant: Up2Code Modular Manufacturer: RCM Modulaire Proiect Summary To address the housing crisis facing greater Boston, Austin Street Partners LLC, an affiliate of Dinosaur Capital Partners LLC and Oaktree Development, has partnered with the City of Newton to construct 68 transit-oriented, mixed-income, sustainable apartments at 28 Austin Street, on Newton's Austin Street Municipal Parking Lot in the village of Newtonville. So as to minimize the disruption to Newtonville's municipal parking, Austin Street Partners has chosen to utilize a factory built modular construction approach to speed construction. Factory built modular housing is constructed off-site will on-site excavation, foundation and base building work is completed resulting in a four- to six-month compression of the typical construction schedule. Each completely finished module is approximately 13' wide by 63' long by 11' tall and transported by tractor trailer from the factory. 527 Pleasant Street will play an important role in facilitating modular erection by allowing staging and preparation of the modular units. A three-month lease commencing September 15 and terminating December 15, 2018, with one option to extend one month to January 15, 2019, has been negotiated between the site owner and Austin Street Partners. A summary of site usage and impacts follows: Detail of fence. liahtina. security, etc. The flat, rectangular 1.3 acre site is currently approximately 40% paved or partially paved. The remainder is covered with tall grass and will be mowed of high vegetation at commencement. One mature tree on site will remain. Crushed stone may be added if the unpaved areas prove unsuitable for parking the modular components due to wet weather over the summer. A perimeter fence, temporary security lighting, two 30 cubic yard dumpsters, and a portable toilet will be located on site. I i I l Approximately 1000' of temporary 6' chain link fence will be erected at the perimeter of the site. One lockable gate will be installed at the existing curb cut on the southeast corner of the site on Pleasant Street. Existing guard rail at the curb cut will be removed. Temporary security lighting will be installed on an existing utility pole and designed to comply with all town light trespass ordinances and shielded from neighboring residential users. The on-site portable toilet serviced weekly and dumpsters replaced when filled. No more than four to six workers will be on site at any time. All parking will be on-site. The site will be under the control of NEI General Contracting, the general contractor of the Newton project. Security will be provided chiefly by fencing and lighting and augmented as necessary with a contracted security watch. Details of delivery schedule: auantity, times, etc. Delivery to site Three to six modular boxes per day will arrive over a 4-week period from mid- September to late October. Deliveries typically arrive on 3 or 4 days per week. All modular boxes arrive with a police escort. Typical arrival time is mid-afternoon — 1 PM —3 PM Trucks typically arrive 15 minutes apart and immediately enter the site. No standing or parking on Pleasant Street will be permitted. No idling will be permitted. Delivery and parking of the modular boxes takes approximately two hours. Deliveries are Monday through Friday, no weekends or holidays. Total on-site inventory will not exceed approximately 25 modular boxes. Modular boxes will be parked typically for two to four weeks to allow staging for erection in the correct order. I Delivery from site The boxes will be erected at the Newton construction site on ten to twelve days spaced over four to six weeks, depending on weather. On the day of departure, eight to fifteen modular boxes will have their exterior plastic shrinkwrap and miscellaneous wood strapping removed by hand and disposed of in two on-site 30 cubic yard dumpsters. All modular boxes will depart with a police escort. Modular boxes will depart in fifteen minute increments over two to four hours. Erosion control plan As there will be no construction or earth movement on site, erosion is not anticipated. However, crushed gravel will be installed at the gate and as needed throughout the site to minimize removal of site soil to public streets. Route of trucks & queuing plans MA DOT certification and verification is required to determine the safest route to and from the site and require its usage. Trucks coming to and from the site are required to use major arterial roadways or highways and not local streets. Since trucking of modular housing is not permitted on the MassPike, the modular boxes will arrive from the north via Interstate 95 and the likely route to the site will be via Route 20 east to Seyon Street to Pleasant Street, subject to MA DOT approval. The route to the Newton construction site, approximately 1.6 miles south will be via Pleasant Street to either Bridge Street or Seyon Street and north over the Charles River to Newton. The selection of proposed truck routes is based on the following criteria: • Minimizing truck activity in the residential neighborhoods • Designating specific roads where trucks are permitted • Providing access to and from the major arteries (e.g. Interstate 95) Waste removal One to two 30 yard dumpsters will be placed on site and be removed as needed during business hours. Noise and community disruption Austin Street Partners and its general contractor, NEI, recognize the challenges of siting this temporary use in a busy suburban setting and the importance of responding to the needs of adjacent businesses and residents. The abutting properties shall be informed of the scheduled start of the proposed use and will be updated as needed regarding activities. As appropriate, NEI will coordinate these short-term staging activities with the Town of Watertown to help minimize the impacts to the community. i A 24-hour hour hotline will be maintained and information posted on site Restoration At the end of term, the fence, temporary lighting, dumpsters and portable toilet will be removed and the site restored to its prior state except for any installed gravel. Summary The proposed temporary Modular Housing Staging use is a low impact short term use with little or no discernable noise or traffic impacts on surrounding properties and it will facilitate construction of badly need regional housing. 1 J ' r p _ _ 1.4, ; I ■ � 1 . 1 I / � r ■ I ..... + C CD I aliq k d !! O �� N c 1 � k • i