With condo plan off, Cliff Estates property readied for single-family homes
The Wellesley Planning Board at its Aug. 26 meeting was paid a visit by the team that at one point was looking to build a condo development along Cliff Road and Rte. 9. The properties at 489 Worcester St. and 14 Cliff Rd. are now being positioned for single-family homes.
The Board agenda item was to discuss and vote on what’s called an Approval Not Required plan based on a state rule for land division. The Board voted unanimously to endorse the plan, highlighted by divvying the large 489 Worcester St. property into two buildable lots (one of 57K-plus sq. ft. and another 22K-plus sq. ft.) that could each support a home. That property currently is the site of a mansion and carriage house that would be razed due to their condition.
The home already at 14 Cliff Rd. is expected to stay. The developers also have another Cliff Road property under agreement, but it was not part of the Planning Board agenda item.
A couple of non-buildable lots were also defined under the plan.
Developer Peter Holland described the Planning Board session as being the first step in a process of using the property for single-family homes and not seeking to change zoning.
A few neighbors called in to the meeting to share their thoughts and concerns, including how driveways might be situated, but the development team said it’s too soon to share details. Many more spoke out during the process last year and earlier this year under which the development team sought to create multifamily housing on its property under the 40R zoning process. The developers were unable to secure key Select Board support for their project, sending the team back to the drawing board.
The developers initially had sought support for a condo complex that would have included 69 units, but was reduced to 40 as they responded to community and local government input. This would have required a change from single-family zoning. The project was pitched by the developers as targeting younger families and older down-sizers, with nearby access to the Wellesley Hills commuter rail station. Affordable units would have been included in the development.