Marion developers working to explain project to residents

MARION — A proposed 48-unit housing development at 78 Wareham Road that was rejected by Town Meeting last fall could go before voters again next month, with developers committed to a communications campaign to ease public concerns. 

“We’re excited for Round Two,’’ said Matthew Zuker, founder and principal of NewMeadow Development, which is overseeing the project.

The development consists of 36 detached homes and 12 attached townhouses, with six buildings of two homes. 

The homes, which range in size from 2,000 to 2,500 square feet, are aimed at residents older than 55 who are looking to downsize or maintain a second home in town, Zuker said. The homes would likely be priced in the mid-$600,000 range. 

This work would require a zoning change to accommodate ten units in an acre, technically allowing as many as 12 units per acre. 

But density that tight won’t happen, Zuker said, because his company has signed a permanent deed restriction that would cap building on the 30-acre site to 48 units, under two per acre. 

Members of the Planning Board hosted a public hearing Monday, March 21 to review the plans. They are scheduled to vote at their April 4 meeting on whether to place the issue on the Town Meeting warrant. 

One significant change since the last vote is Zuker’s offer to pay $1.2 million to do infrastructure work in the area. 

This would include designing and installing a new sewer pump station along Wareham Road to connect to the existing 10-inch sewer on Wareham Road near Point Road. This would help the town extend sewer service to River Road and parts of Wareham Road.

The project was defeated last time, Zuker explained, because voters had questions that hadn’t been sufficiently answered.

“We didn’t have enough community outreach,’’ he acknowledged. “We kind of rushed it.’’

People are naturally reluctant to see change, according to Zuker. “It takes a while for people to feel confident in a developer coming to town,’’ he said.

He wants to avoid that same situation by hosting informational community meetings where residents could learn more about the development and ask questions.

The meetings are scheduled Saturday, April 2 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday, April 7 at the Marion Music Hall, 164 Front St.

Zuker described the project as bringing “smart growth’’ to town.

Planning Board member Eileen Marum praised the developers’ commitment to funding sewer work, which shows “he realizes the issues before the town and is making every effort to provide a clear and comprehensive project.’’

Not all board members were willing to express support. Jon Henry said that the board was “spinning our wheels’’ without knowing the specifics of the adjacent Heron Cove Estates, a proposed 120-unit project that would feature some affordable units.

Board member Norman Hills disagreed. “This isn’t an either/or, it’s a both. We don’t have to make a decision between them.’’

All studies that Zuker’s project relied on have taken into account the work proposed for Heron Cove, he said.

Ed Hoffer, chair of the Board of Health and candidate for select board, worked on a survey several years ago that showed seniors are worried about the cost of remaining in large houses. 

Hoffer liked the project Zuker presented. “People in town have been begging for smaller homes,’’ he noted, so they could downsize and still live in Marion.