After 11 years of modifications, Bay Watch Realty’s plans to build a 96-unit affordable housing development in Marion could be approved in May.

On Thursday, April 5, the Zoning Board of Appeals voted to close the ongoing public hearing with Bay Watch Realty, giving the board until Thursday, May 10 to render a formal decision on the project.

The developer’s plans to build the housing development off Route 105, just north of Route 6, have undergone several modifications since first proposed in 2001.

The development would include 60 apartments to be rented at below-market rates to tenants who meet income restrictions and qualifications, and 36 single-family homes for sale at market value.

Previously, the Board of Selectmen had requested that nine of the single-family homes be made “affordable,” while Bay Watch Realty have offered to make two of the single-family homes affordable.

Bay Watch Realty is seeking to build the development under the state’s “40B” affordable housing law.

The law would allow Bay Watch Realty to avoid many local zoning restrictions if a defined number of the housing units are sold or rented at below-market costs to people who meet certain income requirements.

On Thursday, representatives from Bay Watch Realty offered a compromise in which four of the for-sale homes would be made affordable, with an option for the town to purchase two lots on the property.

The lots would be offered for $125,000 each.

Ken Steen, a representative for Bay Watch Realty, said that due to high costs of construction, including any more affordable housing units would not be “practical.”

Bay Watch Realty, he said, is facing $550,000 in added costs for construction of a bridge on the site and for necessary sewer work.

“We have gone back to this quite a bit,” Steen said. “We know it’s not going to be a profitable entity, but it’s necessary for us to go through.”

Zoning Board members had previously discussed asking that the town consider buying the road leading into the development to keep up with standard road maintenance.

To do so, the board would have to go before Town Meeting for a vote.

Town attorney Jon Witten suggested the board wait until after construction of the road to see if that is something the town could financially undertake.

Zoning Board Chair Bob Wedge agreed.

“We have so much on our plate financially, I’d have to see the assets laid out,” Wedge said. “I don’t have a problem with leaving it to the voters to decide.”

If the Zoning Board approves Bay Watch Realty’s proposal, the developers can submit a request for a building permit from Building Commissioner Scott Shippey.