180 units to be a mix of one, two, three bedrooms

By Scott Calzolaio

A new Chapter 40B housing proposal at 190 East Main Street is making its way through town departments and committee reviews, as developers work to address concerns over parking, traffic, and infrastructure. 

The proposed rental complex, led by national development firm Wood Partners, would be built on an eight-acre lot and feature a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units across multiple residential buildings.

Wood Partners, which has operated in Massachusetts since 2009 and developed more than 5,000 housing units statewide, is “aiming to bring high-quality rental housing” to Milford with this project, said Development Director for Wood Partners, Jim Lamberts.

The design includes four residential buildings and a fifth clubhouse-style amenity building. On-site features include an outdoor pool, firepit, grilling stations, resident lounges, work-from-home spaces, and fitness areas.

At the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on July 10, Lambert confirmed that a Project Eligibility Letter had been issued on Sept. 5, 2024, by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), granting the developer the green light to begin formal planning and local review.

“We’re getting ahead of the parking concerns the board had last time,” Lambert said, noting that the team is preparing a revised site plan that will feature fewer units and more parking. The updated plan proposes 180 total units, a 1.9 parking space-to-unit ratio, and 343 total parking spots, including four handicap-accessible spaces per building.

Paul Matos, Senior Project Manager with Allen Engineering and Associates, and the project’s lead civil engineer, said the developers have been in contact with the Milford fire, water, and sewer departments since their last Zoning Board appearance in June. Each department raised specific concerns requiring further revision.

Transportation consultant Daniel LaCivita of Vanasse & Associates conducted a traffic study starting in January 2024. The study included the Route 16 corridor, from Fortune Boulevard to the Route 109 intersection at Hamilton Avenue. Route 109 falls under MassDOT jurisdiction, meaning an access permit will be required for the project to proceed. This also means the entrance to the complex is out of the town’s hands.

“The access related to this project is really entirely under MassDOT’s control,” LaCivita noted during the meeting. 

The study also identified “high crash locations” at several nearby signalized intersections, though no formal mitigation plan has been submitted yet.

The proposed design includes a single 24-foot-wide entry/exit point, with internal roads planned throughout the development. The projected increase in vehicle queueing is expected to raise current values by at least two cars.

Milford currently has four separate 40B proposals under review, including this one. The Zoning Board has indicated that the town is nearing its 10% affordable housing threshold, as required under Massachusetts law. Officials have stated that not all four projects will be accepted, and the town will not consider additional proposals that could oversaturate the housing market.

The next hearing for the 190 East Main Street proposal is scheduled for August 14, at which time revised renderings and updated engineering feedback are expected to be presented.