An Update On Wakefield's Tarrant Lane Project

Reading Select Board members Andy Friedmann and Anne Landry have been following the progress of Wakefield's Tarrant Lane project, which includes three multi-family buildings with 190 total rental units. Following is a report from Friedmann on last week's meeting of the Wakefield Board of Appeals:

Developer's Representatives discussed the following:

⬛ Revised architectural and landscaping plans based on suggestions made by the Town of Wakefield.
⬛ Increased amount of landscaping in front of Building 1 that also created a loading space for someone moving in and out.
⬛ Removed a proposed wall from corner of the property so now the property is landscaped such that it meets the street at grade.
⬛ Plans to build water main over highway to allow residents to receive water/sewer from Wakefield. Will pay the Town of Wakefield $140,000 for the project.
⬛ Expect the length of the project will be 32 to 36 months (first shovel in the ground until occupancy).

Board of Appeals discussed the following:

⬛ Asked developer to meet one more time with the working group before coming before the BoA one more time.
⬛ Noted that the design did not include some important specifications, e.g., color of plank material, number of trees and shrubs. One member expressed concern about the budget not being adequate for the project. Hence concern about landscaping.
⬛ Discussion of curbing. Cape Cod Berm is proposed for most of the road. One member said that it will not last and would prefer to see granite or concrete although he is aware that the BoA cannot require granite or concrete. The Board discussed requiring annual inspection of berm. He is concerned that if they will take inexpensive route on curbing they will do same elsewhere. This is why he would like specifications for rest of the project so that there is a metric during construction.

Board and developer representatives expect to have this project on the agenda for the meeting of October 9th.