Elm Place Developers Pledge Revised Proposal For Swampscott Units

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — The company behind the Elm Place housing development said it will consider recent resident feedback and make improvements after the Swampscott Select Board said it will oppose the 40B affordable housing project to the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

Residents have raised concerns about traffic, the scope of the development and the lack of input and information abutters have had throughout the process.

"We take seriously the comments of town officials regarding the proposed development as well as the feedback we sought from abutters, residents and community groups during the past two months," the Elm Place Development Team said on behalf of WinnCompanies in a statement to Patch on Thursday. "We are revising the proposal to address the concerns expressed at Wednesday's Select Board meeting and will share our improvements in the weeks ahead.

"We look forward to working with all the parties to advance an improved plan for the development of this important mixed-income."

The 40B nature of the development means that the state can approve the project without adhering to all town bylaws or wishes. According to WinnCompanies, about two-thirds of the 128 rental units would qualify as affordable housing.

The next key date for the project is a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting set for Feb. 23.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)