Small Town Considers Large Development

MERRIMAC, MA-This small town might soon see its largest-ever residential development. Richard Waterhouse, a local realtor and his brother, George, are proposing to develop a 468-unit apartment complex on 18 acres of a 76-acre farm here that’s been in their family since before the American Revolution.

The development would consist of 15 three-story buildings, each with 24 units as well as three three-story, 36-unit buildings. According to Richard Waterhouse, the land was once used for grazing but in recent years has been vacant. The developers are applying for a comprehensive permit under Chapter 40B–the state’s affordable housing law–which, if approved, allows them to circumvent local zoning laws as long as they designate the required number of units as affordable.