Developer Elliot Schneider had applied for a comprehensive permit to develop a multihousing complex on the site, which he has since withdrawn. The permit would have allowed him to bypass local zoning laws if his project had an affordable housing component and the town had not met its 10% affordable housing requirement. Town manager John Healey says that Middleborough has 4.5% affordable housing.

But Healey insists that the town was not looking to prevent affordable housing from being built in the town but rather on that site. "We didn't want high density there," he tells GlobeSt.com. The site is zoned for two-acre lots and Healey points out that the developer wanted to put houses on 20,000-sf lots. He adds that the area, which is about five miles from the center of town, is not hooked up to water or sewer lines. Healey says that the town eventually wants to put a water storage facility on this site.

According to Healey the town is currently working with the state and local developers to develop affordable housing here. He notes that 14 units have recently been built in the downtown area here and they are receiving a grant from the state to build ten more units. He adds that they are also currently working on a ten-year plan to further increase affordable housing here.