Proposal Triggers Need for New Zoning Bylaw

NATICK, MA-A developer’s bid to build a senior housing project and a country club on one of the largest undeveloped parcels in the town has pushed its planning board to propose a new cluster zoning bylaw.

Sarkis Sarkisian, the town’s community development director, tells GlobeSt.com that the new bylaw decreases required lot sizes from one unit per acre to one unit per 10,000-sf, allowing for denser development. But, he points out, 50% of the parcel would remain as open space and there needs to be a minimum of 25% “age-qualified housing” in the development in order to qualify for the cluster zoning designation, with a maximum of 55%. At least 10% of both age qualified–which is age 55 and over–and standard housing has to be affordable housing.