Housing Headlines

YARMOUTH --- Many neighbors of the proposed affordable housing project on the site of the Cavalier Motel on Route 28 continue to oppose the plan, despite a third and still smaller version recently submitted by the developer, which now proposes 69 units as opposed to the original 120.

OAK BLUFFS --- The owners of an 8,500-square foot downtown building that hosts a hardware store and nightclub have learned that existing zoning may limit their plans to raze their property and replace it with an 18,000 square foot building that would feature the same ground-floor businesses and add four two-bedroom and four one-bedroom apartments for workers on the third floor.

BOSTON --- Auditor Suzanne M. Bump has released an audit which as found significant issues with expenditures, rent assessment and documentation practices at the Wareham Housing Authority. The audit was requested by the housing authority board after it suspected the irregularities uncovered in the audit.

EASTON --- The town has learned that numerous general bylaws and zoning changes enacted by town meeting over the past eight years may not be in force as the town clerk's office failed to register these bylaws with the state Attorney General's Office. This would include historic and tax-increment district bylaws relating to the development of the historic Ames Shovel site into mixed-income housing.

WEST TISBURY --- The Island Housing Trust cleared another hurdle in its plan to develop nine units of affordable housing at Manter Field as the planning board unanimously approved a special permit for the project. Next step for IHT will be special town meeting, where voters will be asked to OK $900,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to support the development, which will be a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units affordable to households at or below 80 percent of median income.

GRAFTON --- Selectmen plan to send a strongly-worded letter to the state outlining several concerns regarding the impact of a 54-unit 40B proposal on the neighborhood. Concerns include the project plan's parking and snow removal space, emergency access routes, stormwater drainage, buffers to neighboring property, need for sewer extension, traffic impacts and an evacuation route that may be needed since the project is near a railroad that includes a propane loading facility.