Town of ChelmsfordOak Hill Property

Massachusetts Housing PartnershipCommunity Housing Initiatives

February 28, 2011Evan Belansky, Community Development Director

Katie Enright, Hancock Engineering

David Hedison, Director of the Chelmsford Housing Authority

Background• April 2010 – Board of Selectmen approved Town’s

application for a $12,100 technical assistance grant• TA grant used to conduct preliminary site

assessments to determine if it is appropriate to continue with further feasibility and assessment studies

Context• 2010 Master Plan and Draft 2011 Affordable Housing

Plan identified this parcel as an appropriate location for a combination of residential, active and passive open space

• Recommended community based housing in partnership with the Housing Authority.

• Recommended conducting a site Master Plan

Oak Hill Property – General Info • 66 acres• Zoned Industrial since 1956• Acquired by the Town in 1998

• Consideration has been given to general municipal uses, passive and active open space, residential development and industrial development

• Considerable site development challenges

Site Assessment Study

• Site Context• Wetland Resources

- perennial & intermittent streams

- Bordering Vegetated Wetlands

- potential vernal pools• Potential Site Access & Utility Connections

- Swain Road

- Oak Hill Road

- Scotty Hollow

Swain Road - access

Oak Hill Road - access

Scotty Hollow - access

Site Constraints1. Oak Hill Road Right Way - Potential need for land taking to

rectify and secure access.2. Development of an access road within the existing Oak Hill

Road right of way with regard to extent of wetland impact.3. Suitability of Ledge Road to support primary site access.4. Securing easement, negotiating purchase or takings to gain

access from the end of Scotty Hollow Condominiums and through Congregational Church property.

5. Modifications to landfill cap and potential venting system to establish access via Swain Road through town landfill property.

6. Crossing of Scotty Hollow Brook at northern property line of Town Landfill site.

7. Potential vernal pool habitat in southwest corner of site.8. Upgrades to Ledge Road sewer pump station.9. Upgrades to Southwell Field sewer pump station.10. Proximity of Lowell Sportsman’s Club firing range to

northeast corner of site.

Items for Further Phase II Study• obtain potential costs of cap and vent system on

Landfill to facilitate the development of a roadway • perform a preliminary investigation of the impacts on

the Southwell Sewer Pump Station and obtain budgetary estimates on the costs of necessary upgrades.

• engage a team of engineers to complete a preliminary design and cost estimate of a bridge/culvert crossing of Scotty Hollow Brook

• reach out to the property owners affected by the potential access points

• conduct a Master Plan of the site including a Design Charette with the key Town Boards, town staff and neighboring stakeholders to begin the conceptual design phase of the project.

Summary & Conclusions

• Largest Town owned property with potential for community based housing

• Opportunity to manage & control 40B development• Complex and expensive development constraints• Preliminary stage only…..no specific project• Continue with Phase II site assessment and feasibility

studies• Obtain additional technical assistance grant funds

from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership

QUESTIONS &

COMMENTS