Short Takes from the Bedford Housing Partnership

By Dot Bergin

Developer Sid Gehlot and members of his team came before the Housing Partnership on December 6 to present updated site plans and to designate affordable units in the two additional buildings he wants to build at the Village at Bedford Woods, Albion Way.

The Housing Partnership, which has been working with Gehlot since August, offered recommendations for the distribution of the proposed 10 affordable units in each of the 40-unit buildings. Affordable units are distributed on each level of the three-story buildings and include one, two, and three bedroom units.  The Partnership also reminded the developer that finishes and appliances in the affordable units should be comparable to those in market-rate units.

Gehlot will go before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday, December 13 for a continuation of the public hearing on this project.  The Planning Board also reviewed the proposed Chapter 40B comprehensive permit at its November 27 meeting.

To recap: The first building at The Village at Bedford Woods was originally completed in 2007, with the owner’s intention to add two more buildings. The recession intervened, the owner died, and eventually the bank foreclosed on the property. Gehlot then acquired the property and it was approved as a 40B project. He is now moving ahead with adding the two buildings as originally planned.  As HP member Mike Rosen remarked, “Bedford hasn’t seen a 40B project in 10 years.” Readers who follow housing developments in town will know that Bedford is recognized as well ahead of area towns in the percentage of affordable units. The 2017 Inventory of Subsidized Housing Units shows Bedford at 18.3%. (https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/10/10/shiinventory_0.pdf)

Earlier in the meeting, Fran DeCoste, project manager, met with the board to identify two of the four affordable condominium units at Pine Hill Crossing LLC  to offer as local preference.  The board moved that  27 Lewis Road (with one and one-half baths) and 11 Mickelson Lane (two baths) be set aside for local preference.