AMHERST — Municipal officials are expected to begin review of a $40 million mixed-use project in North Amherst next month.
The North Square at the Mill District project, proposed by Beacon Communities LLC of Boston, calls for 130 apartments, 22,000 square feet of commercial space and 315 parking spaces.
Beacon Communities officials are seeking a series of waivers from town zoning for use of 5.3 acres of land owned by W.D. Cowls Inc. The site, adjacent to the Atkins Farms Country Market’s North Amherst location, includes the former sawmill used by the company, which will be demolished.
With an application for a comprehensive permit under the state’s Chapter 40B law, the North Square project will come before the Zoning Board of Appeals Dec. 1. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Town Room at Town Hall.
The ZBA review was scheduled after the Department of Housing and Community Development recently approved Beacon’s request that the project be eligible for low-income tax credits. Of the 130 apartments, 26 will be affordable.
A memo sent to town boards and committees by Senior Planner Nathaniel Malloy Tuesday requests comments on the project as soon as possible. Hearings are expected to continue in both December and January.
While the Select Board in September backed review of the project, some North Amherst residents have raised concerns about its size and scope.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
