AMHERST — Hearings to review a proposed building featuring 28 studio apartments for low- and moderate-income individuals at 132 Northampton Road begin later this month.
The Zoning of Board of Appeals will take up the comprehensive permit application from Valley Community Development for the 2½-story project on June 25 after the agency filed plans late last month with the Planning Department and town clerk’s office.
The $5 million development, on a Route 9 site adjacent to Amherst College’s playing fields, will feature apartments for people who earn at or below 80% of area median income. The size of the apartments will average 230 square feet for most, and 393 square feet for two handicapped units, and all will feature a bedroom, kitchenette and bathroom.
Ten units will be set aside for individuals earning up to 30% of area median income, or $17,950, and with a homeless preference; two units will be for people earning up to 30% of area median income and who are clients of the Department of Mental Health; eight units will be for people earning up to 50% of area median income, or $29,900, and eight units will be for people earning up to 80% of area median income, or $47,850.
The building will also include an office for a resident services coordinator and a property management office.
An existing single-family home that dates to 1946 will be demolished to make way for the new building.
The project has been supported by the town, which provided $200,000 from a Community Development Block Grant and $500,000 from the Community Preservation Act account, with an additional $50,000 awarded from the Charlesbank Foundation. It was endorsed by the Planning Board in February.
Comments can be submitted in advance of the meeting using an online form at amherstma.gov or sent by email to Planning Director Christine Brestrup or Senior Planner Maureen Pollock, who serves as staff liaison to the Zoning Board.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
