500 HARVARD STREET

Project Name: 500 Harvard Street

  • Initial Proposal: 30 units of multifamily rental housing (including 6 affordable units) on 6,969 sf lot; one level of ground floor retail; 6 parking spaces on the ground floor
    • 2021: Approved by ZBA: 25 rental units (20% affordable) in a five story building with zero to 10 parking spaces, zero to 1220 square feet of commercial space, and zero to 410 square feet of amenity space [Applicant appealed to Housing Appeals Committee]
    • FINAL 2022: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Housing Appeals Decision: 24 rental units (20% affordable) in a six story building with 9 parking spaces, 1220 sf of commercial spaces and 410 sf of amenity space. See Decision and Plans under Status below.
  • Applicant: 500 Harvard Street, LLC - The Danesh Group
  • Location: 500 Harvard Street
  • Status: Board of Appeals public hearing opened December 19, 2019 and closed on June 23, 2021. Project with 25 units in a five story building was APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS. Decision filed August 25, 2021.
  • Contact: Maria Morelli, Senior Planner at [email protected] | Planning Department at 617-730-2130. 
  • Submitting Comments: Please submit comments to the ZBA to [email protected]. Public comment at public hearings is scheduled at the discretion of the ZBA.

Status

ZBA DECISION

ZBA TIMELINE

The ZBA timeline (PDF) features all stages of the 40B process and indicates the stage of the project at this time.

KEY DATES

NOTE: The official mechanism for notification in accordance with the Open Meeting Law is the Town Calendar not this web page. Visit the Town Calendar for hearing agendas under Board of Appeals. The Agenda has the Zoom link and information for attending Virtual Public Hearings.

  • October 29, 2019: Applicant submits ZBA Application to Town.
  • December 19, 2019 at 7 pm (Thursday): Opening of Hearing (Rescheduled from 12/18/2019)
    • Applicant has granted Town permission to open hearing beyond 30 days.
    • Note Location Change: Hearing is in Room 103 on First Floor
  • January 16, 2020 at 7 pm (ZBA Hearing, Thursday)
    • Planning Department presentation 
    • Public Comment
  • February 26, 2020 at 8:30 am (Monday morning meeting)
    • ZBA Site Visit at 500 Harvard with Project team
    • Public invited but no oral public testimony accepted at meeting (not a hearing)
  • March 18, 2020 at 7 pm (ZBA Hearing): WILL BE CONTINUED DATE April 13, 2020
    • No assembly, discussion, or testimony on March 18. 
  • April 13, 2020 at 7 pm (ZBA Hearing)
    • CONTINUED UNTIL AFTER MAY 1 DUE TO HEALTH CRISIS.
  • May 2020 ZBA (Date TBD)
    • CONTINUED UNTIL AFTER JULY 1 DUE TO HEALTH CRISIS.
  • July X, 2020 (Date TBD) - No hearing in July
    • Independent peer review: Traffic and Parking
    • Possible testimony from staff and Boards
    • Public comment limited to technical questions pertaining to hearing topic
  • June 16, 2020: 180-Day Deadline to close public hearing
    • Public hearings EXTENDED with Applicant’s permission to December 16, 2020.
  • September 21 2020 Transportation Board
    • Transportation Board may put 500 Harvard on its agenda to provide comments to ZBA. Contact Todd Kirrane in Transportation Div.
  • September 23, 2020 at 7 pm (ZBA Hearing)
    • Independent peer review: Traffic and Parking
    • Possible testimony from staff and Boards
    • Public comment limited to technical questions pertaining to hearing topic
  • September 30, 2020 at 7 pm (ZBA Hearing)
    • Independent peer review: Architecture and Site Design
    • Possible testimony from staff and Boards
  • November 4, 2020 at 7 pm (ZBA Hearing)
    • Applicant's revised plans in response to ZBA charge
    • Follow-up architecture peer review
    • Possible comments on Applicant's Stormwater Management Report (10.13.2020)
  • December 9, 2020 HEARING CONTINUED TO 1/25/2021
  • January 25, 2021 at 7 pm CONTINUED TO February 17, 2021
    • Applicant's revised plans in response to ZBA charge
    • Follow-up architecture peer review
    • Possible comments on Applicant's Stormwater Management Report (10.13.2020)
  • December 16, 2020: Deadline to close public hearing 
  • January 29, 2021: Deadline to close hearing extended to March 3, 2021. Town will ask Applicant for permission to extend close of hearing. 
  • February 17, 2021
    • Applicant's revised plans in response to ZBA charge
    • Follow-up architecture peer review
    • Possible comments on Applicant's Stormwater Management Report (10.13.2020)
  • March 3, 2021 Deadline to close hearing
  • Close of hearing extended to April 7, 2021
  • March 31, 2021 Hearing CONTINUED TO APRIL 14, 2021
  • April 14, 2021 Hearing
  • May 5, 2021 Hearing CONTINUED TO MAY 26, 2021
  • May 26, 2021 Hearing
  • June 9, 2021 Hearing CONTINUED TO JUNE 23, 2021
  • June 23, 2021 - Public Hearing closed
  • Deadline to close public hearing: June 23, 2021 (extension granted by Applicant)
  • The ZBA has 40 days to deliberate after the close of the hearing, if it is chooses. Deliberations are open for the public to observe; however, no testimony may be entered, even by the Applicant.
  • Deadline to file Decision with Town Clerk has been extended to August 27, 2021 with the permission of the Applicant. Notice of Decision will be mailed to abutters within 300 feet when Decision is filed with Town Clerk. The 20-day appeals period commences from the date the Decision is filed with the Town Clerk.

ZBA APPLICATION AND PUBLIC HEARING DOCUMENTS

DECISION

The Board voted unanimously to Approve with Conditions a multifamily or mixed-use building with or without parking on the ground floor no taller than five stories with four story bays.

Hearing Materials

June 23, 2021: DRAFT CONDITIONS

  1. STAFF MATERIALS
  2. APPLICANT LETTERS
  3. PEER REVEW LETTERS

May 26, 2021: DRAFT CONDITIONS (MAY 5, 2021 Hearing Continued to May 26. No testimony on May 5.)

APRIL 14, 2021

ZBA's Consideration of Applicant's Requested Waivers from Zoning

  1. APPLICANT'S MATERIALS
  2. STAFF REPORTS
  3. PEER REVIEW REPORTS

MARCH 31, 2021: ZBA's Consideration of Applicant's Requested Waivers from Zoning

  1. APPLICANT'S MATERIALS
  2. STAFF REPORTS
  3. PEER REVIEW REPORTS

MARCH 10, 2021: Applicant's response ZBA Charge, Arch peer review

  1. APPLICANT MATERIALS
  2. PEER REVEW REPORTS
    • See hearing transcript, hearing recording under TRANSCRIPTS below
  3. STAFF AND BOARDS

FEBRUARY 17, 2021: Applicant's response ZBA Charge, Arch peer review

  1. APPLICANT MATERIALS
  2. PEER REVIEW REPORTS
  3. STAFF AND BOARDS
    • DPW is reviewing updated stormwater, water & sewer plans in response to its 11/21/20 DPW MEMO
    • DPW is reviewing driveway for visibility of pedestrians on sidewalk per Article 6 zoning.
    • Health Dept is reviewing trash plan.

NOVEMBER 4, 2020 Hearing: Applicant's response to ZBA Charge, Arch peer review

  1. PEER REVIEW REPORTS
  2. STAFF AND BOARDS
  3. APPLICANT MATERIALS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 Hearing

  1. PEER REVIEW REPORTS
  2. STAFF AND BOARDS
  3. APPLICANT MATERIALS

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 Hearing (No hearings February - August)

  1. PEER REVIEW REPORTS
  2. STAFF AND BOARDS
    Transportation Board - 9/21/2020
  3. APPLICANT MATERIALS

January 16, 2020 Hearing

December 19, 2019 Hearing

Applicant Plans, Reports, Studies by Date

February 1-10, 2021

October 13 - 19, 2020

September 30, 2020

August 3, 2020

Response to Peer Review

May 8, 2020

Addendum to Transportation Impact Study

March 17, 2020

Updated Transportation Impact Study

October 29, 2019

Independent Technical Peer Reviews

Board and Staff Reports

Public Comment

May 5 - May 26, 2021

April 14 - May 5, 2021

April 1 - 14, 2021

March 11 - March 31, 2021

February 18 - March 10, 2021

January - February 17, 2021

December 2019

January - March 2020

September 2020

October 1 to November 4 2020

Hearing Transcripts

PEL: SITE ELIGIBILITY STAGE (Prior to ZBA APPLICATION STAGE)

MassHousing has granted a Project Eligibility Letter to Applicant. Applicant may proceed with ZBA Application.

PEL: Public Comment