ZBA closes public hearing on West Main apartments

The proposal for West Main Apartments at 1362 Main St. has taken a step forward after the Waltham Zoning Board of Appeals wrapped up the public hearing portion for this affordable housing development last Thursday.

The ZBA has had the project under consideration since January.

West Main Apartments falls under the regulations of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40B, which allows special permits for residential buildings if they provide sufficient affordable housing and if the community in which they want to build does not meet the state’s affordable housing benchmarks. In such cases, the local ZBA is responsible for putting together the comprehensive special permit.

At the ZBA’s Aug. 7 meeting, Assistant City Solicitor Michelle Learned requested the board formally close the official hearing on the West Main development to move the process, which has been delayed multiple times, into its next stage. 

That gives the ZBA 40 days to pass its final decision. The board agreed to take that vote at its Sept. 9 meeting.

Learned said that although the public hearing segment is closed, she and the developer’s team are available to appear in front of the board to discuss the draft of the final decision before the ZBA vote.

She added that the developer has made a final proposal about affordable unit pricing. Out of the 93 units that Chapter 40B requires West Main to provide as affordable housing, 71 will be priced at an affordable level for households making 80% of the area median income, and 22 will be provided at an affordable level for 60% AMI. Each of the affordable units will be rented with one free parking space. 

The board also asked the project to provide a rental preference for Waltham veterans on 10% of units.

Since West Main initially appeared in front of the board, the ZBA has investigated the project’s plans for fire safety, traffic and unit affordability. In May the board agreed to draft a final decision on the project, but the negotiations between the developer and the city’s Law Department were delayed because of issues with the building’s original sewage plan.

During the negotiation process, the developer determined that it is now required by state law to improve the sewer system to deal with the building’s waste and water flow. Learned said the developer will enter into a contract with the city to do that work before renting any apartments at West Main.

CORRECTION: The article originally stated that the West Main development has been considered since March of 2025. It was proposed in January.