Developers of proposed new neighborhoods discuss impacts on Waltham

Real estate companies BXP Inc. and 1265 Main Street LLC this week presented phase-by-phase plans for the construction of the residential and commercial developments they’re proposing on three west Waltham properties.

The companies presented their master plans at the Ordinances and Rules Committee meeting on Tuesday. They also presented new traffic studies and a breakdown of what commitments they’re willing to make to mitigate the developments’ impacts.

Both developers said they have not yet completed studies on how their developments will fiscally impact the city but said they’re on track to finish those studies by the committee’s next meeting on March 2.

Councilors on Tuesday voted that the city hire an independent contractor to review the development plans for the three sites.

More project details emerge

Tuesday’s presentation is part of the companies’ ongoing engagement with the city. 

It follows the two companies’ December request that the City Council create special zoning districts over three properties, two owned by BXP and one owned by 1265 Main Street. The new zoning would allow the companies to build housing. 

Councilors in January asked the two companies to create a master plan breaking down their proposals for construction at each site. 

In letters to the city, BXP and 1265 Main Street committed to pay for their projects’ sewer impacts, comply with the city’s affordable housing legislation and veterans’ preference legislation, follow environmental standards, and reserve land for greenspace. 

1265 Main Street representative Rick Vallarelli added the company had some sewer credit with the city for replacing sewer lines during previous construction.

BXP further proposed giving the city a parcel of land at 200 West St. to construct a new fire station to serve the new development in the west of the city. 

In a response to the city’s Law Department, however, the company declined to commit to site-specific housing caps for the two lots it owns or to a specific mix of housing units, citing a need to remain flexible to market changes. 

BXP projected that the projects would take at minimum seven to 10 years to build. It also said it expects to adapt its plans as it returns to the City Council to get special permits for each phase.

BXP’s vice president of development, Kier Evans, said the company plans to hold a meeting for abutters of its Bay Colony property on Winter Street on Feb. 24 at 1000 Winter St. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Evans added that BXP plans to go to the Board of Survey and Planning in the future to break both its Winter Street property and its property on Jones Road into smaller lots.

Additionally, the new zoning sought by the two companies would lower the minimum number of parking spaces they’re required to create as they develop the properties, a proposed change that city councilors have questioned. Both project representatives expressed that the lower minimum parking requirements were based on a parking study from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council showing that many Greater Boston communities have built more parking than their residents require.