B’nai B’rith Senior Project Manager Holly Grace told the Zoning Board on Tuesday that the Veterans Crossing housing project cannot share driveway access with the nearby dispensary.
“We investigated this and concluded that this is not a viable option for us for a variety of reasons,” Grace said. “It would significantly put this project off track.”
At the 2023 Town Meeting, Swampscott residents approved the acquisition and redevelopment of 12-24 Pine St. for veteran housing. B’nai B’rith Housing responded to Swampscott’s request for proposal (RFP) to develop the Pine Street site in August of 2023. A land agreement was signed in December of 2024.
The town has recently held neighborhood meetings on the proposed site layout. Neighbors, including Steve Gadman, raised concerns that people might “use Pine Street as a parking lot.”
“There’s a concern that there would be parking – even more parking – along Pine Street or double parking for quick deliveries, and we know that is not appealing to anyone,” Grace said.
The idea was previously floated for Veterans Crossing to share a driveway with Local Cannabis Company, at 16 New Ocean St.
“I think the identity is a concern,” Grace said. “We want to have safe and sober housing.”
Grace also noted that ownership of the Cannabis Company’s driveway is not fully clear. She said the uncertainty could complicate coordination because the town owns the Veterans Crossing site.
That said, Grace presented a revised parking layout she hopes will address neighbors’ concerns.
The “tweaked” plan angles the parking-lot exit so it no longer faces the house across the street. Some parking spaces would need to be compact, but Grace noted that this layout already exists at The Machon, an affordable senior housing complex B’nai B’rith developed in Swampscott.
“We hope (it) addresses – at least partially – the concerns from that house,” Grace said. “We feel comfortable proposing this as an alternative.”
Zoning Board Chair Heather Roman called the revision a “big improvement,” and the rest of the board agreed.
B’nai B’rith will continue its review with the Zoning Board on December 16.
