Tree Removal a Flood Risk for Green Village Plan

Potential flooding and traffic congestion remain concerns as an amended application for the controversial Green Village project continues Thursday night in front of the Planning Board.

The 50-plus acre project proposes a complex that will house 469 apartments, 117 of which would be affordable housing units, a clubhouse with recreational amenities, 20,000 square feet of retail space and a 130-room extended-stay hotel.

The developer, Antol Hiller, withdrew earlier this month his request for a left-turn lane out of one of the site's exits after concerns were raised regarding the lack of a traffic signal at the intersection.

However, area residents remain concerned about the potential traffic issues caused by the development as well as the plan’s three detention basins and trees that will need to be cut down.

About 3,500 trees line 35 acres of the lot, and the plan proposes removing 75 percent of the trees, exceeding the 31 percent allowable amount that can be removed.

The town’s tree mitigation ordinance would require the applicant to replace about 805 of the trees. Hiller has filed a request for an economic hardship waiver for this cost.

The developer's revised plans eliminates the need for relief from a sign waiver and bulk variance for "encroachment into the buffer area" for proposed trash area.

The Planning Board meets Thursday night in the at 7:30 p.m.