Bassett Development Review Delayed

Planners' questions extend presentation of 640-apartment project to April 16 meeting.

The proposed development would include retail shops on the street level and studios, as well as one- and two-bedroom apartments. (Photo/Courtesy of Dover)

The Dover Planning Board, and town residents, had plenty of questions for the team of experts representing the redevelopment of the proposed 640-unit project along Bassett Highway.

There were so many questions – and a few reminders about what questions were appropriate to even be asked – that the presentation was suspended. It will continue at the next planners' meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 16.

The presentation laid out the logistics for the three apartment structures:

• Phase One: 256 units, with 16 studio apartments, 172 one-bedroom apartments, 64 two-bedroom apartments, and 4 three-bedroom apartments. The four-level living structire will include the entire 17-unit alotment of affordable-housing apartments, which include all the three-bedroom units, will be included in the Phase One structure. There will be 558 parking spaces for residents built in athree-level garage. There will be 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

• Phase Two: 144 units, with 28 studio apartments, 64 one-bedroom apartments, and 52 two-bedroom apartments. There will be 202 parking spaces for residents built in a three-level garage. There will be 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

• Phase Three: 240 units, with 24 studio apartments, 144 one-bedroom apartments, and 62 two-bedroom apartments. This building will also include 10 "live-work" units, described as lofted apartments with upstairs living space and downstairs workspace for work-from-home professionals, identified by the team as possible alternatives for decorators or accountants. There will be 205 parking spaces for residents built in a three-level garage. There will be 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

There will communal spaces, such as a pool, a gym, grills, and storage units for residents. There was discussion, but no real clarity, on whether gym or pool memberships would be open to the public.

The construction for each phase is expected to take three to five years.

The 640-apartment development would be built in phases along Bassett Highway and the property behind it. (Photo/Courtesy of Dover)

There was discussion about the "riverwalk", a lit walking and biking space along the Rockaway River and the environmental impact of the project encroaching on the riverbanks. Engineer Michael Nona assured all the board members and Board Engineer Stephen Hoyt that they'd would have to follow all municipal, state, and EPA guidelines.

Much of the discussion centered on parking. Spots have been secured for Mill Pond residents and congregants of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, but planning board member Osvaldo Orama said, "I've walked behind there and count at least 100 cars parked there by local workers and shoppers in town. Where will they go now?"

Mayor James P. Dodd, a member of the planning board, reminded fellow members and disgruntled residents that the road is a private road and the owners haven't enforced any punishment. Redevelopment officials said that, with the spaces given away, 22 remain. They wouldn't say how they'd be used.

That discussion triggered more debate about where the existing cars would be parked, or where the employees – and shoppers – of the new retail spaces would find spaces.

But, like the rest of the experts who didn't have time to present their findings, the discussion would also be parked for the next month.