Two, three-family residential buildings are planned for a Bradford neighborhood, off Route 125.
The Haverhill City Council Tuesday night approved a request to build the triplexes at 66 Riverdale Ave. Attorney Michael J. Migliori, representing builder Shane Wakeen of Topnotch Homes, told the Council that although the property is approved for four duplex units, the developer believes the area is better served and less impacted by the addition of six units rather than the eight which are allowed.
“It’s a three-unit residence. It will be owner occupied. Mr. Wakeen, the engineer, determined that it’s probably not in the best interest of the neighborhood. What made more sense was going with two triplexes with much more open space and much less pavement,” Migliori reasoned.
While some neighbors and abutters admitted the home currently on the property is decrepit and an eyesore, a handful expressed concerns about issues ranging from a possible increase in flooding and the loss of a number of trees required by the construction plan. Sonya Plocharczyk is one of those neighbors.
“I don’t know what the plan is for any of the drainage, but it is certainly going to remove a lot of trees which we saw today absorb a lot of water. All that water is now diverted into one area. I’d like to know how the water problem is going to be managed, where the water is going to be diverted to,” she asked.
Council President Timothy J. Jordan used to live in the neighborhood and noted flooding issues were a problem, explaining he had to have his basement pumped out a couple of times while he was there.
After listening to the concerns, Wakeen agreed he would work with the city’s building department to find the best way of handling the issue of flooding. He also agreed, because the construction requires the removal of a number of trees in the area, he would work with an abutting neighbor to find a suitable means of replacing a barrier between his units and hers.
Additionally, Wakeen agreed to increase the width of the unit’s driveways to allow space for two cars to park side-by-side so as not to have to park on street at what is already a narrow roadway.
With those stipulations in place, councilors voted to approve the builder’s request by a vote of 6-2 with Councilors Thomas J. Sullivan and Joseph J. Bevilacqua opposed and Michael S. McGonagle absent.
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