Catholic Charities New Hampshire is proposing to build The Residences at Riverside Park, an 80-unit affordable housing project at the site of the old city highway garage in Rochester. (Courtesy of Catholic Charities New Hampshire)
Catholic Charities New Hampshire is seeking approval for 80 units of affordable housing at the city’s former highway garage site, after being denied a variance needed to allow three additional units.
The Residences at Riverside Park project won’t be deterred after the city Zoning Board of Adjustment‘s decision Wednesday night, according to Jeff Lefkovich, executive director of real estate and housing development for CC-NH.
CC-NH had requested the variance after learning the property wasn’t quite as large as originally believed.
“When we entered into the purchase and sales agreement with the city, we were under the impression that the three parcels, at 43, 45 and 51 Old Dover Road … totaled 14.37 acres, which by the formula would allow 83 units,” said Lefkovich. “When the property was surveyed, it turned out to be 13.379 acres, which meant 80 units. We had done the initial design for 83 units, and we were trying to get that back because the numbers have a bearing on the formula used by HUD to determine low-income housing tax credits. We were not successful, so we will move on.”-
Planning director Seth Creighton said the city staff recommended against approving the extra three units. He said that two hardship requirements were not met.
“The first argues this is not contrary to public interest,” said Creighton. “But I’d warn against small incremental changes because they can add up over time. Second is the question of density. Land is land and acreage is acreage, and the zoning does not support this. It does not meet the hardship test.”
Lefkovich said CC-NH’s next step will be a formal site plan application to the Planning Board.
“We have a Nov. 26 deadline to make the December meeting of that board and that’s our goal,” he said. “Developing this type of housing makes the financing complicated. Getting the applications and approvals will likely take most of next year, and we are not looking to begin work until probably the second quarter of the following year.”
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