'Palmer Pointe' Goes Before Housing Board

Barrington’s Housing Board of Trustees will weigh in on the master plan for the controversial Palmer Pointe affordable-housing development on Tuesday evening, April 23.

The board will meet at 7 pm in the Barrington Senior Center. A large turnout is anticipated for the monthly meeting, which is usually held in a small library meeting room.

A previous meeting by the developer with the housing board drew several hundred people to the Council Chamber in Town Hall. The proposed project was still a concept at that time, not a formal development.

The trustees also will hear an update on the Bluemeade Farm development proposed for Chachapacassett Road. It includes two affordable housing units.

And the trustees will go over the request for qualifications (RFQ) for a proposed George Street affordable housing project that will include about 14 homes. 

The Palmer Pointe project is by far the most contentious of the projects. Proposed by the East Bay Community Development Corporation, it would include 48 rental units on the Sowams Nursery site off of Sowams Road.

The master plan for the project -- the first significant step -- was filed in late March with the town planner. The developer is the same one that created the Sweetbriar affordable housing development in Bay Spring.

A local citizens group, CODDER 02806, has been circulating a petition against the development.