Application for revised development plan
On January 16, 2024, Boston’s Mass Housing Finance Agency responded to Larry Smith’s (Chebacco Hill Capital Partners, LLC) application for his revised plan in developing 133 Essex but not without clear and prescribed conditions to be met. The site referred to as ‘Village at Chebacco Hill, Hamilton, MA #1205’ may have found this development ‘generally appropriate”, but it still is subject to strict final approval. The ‘Project Eligibility’ (site approval) of 133 Essex now comprises of 59 units on 56.81 acres that will need to meet necessary requirements defined at length in the letter sent by Mass Housing. Their ‘Determination and Recommendation’ found that the ‘Project’ appears ‘generally eligible’ under the requirements of their Program however, is subject to final review. The applicant has two (2) years to apply to the Hamilton Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for a comprehensive permit. Likewise, final consent will need to be met by Mass Housing. The expiration date is January 15, 2026.
The letter sent to Larry Smith from Mass Housing may have been rubber stamped, but it most definitely is not a closed case. For Larry Smith, it is more time and money after still not green lighting his objective to develop 133 Essex which began over 3 years ago in November 2021. His adding a Chapter 40B element to his plan has yet to play out. In addition, it is worth noting that the subject land at 133 Essex originally listed by Sotheby’s for $4,450,00 claiming 66.2 acres, differs from findings with the recent Mass Housing on site review that listed the property at $1,560,000 “As Is” with 56.81 acres.
We assure you, SCT&W will continue to watch this progression in earnest. We intend to continue our efforts in preserving this critical watershed, wildlife habitat, and the surrounding community from years of destruction and disruption. We will continue to stand before town boards and committees to remind them of the Hamilton Planning Boards’ unanimous denial of this project. Larry Smith’s terms are not fully approved nor agreed to. And we are not finished fighting.
The SCT&W Team
