Ocean Avenue South mixed-use building (Case P2025-0160)

At a glance

Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.

What: preliminary and final major site plan with two bulk variances for a five-story building with 40 apartments, two ground-floor commercial spaces and 8 garage parking spaces in the Ocean Avenue South redevelopment area (case P2025-0160).
Where it stands: approved 7-0 on October 13 with staff conditions plus added conditions.
Next: resolution memorialization at a later meeting.

40 units: 12 studios, 24 one-bedrooms, 3 two-bedrooms and one three-bedroom; the one required affordable unit (5% of units above the fourth floor) is the three-bedroom, built to the same finish as market units. A 440 square foot rooftop amenity space, roof deck and green roof are included; 20 covered bicycle spaces.
Garage on the side street, replacing two existing driveways with one; a stormwater detention system under the garage and a green roof. Three street trees against seven required; the applicant will contribute money in lieu of four.
Variances: side yards (a neighboring building sits about six inches on the lot, so the required zero setback is impossible on one side, and a 2.2 to 2.3 foot setback is provided on the other to keep light and air to neighbor windows) and building depth, which conflicts between the plan's 95-foot and 70-foot limits.

Applicant agreed to: a trash chute, fiber cement in place of vinyl siding, fence matching the neighbor's existing fence to close off the narrow side passage, corner bump-outs and a rectangular rapid flashing beacon from the transportation review, and pursuing a loading zone (which only the City Council can approve).
Commissioners asked about bike storage, the narrow side space and its security, garage pedestrian warning signals and affordable-unit placement.
No public comment. Ward (city planning) said the project does not trigger the inclusionary ordinance but still provides one affordable unit and meets redevelopment plan goals. The Chair called the variance requested minimal.
Vote 7-0 including Councilwoman Little.

2026-10-13 - Planning Board (video of the October 13 Planning Board meeting, auto-captions)
No Planning Board agenda page is on file for this meeting.

About 38 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-13 - Planning Board	38

2026-10-13 - Planning Board - Approved 7-0 with staff conditions and added conditions on trash chute, siding, side fencing, bump-outs and beacon. About 38 minutes including a brief earlier call while the planner was delayed.