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Easton Planning Commission Approves Silo Square

October 23, 2024

Amid resident pushback and design concerns, the Easton Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve a 28-unit townhouse development at the site of a former Perdue AgriBusiness operation in Easton.

The Silo Square development is led by Chesapeake Community Development, a subsidiary of The Arc Central Chesapeake Region. It is a mixed-income housing project on a 2.36-acre lot at 410 Needwood Avenue, within the East End area, that the town is aiming to revitalize.

An updated site plan was presented at Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting, along with a traffic study that was requested when developers weren’t granted approval last month. The project is set to include 16 three-story townhomes and 12 two-story townhomes.

The 10-grain bins currently on the lot, often referred to by community members as silos, would be demolished.

Residents that live near the site spoke during public comment on Thursday, largely in opposition to the design of the townhomes. Developers have stated the architecture is intended to “pay homage” to the Perdue site and fit in the surrounding industrial area.

“This is the core of Easton,” resident Tom Ledvina said.“The code and the (comprehensive) plan say it has to look, it has to be compatible with that historic look that makes Easton special. And this just doesn’t.”

Zach Smith, an attorney representing the developers, asked that the commission look toward the town staff’s review and analysis of the project, which noted it does fit within Easton’s comprehensive plan.

“We don’t have to get the consensus of the neighbors in order to move forward,” Smith said.“What we have to do is to comply with the town’s requirements.”

Resident Maury Schlesinger spoke in disapproval of how the project faces inward toward the parking lot, with its back to the street. He said it will be “distinct” and “separate” compared to the nearby residential designs.

“Is this how we want our economically challenged people to live?” Schlesinger asked the commission. “Is this how we build an inclusive community? And is the desire to approve more housing right now so great that concern for (developers’) budgets and timetable overcomes the need to protect the character of the town?

“I’m all for affordable housing, but it shouldn’t look like this.”

COMMISSION SPLIT

Commission members Victoria McAndrews and William Ryall, who were not present at the September meeting, expressed their own concerns about the project. McAndrews and fellow member Thomas Klein said they didn’t like the design.

“This, to me, has an incredibly suburban subdivision feel, as opposed to being an integrated part of the neighborhood,” McAndrews said.“And I’m just wondering what is the rationale for not following the existing framework of how the neighborhood is laid out.”

Commission Chairperson Philip Toussaint and Vice Chairperson Michael Ports complimented the design of the townhomes and pushed for approval.

Smith did the same, noting that developers fulfilled the requests made by the commission last month to include a traffic study -which revealed no significant impacts – and remove a section of fencing.

“We left this meeting last month with a clear direction that we needed to address the fence, and we needed … a traffic study,” Smith said. “We’ve done both of those things and now we’re at a point where we’re facing having to come back yet again. This is how workforce housing projects die.”

Ryall, who said he liked the design but was “torn” over whether it fit within the surrounding residential area, joined Toussaint and Ports in supporting approval.

“I don’t want to let perfection get in the way of the good,” Ryall said. “So I’m willing to vote in favor of it.”

Ports moved for approval, seconded by Toussaint. All members voted yes, though McAndrews and Klein did so reluctantly, emphasizing their disagreement with the design.

Since the proposal came in the town’s planned redevelopment overlay district, it will not require approval from the Easton Town Council. Thursday’s vote was passed on the conditions that developers make minor adjustments to the site plan, and approval is granted by town staff.

See the original article published in the Star Democrat here.