Setbacks approved for new home development on Broadway 'triangle'

The Board of Zoning Adjustments approved variances to allow housing development on the Broadway “triangle” at its April 2 meeting. The property sits between Broadway Street and Saulter Road across from JoJo’s on Broadway, with Short Saulter Road making up the third leg of the triangle.

The variance approved at the meeting will allow for five houses to be developed on the property. Owners Rose and Frank Dichaira had applied for a 15-foot setback on the rear of each of the lots, and developer William Tucker had applied for a 10-foot front setback on the side of the house by Carr Avenue.

Beverly LeBoeuf was the only board member to vote against the variances.

Several neighbors showed up in support of the development, and the property owner came with petition of 25-30 signatures in support of it, BZA member Lauren Gwaltney said.

A few other neighbors at the meeting said they wanted to make sure the development would fit with the neighborhood and that the houses would not be too big.

The developer said the houses would be between 1,100 and 1,600 square feet and would cost between $260,000-$340,000.

“We asked a lot of questions, and it sounds like they will be smaller bungalows,” Gwaltney said.

After learning this, no one present was in opposition to the development, Gwaltney said, and several people said they were glad something was being done because the property had become a dumping ground.

The narrowest part of the triangle property will remain undeveloped and continue to serve as a buffer between Saulter and Broadway. The developer did not purchase this section of the property. Several people at the meeting said they hope that the property will be cleaned up in the future, and Gwaltney said hopefully the new homeowners on the five lots will help keep it clean.

In 2013, homeowners in the area pressured a condo developer, Drake Homes LLC, to back away from plans for the triangle property. Following that, a group called Friends of Broadway Park and Community Garden campaigned for a park to be created on the property. The city discussed buying the land for $220,000 but never followed through with the purchase.