South Shore Plaza Apartment Project Gets Major Braintree Approval

BRAINTREE, MA — The controversial housing project at Braintree's South Shore Plaza is gaining momentum after a big victory.

Zom Living, who this year presented an updated proposal for a housing development at the mall, received approval from the Planning Board at its Oct. 8 meeting.

With Mayor Erin Joyce now in office, and with the town facing a severe budget deficit, the project has gained favor. Case and point: The Planning Board voted down the original project by a 3-2 count. This time around? Unanimous approval.

The new proposal includes a smaller housing development with plans for a four-story building with 325 apartments, 33 of which would be affordable housing units. A separate, 16,000 sq. ft. property will contain proposed commercial space as part of the plan.

This new proposal also contains a bigger buffer between the surrounding Braintree neighborhoods and the new development, which would shift slightly from the original site and take up 10 acres between Lakeside Drive and South Shore Plaza.

The Residences at South Shore, the name of the project, would contain apartments ranging from studios to two-bedrooms. An internal parking garage would include 475-spaces for both residents and retail customers.

The new proposal also includes a residents-only pool and open space that includes a walking and bike path that the public can use.

Simon Properties, who owns the mall, is also on board to develop the commercial project.

Zom officials say the development could provide substantial cash for Braintree, a potentially important factor for a community that just passed its first affirmative tax override vote by a wide margin to address the town's budget deficit.

"The development will generate over $550,000 net real estate tax revenue for Braintree annually and is expected to contribute approximately $2.4 million in initial building permits and other utility connection fees," officials said on the newly updated website for the project.

The Planning Board, in its recommendation, said the vote marks a change of course for how land is used in town, stating that existing infrastructure needs to be used more effectively.

"The days of empty parking lots, excess asphalt, open space with no public use or recreating benefit need to end," the statement read.

Though the vote is crucial for the project, it doesn't mean the runway is cleared for takeoff just yet.

The Planning Board will still need to issue a special permit, which seems likely given the recent vote, and the Town Council also needs to approve the site's zoning plan.