An approved subdivision may be back before the zoning and planning boards in Rindge, with a request to increase the number of proposed housing units from 27 to 42.

Developer Jamie Van Dyke appeared before the Plnnning Board on Tuesday for a preliminary discussion before submitting formal plans regarding a previously approved 27-lot subdivision on Dale Farm Road. A preliminary consultation often is used before an official application, where an applicant may receive advice about potential major issues before a formal application.

Van Dyke explained the subdivision was approved several years ago, but was delayed by neighbor appeals of the decisions, which went through District Court and Superior Court and were not settled until 2019. Then, the onset of COVID-19 further delayed the project, Van Dyke said, and he has yet to start building.

Van Dyke said as he comes up on deadlines to renew permits, including the state’s alteration-of-terrain permit for the project, which is set to expire in March, he said that with the recent uptick in building costs, his original plans for the property no longer are financially viable.

“It’s not financially feasible to build the project,” Van Dyke said. “I’m here just asking for relief on density requirements.”

Van Dyke explained that his original plan of building ranch-style multifamily homes is now too expensive, and he would like to switch to smaller units, built in the style of another of his recent developments, Kathleen’s Place on Route 202. Kathleen’s Place uses condominium-style, two-story small units. He said in addition to changing the style of the buildings, he would like to add more units, jumping from 27 to 42.

He said despite the additional units, because they are smaller, they would still fit within about the same amount of space on the 40-acre property.

“I’ve had a dream of building this project for the past nine years, but it’s just not penciling out,” Van Dyke said.

Planning Board Chair Roberta Oeser told Van Dyke that, essentially, he would be “starting from square one” with the application. She said one variance Van Dyke had received related to the property – allowing him to build something other than a single-family home despite not having the town’s required road frontage – would still apply, but all other approvals would have to go back through the public hearing process, which Van Dyke acknowledged.

However, in concept, the majority of the board said they were not opposed to a plan that increased the density of units. Member Max Geesey said housing is a need in town.

“I’d be in favor, whether you go condos or rentals – there’s a need for both,” Geesey said.

Geesey said access to the houses would be from one of the town’s major highways, and all traffic on the road would be related to the development. If the houses were on a road that was going to send extra traffic toward other homes that were already there, he said he might feel differently.

Member Kim McCummings said she could not fully comment without seeing finalized plans, but that Van Dyke was “on the right track.”

“Housing, everyone knows is a need,” said Select Board ex-officio Tom Coneys.

In addition to preliminarily reviewing the plans, Van Dyke also requested that the board submit a letter to the Zoning Board confirming that the board did not have any major objections to the concept of adding density to the area. The board agreed to draft a letter, noting the need for additional housing in Rindge, to be reviewed at a future meeting.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.