Apartment building proposed for site of mobile home park

May 26, 2022

Additional apartments could be coming to Dartmouth.

A developer is hoping to replace eight trailers with eight apartments at a site on Fenton Street, located off Cross Road near Target.

The Zoning Board of Appeals heard the proposal for a town-house style apartment building at its May 25 meeting. A special permit is required by the Zoning Board because the lot is within an aquifer protection district.

If approved by the town, the parcel would see a central building with eight two-bedroom units that would be connected to the town’s sewer system, along with the placement of a new road. 

The property currently contains eight trailers that are connected to an outdated cesspool and septic system. 

“This is something we’re looking to improve substantially,” said attorney John Markey, who represents property owners Tony and Susan Antunes. “[With] the improvements we are making, we feel that it’s actually better for the neighborhood — there is nowhere else anywhere near here that has this existing septic system, cesspool, and trailers.”

Seven of the trailers are currently occupied. According to Markey, if the project were approved, current tenants would be given an opportunity to rent one of the apartments.

“My clients are not condo-izing it, they are renting it,” he said.

At the meeting, some of the abutters expressed concern over a potential rise to the water table due to stormwater runoff.

“A lot of stuff floods out in that area,” York Street resident Anette Conrad said.

Markey assured residents that his client would work with town departments to make sure the building would comply with all town regulations. 

He added that if residents find issues if the project goes on, they are more than welcome to voice their discontent to the town or the Department of Environmental Protection.

“It is not as if these guys are giving me the keys to the car,” he said. “There’s a series of toll booths we have to stop at that you can always stop us at. That’s why we want to get the dialogue.”

Zoning Board member Halim Choubah said he was a fan of the project.

“Overall, this is going to be an improvement,” he said. “This is something that’s needed in town — I think we all probably appreciate more apartments in town.”

Despite the praise, the Zoning Board ultimately voted to continue the hearing in order to prepare an official decision.

The project will next be discussed at the Zoning Board’s June 8 meeting.