A proposal for an eight-unit apartment building on Fenton Street has cleared its first hurdle.

At its June 13 meeting, the Zoning Board of appeals unanimously approved a special permit for the project.

“Step one is done,” attorney John Markey said with a smile. 

The hearing was initially scheduled for June 8, but was postponed due to technical difficulties.

If fully approved, the parcel would feature a central building with eight two-bedroom units that would be connected to the town’s sewer system. Currently, the lot contains seven occupied trailers connected to a cesspool and septic system.

According to the decision drafted by Markey, the existing septic systems would be emptied and removed as required by the town’s Board of Health. The road, which is made of gravel, would also be replaced with a paved thoroughfare and sidewalk subject to approval by the Department of Public Works.

“I feel comfortable that it says [that],” said Zoning Board Chair Michael Medeiros.

Proponents of the project, including members of the Zoning Board, said they felt it would be a great improvement in town.

Some residents did previously voice concerns about potential impacts to the area’s water table, but Medeiros said the applicant would address those through an infiltration system and a detention pond that would be near the apartments. 

Now that it’s the Zoning Board, the project will now be subject to site plan review from the Planning Board, along with permitting from the Conservation Commission.

“Just as the petitioner indicated, there’s a lot of stops,” Medeiros said.