Controversial Townhouse Plan to be Heard—Again

The contentious  in June after more than three years of consideration has returned.

Now, the plan to build a  near a residential section including Mountain Way, Rocky Heights and South Powder Mill Road is coming back before the body.

At the Wednesday night ZBA meeting, President Robert Iracane announced that the matter is coming up for a re-hearing on Aug. 15 to consider revised information concerning the project's application.

"I guess I am not surprised," said Rick Jilleba, who headed Preserve Mountain Way, a residents' group opposed to the townhouse proposal. "This is a little quicker than I expected."

Mosberg's attorney Robert Garofalo argued for months as to the suitability of the project, noting that the developer, who initially wanted to build 38 for-sale townhouses forseniors, changed the plan to have only 22 units and no age restrictions in answer to resident complaints.

Still, Preserve Mountain Way and other residents of single-family homes near the location of the proposed development argued that.

On June 6, the board of adjustment sided with the residents and voted down the application, 4-3.

It's unlikely that many would find the news shocking.

At the time of the application's now-temporary defeat, vocal opponent Arnt Thuen, who lives on Mountain Way, said he expected the June 6 vote would not be the end of the prospect of development in his neighborhood.

"We'll just continue the conversation if we have to," he told Patch.

As for Jilleba, he has not yet indicated whether he would take up the fight again.