TOPSHAM

Topsham Housing Authority’s proposed new eight-unit low to moderate income residential housing project at 37 Pleasant St. was granted unanimous approval by the planning board Tuesday night.

The building — less than 6,000 square feet — will be constructed on 1 acre of the 2.9 acre wooded lot at 37 Pleasant St. The rest of the lot will be conserved.

The project first came before the planning board in February. At that time, John Hodge, the director of Topsham and Brunswick housing authorities, said Topsham Housing Authority is targeting households earning between 50 and 80 percent of median income for the new housing. He characterized the Pleasant Woods project as workforce housing.

Two of the units will have project-based vouchers so that the housing authority can assist families. The other six units will not be subsidized, he said.

While some residents have expressed concern that the project will increase traffic on Pleasant Street and suggested a traffic analysis be done, planning board members did not feel it is warranted given the additional eight units is not expected to generate a large amount of additional vehicle trips.

The project has a $1.23 million price tag. The Topsham Housing Authority has received a $ 500,000 grant through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Affordable Housing Program for the project. Hodge said the bank also is providing a $500,000 subsidized loan. Bath Savings, the housing authority’s financial partner, will provide a loan to make up the difference.

Also on Tuesday, the board approved a conditional use permit for Verizon Wireless to install an antenna on the side of the cupola on the mall at 49 Topsham Fair Mall Road. Assistant Planner Carol Eyerman said there were no comments during a public hearing on the proposal.

The board also reviewed a pre-application submission by Highland Green for another phase of it’s master plan, this one for the construction of nine single family units. The meeting allowed board members to ask questions and provide feedback but no vote is taken at this stage. The applicant will need to return for preliminary and final subdivision plan approval.

Eyerman said the public hearing was tabled for a boat building proposed by Rick Pontes of Pontes Marine Service at 227 Lewiston Road.

dmoore@timesrecord.com