The proposed 56-story building emerged as the central topic of discussion, given its potential impact on the city’s landscape and housing market. The new zoning regulations stipulate that any project must include at least 10% affordable housing units. However, this proposal aims to provide 63 affordable units, representing 11.6% of the total residential units, which exceeds the minimum requirement. In addition to affordable housing, the new zoning allows for increased residential and amenity space, offering an additional 5,000 square feet of residential space and 250 square feet of amenity space for each affordable unit. The building’s height can also rise by up to 20 stories under the new zoning rules, a critical aspect since the proposal seeks to extend the height from an approved 35 stories to 56 stories.

The project’s architect outlined that the design includes a variety of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units totaling 542 residential spaces, alongside an amount of amenity space, including a rooftop pool and restaurant. The project will maintain a hotel component with 154 rooms and 202 parking spaces, and the ground floor will continue to support retail and restaurant uses. Despite these amenities, the request for additional stories is justified by the necessity to provide affordable housing in the Journal Square area, aligning with the zoning amendments’ goals.

Board members questioned the relationship between the new application and previous approvals, noting the challenge of assessing the current proposal without access to past documents. This prompted a focus on the merits of the new application, emphasizing the need to consider the current proposal independently.

The meeting also addressed issues of transparency and public access to documents, particularly for another development proposal involving a mixed-use building with significant deviations from zoning requirements. The board expressed concern over the lack of access to civil engineering plans and structural assessments on the public portal, which raised procedural questions. There was a consensus that, without access to these documents, the board could not proceed effectively. The applicant acknowledged the oversight and agreed to provide a comprehensive structural engineering report to confirm the feasibility of the proposed construction.

The Planning Board also considered a separate proposal for a 28-story mixed-use building in the Journal Square area. This development includes 657 residential units, ground-floor retail space, and two stories dedicated to hotel or commercial uses. The architect presented the design, which features two residential towers atop a shared podium, and detailed the parking structure designed to accommodate 881 vehicles, including electric vehicle charging stations.

Discussion around this proposal focused on parking and loading zone logistics, with the board raising concerns about truck maneuverability and the adequacy of the proposed loading space. The applicant was requested to provide a turning template to illustrate how trucks would navigate the area and to explore alternatives to the current loading dock design. The board agreed to carry the case to a future meeting, allowing time for further consideration and revisions.

During the meeting, the board also approved several administrative matters, including a minor subdivision application for 22-24 Bergen Avenue and the memorialization of resolutions for various cases. These routine approvals were conducted without debate, as they complied with existing development standards.