New Version of Controversial Workforce Housing Project Proposed

Developers who had earlier proposed a 120-unit workforce housing development near Bedford’s high school have returned seeking the town’s approval for a smaller proposal. 

The site off of Route 101 once housed a Shorty’s restaurant, now abandoned. Previous efforts by the developers, 206 Route 101 LLC and Bow Lane Bedford LLC, ran into opposition and difficulties getting wetlands permits and other approvals. The New Hampshire Union Leader reports that the project sparked a petition against it that garnered 1,000 signatures. 

The new version of the project includes only 93 apartments in three buildings; the restaurant building would also be renovated. The town’s zoning administrator had previously ruled that the land could only hold a maximum of 94 workforce housing units.  

As of publication time, the Bedford Planning Board was scheduled to review the project and vote on whether to close the design review process, a necessary step before voting on the developer’s final site plan application.