Milton planners advise in favor of Granary zoning

Milton Planning and Zoning Commission plans to send an advisory report to Milton Town Council recommending the annexation of 450 acres on Sand Hill Road with an R-2 residential zoning classification and a large-parcel development overlay.

The developer, Convergence Communities, is planning to use the annexed land to build a 1,350-unit residential development known as The Granary at Draper Farm. The project would also include 60,000 square feet of potential commercial space, as well as a small brewery and a working granary.

At their Nov. 16 meeting, the commissioners liked the development’s concept, which would also include up to 55 acres of open space to be given to the town, as well as walking and biking trails. 

The R-2 zoning and LPD overlay give Converge Communities a great deal of flexibility in how the development is built. A large-parcel development allows for varying lot sizes so not all the homes will look the same, and also allows for some commercial opportunities that do not require a commercial zoning designation. The development will also include an amphitheater, two pools and sports courts. 

Amy Puccia, vice president of asset management for Convergence Communities, said, “We have designed the Granary to be an extension of Milton and add significant value to the existing town.”

Puccia said annexation and development of the Granary property is envisioned in the town’s comprehensive development plan. She said the layout of the development was designed to promote a walk/bike-friendly environment. Puccia said 65 percent of the housing at the Granary would be single-family homes, and 35 percent would be townhouses. 

For the commission, the two biggest issues were the brewery and the granary, which straddle the line in terms of commercial uses in an LPD. Regarding the brewery, Convergence officials have referred to it as a “brewery incubator,” which would allow homebrewers to have access to an actual working brewery with a limited production capacity. 

“We’re not looking for something on the scale of Dogfish Head,” Convergence attorney David Hutt said. 

The granary is a working grain storehouse on the site, as the property has been used as a farm for decades.

Commissioner George Cardwell said, “I’m trying to figure out how to accomplish what you’re showing, because what you’re showing is pretty exciting. But I’m not sure the zoning vehicle gets you where you need to go.”

Spencer Van Schaack, vice president of development for Convergence, and Hutt said the company’s idea would be to apply to the commission for a conditional-use permit for the granary and brewery when the time comes. Convergence is planning a 20-year, phased build-out for the Granary project. 

The commission was satisfied with the plan to seek a conditional use later and unanimously agreed to recommend the proposed R-2 with an LPD overlay zoning.