Remaining units at Easton Crossing OK’d

KONNER METZ

kmetz@chespub.com

EASTON — The Easton Planning Commission on Tuesday approved the remaining portion of a residential project on Brookletts Avenue at the site of the former Perdue AgriBusiness operation.

Developers from Fello, formerly The Arc Central Chesapeake Region, are aiming to build Easton Crossing, a mixed-use project with commercial space and significant open space in the center of the residential buildings.

In February, the commission OK’d 67 units but balked on Building 409, the project’s largest structure, which was originally proposed to stand five stories tall and house 56 units.

Tuesday, developers returned with a smaller Building 409, down to four stories and 38 units. A previously approved building, Building 411, was increased in the adjusted site plan to account for some of those lost units. The entire project, though, is still down from its original 123-unit plan to 116.

Commission members were largely pleased with the new Building 409. Developers and architects

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moved the large structure to the north of the project site, creating a larger lawn in the middle of the buildings.

Chair Philip Toussaint said he needed to be “sold a little bit more about” the center lawn after the building’s move.

Ross Benincasa, Fello’s vice president of community development, said it will help address a lack of public open space between John Ford Park and Idlewild Park.

“We have to make this more of a focal point so that people know this is open for them to use,” he said.

Commission member William Ryall said he was first unhappy with the decision to move the building but warmed up to the idea after hearing Benincasa’s explanation.

Some of Tuesday’s discussion involved concerns over the lack of a landscaping plan, which had been approved in February. Commission members felt like it should be resubmitted in more detail given the significant changes to the project.

“I think it’s an incomplete submission if you haven’t updated the landscape plan,” Toussaint said.

“The landscape plan could mitigate a lot of the concerns people have about the project,” commission member Victoria McAndrews said.

Despite those qualms, the commission — which applauded developers in February for an attractive project with proper community outreach — was on board with the revised plans.

In a 4-1 vote, the revised Easton Crossing site plan was approved with conditions, one of them being a return by developers to present a landscaping plan. The votes fell the same way as they did in February, with Tom Klein being the sole no vote.

Klein, who cited a lack of parking on site as a reason for voting down the project in February, did so again Tuesday. He said competition for nearby on-street parking spaces will occur once tenants move in.

“I like a lot about this project,” he said. “But I still am not going to be able to vote yes because I’m still not comfortable with the off-street parking.”

Apartments are expected to be available beginning in 2027. At least 30% of the rental units are planned to be affordably priced — between 30% to 80% of the area median income. Other units will be at workforce and market- rate levels.