Some bumps in the road for Bay Pointe Club development

Apr 14, 2015

There are still some bumps in the road for the proposed 94-unit development at the Bay Pointe Club in Onset.

Nearly 100 residents attended an informal presentation by the developers of the project at the Bay Pointe Club last Thursday.The development would include 62 lots with 94 units, 60 single-family home and 34 condominiums.

According to the plan, the 60 single-family homes are located on the southeast side of the Club, around Short Neck Road. The other units are located off of Cahoon Road near the current Bay Pointe condominiums.

“We think it’s good for the club members, Onset, the community, and something Stonestreet is going to be proud of,” said Timothy Fay, who co-founded Stonestreet corporation, a Rhode Island-based real estate and development company, with David Patrick in 2000.

Stonestreet bought Bay Pointe in 2012 for $1.4 million.

A number of residents at Thursday’s presentation brought up concerns with the state of Bay Pointe Drive and the impact of added traffic in the area.

The developers's plan is for all traffic to enter and exit on Bay Pointe Drive. The developers hope to place a “no through traffic” sign where the property can be accessed from Onset Avenue. At the 60-unit development to the southeast will be a gate in place that will only let emergency vehicles through.

Tom Principe, of the civil engineering firm Principe Company, said the traffic study estimated 49 trips in and out for an average weekday morning (from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.). He said he plans to improve the sight lines for those turning onto Onset Avenue. Additionally, the entirety of Bay Pointe Drive will be realigned and widened to 22 feet, with 5-foot sidewalks.

“I don’t see it having a negative impact on Onset Avenue traffic,” Principe said of the project.

Residents also expressed confusion as to why the Community Economic Development Authority, a town entity, owns the clubhouse and paved parking lot at the Bay Pointe Club.

Last fall, Town Meeting voted down a measure that would have given pre-approval to CEDA to sell the land. Fay said that Stonestreet and the town are working toward a solution.

The presentation also detailed some specifications for the 60 single family homes. Fay said the houses would range from 1,350 square feet to 2,000 square feet and range in price from $300,000 to $425,000.

The developers were scheduled to go before the Planning Board on April 13, as they are seeking an approval of a subdivision, a site plan review and a special permit. Only four of the five Planning Board members were in attendance as Chairman George Barrett had to attend the Wareham Fire District Annual Meeting at the same time. Because the special permit requires a supermajority of board members for approval, the developers asked to have the hearing continued. They will come before the board again on May 11.