The next property the Block Island Housing Board is seeking to develop affordable housing on is donated land that sits on the edge of the cemetery across the street from Ball O’Brien Park. The lot (Plat 18 Lot 2-3) is currently in the Residential A Zone, but the Housing Board would like that designation changed.On April 14 the Planning Board heard their appeal to change the lot from Residential A to New Harbor Commercial. This would allow for a larger building imprint on the lot and greater flexibility in terms of design and number of people served.“We are planning to develop the property across from Ball O’Brien Park,” said Millie McGinnes, representing the Housing Board. By changing the current zoning, the proposed housing development could match other developments in the area such as the E. Searles Ball housing, which is rental, and the West Side 20, which is owner-occupied affordable housing.The zoning change would require an amendment to the 2016 New Shoreham Comprehensive Plan to change the future land use map for that particular lot from low density residential, to high-density residential.The Planning Board agreed to move forward and will hold a public hearing on the matter on
