The Poppies – West Newbury, MA
Vote YES on MBTA.
Sarkis Development Company has an agreement to purchase the former Knapp’s Greenhouse property. We plan to develop the site into a residential neighborhood.
If the Town of West Newbury adopts the mandated MBTA Zoning Initiative, we will be able to create a mix of unit styles, price ranges and preserve more open space where it is most visible.
Here is the difference:
(JL: DELETE “PROJECT VERSIONS AND ZONING” AND INCREASE THE LIMITS OF THE TWO PHOTOS TO SHOW THE ADJACENT EXISTING STRUCTURES.)
With the adoption of the MBTA zoning, we would build between 32 to 36 units.
Be aware of misinformation surrounding our development intentions; we do not propose a “big box” apartment style building with 87 units as some have claimed.
Due to septic regulations, THE SIZE OF OUR DEVELOPMENT IS LIMITED TO 90 TOTAL BEDROOMS.
Watch the presentation we made to the Board of Selectmen on April 8, 2025.
Click here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Npx3H5xVlc
The vote will take place at the annual Town Meeting on April 28, in the new high school’s gymnasium.
Adoption of the MBTA zoning district at the Knapp’s Greenhouse property has the support of each member of the Select Board, Planning Board and Finance Committee.
A YES vote will adopt the mandated zoning and satisfy the State requirement.
We plan to develop this property with or without MBTA. A YES vote allows us to create a much better project.
The Comm. of Mass has implemented strong financial penalties on the town if we don’t adopt the district. West Newbury could lose up to $$$$$$$$ in funding. https://www.wnewbury.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif1436/f/pages/mvpc_wnewbury_compliance_memo_3-14-14.pdf
The Poppies will create POSITIVE CASH flow to the Town. https://www.wnewbury.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif1436/f/pages/west_newbury_residential_fiscal_impacts_fxm_final1-8-25.pdf
Ridiculously high housing prices prevent our children from living near us. And prevent our elders from staying near us. The lack of housing production is a key contributor to the problem.
Flexible zoning like MBTA allows for the creation of more units, targeting different price ranges, and in a fashion that retains rural agricultural character visible from Main Street.
