Zoning Board Approves Pulte's 163-Unit Affordable Condo Project in North Plymouth

Despite vocal opposition from neighbors, the board says state law leaves little room to deny the 40B development.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 1:03am

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An abstract studio still life photograph featuring a collection of polished geometric shapes and premium materials arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the complex issues surrounding affordable housing development.A conceptual still life captures the complex tensions between affordable housing development, community concerns, and state regulations.North Plymouth Today

Despite months of protests from local residents, the North Plymouth Zoning Board of Appeals voted to approve Pulte Homes' 163-unit affordable condominium development. While several board members expressed strong opposition to the project, they said state laws around 40B affordable housing developments left them little choice but to grant the permits.

Why it matters

The decision highlights the tension between local control and state-level affordable housing mandates, as well as the challenges communities face in pushing back against large-scale developments that may not align with neighborhood preferences. The project is expected to have significant impacts on traffic, noise, and property values in the surrounding area.

The details

The ZBA's vote was not unanimous, with two members voting against parts of the project due to concerns over traffic safety and the project's layout. However, because the development is designated as affordable housing under the state's 40B law, only a simple majority was required for approval. The three-building, nearly 3-acre project will include 63 units in a 6-story building on Sandri Drive, as well as two 50-unit buildings on Prince Street.

  • The ZBA approved the project on Monday, April 15, 2026.
  • The project must still go before the town's Conservation Commission for review of wetlands and flood zones.

The players

Pulte Homes

A national homebuilder that is developing the 163-unit affordable condominium project in North Plymouth.

North Plymouth Zoning Board of Appeals

The local zoning board that voted to approve Pulte's 40B affordable housing project despite vocal opposition from neighbors.

Michael Main

The chairman of the North Plymouth Zoning Board of Appeals, who said he opposed the project but felt constrained by state 40B laws.

Carol Jankowski

A Prince Street resident who has been fighting the Pulte project for months and criticized the ZBA's decision.

Meg Sheehan

An environmental lawyer who has opposed the project even though her family is the landowner selling to Pulte.

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What they’re saying

“I don't like this project and I tell the Pulte people that straight up. But it's not as bad as some of the other we've had crammed down our throat.”

— Michael Main, Chairman, North Plymouth Zoning Board of Appeals

“Why is it that some members of the board are afraid of fighting for the citizens of North Plymouth...? No one has ever suggested that 40B is an easy law to defy, but when the health and wellbeing and safety of a neighborhood are at stake, it's time to stand up a little taller...and step forward into the fray.”

— Carol Jankowski, Prince Street Resident

“The ZBA vote deprives the neighborhood residents of the right to the peaceful use and enjoyment of their homes and unnecessarily subjects them to excessive noise and light pollution, traffic hazards, and loss of property value.”

— Meg Sheehan, Environmental Lawyer

What’s next

The project must still go before the town's Conservation Commission, which regulates wetlands and flood zones, before Pulte can break ground.

The takeaway

This decision highlights the ongoing tension between state-level affordable housing mandates and local control, as well as the challenges communities face in pushing back against large-scale developments that may not align with neighborhood preferences. Despite vocal opposition, the ZBA felt constrained by 40B laws in denying the project.