LAKEVILLE — The developers who have proposed building 200 housing units on six parcels off Freetown Street have agreed to extend the time that the town has to consider the project.

Simonds Hill LCC seeks to build 200 units, including 44 single-family homes, 46 duplex cottages catering to an older demographic and 11 10-unit condominium buildings. At least 50 of the units will be deemed affordable and restricted to people with low to moderate incomes.

Because of the affordable units components, the project falls under the regulations of Chapter 40B. That state mandate allows developers to bypass certain zoning requirements if less than 10 percent of the community’s housing stock is considered affordable.

A planned hearing March 21 to discuss the project drew such a large crowd that it exceeded the space in the hearing room at Lakeville Library, where the parking area also could not accommodate everyone who wanted to attend. 

As a result, Zoning Board Chair John Olivieri Jr. told the audience that, because people had to be turned away, by law the hearing could not go forward.

This would have been the first public hearing that included comments from residents and an overall overview of the project.

At that time, the developers indicated that the town would be limited to the 180 days that the town is required to make  a decision by and that the postponed first hearing would count toward that deadline.

But in a letter from the lawyers representing the project received April 25, the developer said he was willing to start the 180 days from the next hearing, which will be held May 16 at Apponequet Regional High School, Olivieri said. The site was chosen to accommodate a larger audience.

This would give the town until November to make a decision. Olivieri said that his “expectation’’ is that the developer would likely extend the timeframe if that was needed.

As a result, he said, “the town does not lose anything.’’

Olivieri has assured the public that everyone will have a chance to speak at the May 16 hearing.