The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 28. On hand for the session were chair Alcurtis Clark, vice-chair Bernie Doherty, secretary-treasurer Michael Reiskind, Willie Mitchell, Dave Baron, Purple Reign, Sarah Freeman, Lorenzo Bartoloni, Alessia Shelley, Gert Thorn, Adam Burrows, Renee Stacey Welch, Erich Yaeger, and Chase Brewster.

Zavia Dickerson, the new Jamaica Plain liaison from the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services, also was on hand for the session, as was Michael Fishbein, the Senior Advisor for District 6 City Councillor Ben Weber.

The main portion of the meeting was taken up by a presentation from John Holland of the Sixteen Penny Design Group about its proposed project for 920 Centre St., the former monastery of the Poor Clare Nuns. The latest proposal for the property — which now is entering its fourth year of community discussion — will consist of five adjoining blocks of structures that will form a U-shape with a total of 79 condos and 79 apartments units for a total of 158 units, of which 24.7 percent (38) will be affordable.

All of the affordable units will be within the apartment component of the complex, with 36 of the rental units reserved for tenants with incomes at 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and two units reserved for holders of rental vouchers (such as Section 8).

The project is on a direct bus line and thus is considered to be a transit-oriented location. The project will contribute almost $2 million in property taxes annually and will generate more than 500 construction jobs. The project also will be considered a green project with an expanded tree canopy, reduced impervious surface, and enhanced open space.

This is the third proposal by Sixteen Penny for the site, which sits at Murray Circle and is immediately adjacent to the Arnold Arboretum, which is a National Historic Landmark. The two initial proposals had considered maintaining the original monastery structure and incorporating new buildings around it.

The new iteration proposes to raze the former convent and build everything from scratch in order to preserve the present tree canopy and provide the required 50-foot setback from the Arnold Arboretum.

The building will be five stories high. Holland said the condos, of which 49 percent will be 1-bedroom units, 46 percent will be 2-BR, and five percent will be 3-BR, are being designed to appeal to long-time JP residents who are seeking to downsize from their present homes, but who want to remain in the community. All of the condo units will be market rate.

The target demographic for the apartments are persons who have a low dependency on a motor vehicle and who are seeking an urban lifestyle that allows easy access to public transportation and JP's services and amenities.

Holland added that variances are needed for excessive height (57 feet vs. the 35 feet that is allowed), Floor Area Ratio (FAR), and maximum units per acre.

Paul Baccala, an architect with Sixteen Penny, described some of the specifics of the project to the members, including the plans for a bus shelter, open space, landscaping, and a rain garden.

Arboretum officials have opposed the project, citing interference with the view corridor and objecting to the height of the building, which they assert will block sunlight to the Arboretum's trees and grounds.

The members asked many questions to which Holland provided answers. Rena Clark, a long-time (32-years) resident, said she fully supports the project, noting that housing is desperately-needed in Boston for individuals such as her daughter, who aims to be a public school teacher, but who probably will be unable to afford to live in the city.

The project still must receive approval from the City of Boston Planning Dept.

The chairs of the JPNC's committees presented their reports. Purple Reign from the Housing and Development Committee told the members that the committee heard a presentation from Aidan Regan, the founder of Restored Living Homes, which seeks to develop co-purchasing property opportunities by bringing together groups who are open to co-purchasing, a form of home ownership that is more affordable than traditional purchases such as a home or a condo.

She also updated the members about the 3326 Washington St. project. "Although the community's requested affordability levels weren't fully achieved, the developer did increase the number of affordable units," she said. "We wanted higher affordability and the developer gave the highest numbers he felt he could afford for this project. Although we did want more, we felt this was a win."

She also noted that the committee discussed the MBTA's resurrected Arborway garage project that aims to accommodate about 200 electric buses at a brand new garage facility.

Reiskind presented the report of the Public Service Committee. He said the committee took up two license requests, one by Abuelas Table Inc., doing business as “Abuela’s Table” at 416 Centre St. for a 7-Day Common Victualler All-Alcoholic Beverages License, with the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., with Edwin Perez Figueroa as manager. and the other from Pinales Kitchen Inc., doing business as “Mangú Dominican Bistro” at 264 Hyde Park Ave. to upgrade its present Common Victualler 7-Day Wines and Malt Beverages License to a (restricted) All-Alcoholic Beverages License and a change of closing hour from 9:00 p.m. to 12 midnight on Thursday-Sunday.

Reiskind said the Public Service Committee gave its approval to the request by Abuelas Table and the applicant subsequently went before the city's Licensing Commission to receive its licenses.

As for the second application, Reiskind said there were two vocal opponents (who are neighbors) and the committee rescheduled a hearing on the matter for its next meeting on September 1.

Baron presented the report of the Zoning Committee for the three matters his committee took up at its two meetings in July:

— 7 Mossdale Road (alterations and additions to existing building, change of use from single-family residential to single-family with attached Accessory Dwelling Unit, with variances needed for excessive FAR and insufficient front, side, and rear setbacks;

— 388 Arborway (change of use from two residential units to three residential units; expand lower-level unit into walk-out basement; building envelope to remain unchanged, with variances needed for three-family residence; excessive FAR; lot size insufficient; and greenbelt protection overlay district applicable); and

— 17 Copley Street (conversion of an existing two- family residence into a three-family residence, with rear addition and new dormers; driveway to be extended to provide two tandem parking spaces with variances for a three-family residence, excessive FAR, insufficient side yard, and insufficient off-street parking).

The Zoning Committee approved all three projects and the full JPNC did so as well. The owners of the properties now must go before the city's Zoning Board of Appeals in order to obtain their variances.

The next meeting of the committee is set for August 25.