Tewksbury Planning Board rejects Astle Street apartment complex 1-4

TEWKSBURY — April 27, 2026 — Tewksbury Planning Board voted 1-4 to reject a large apartment project at 15 and 41 Astle Street after 14 months of hearings. Chair Stephen Johnson was the sole vote in favor on all four motions — for waivers, site plan review, a land disturbance permit, and a special permit — for the BLJB Holdings LLC development represented by attorney David Plunkett and engineer Matt Hamor of LandPlex LLC. Neighbors Ralph Bliss of 249 Astle Street and Joanie Spear of 149 Pike Street objected, and Bliss noted that a street-level rendering looking down Astle Street toward Main Street — requested three or four times over the course of the hearings — was never provided. In the same meeting, the board unanimously re-elected Johnson as Chair, Vincent Fratalia as Vice Chair, and Jonathan Ciampa as Clerk, all 5-0, and continued a separate 14-unit mixed-use proposal at 1325 Main Street by AJM Construction to May 11.