NASHUA – The Planning Board voted unanimously during its July 13 meeting to approve the site plan for 103 Temple St. which calls for the construction of three apartment buildings totaling 362 units.

Thomas Zajac, senior engineer at Hayner/Swanson, said the plan for the 254,122 square-foot parcel will involve demolishing the existing buildings and constructing two buildings with six floors and one building with five floors.

“This project is certainly well-aligned with the goals and objectives of not only the 2021 Master Plan but also the 2020 Housing Study, the 2017 Riverfront Master Plan as well as the 2004 East Hollis Street Area Plan,” he said.

Within the 362 units, Zajac said there will be 134 one-bedroom units and 228 two-bedroom units. To comply with the city’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, 72 units will be designated as affordable housing. There will also be 464 parking spaces.

Regarding traffic volume, Zajac said the project is expected to produce a net increase of 105 weekday morning trips and 81 weekday evening trips.

The apartments will be located adjacent to the Riverwalk and the Heritage Rail Trail providing residents with easy access to downtown and two bus stops.

There will also be an overlap between this project and the larger Spruce Street Connector Project.

“Much of the construction for the Spruce Street Connector would be completed as part of our project,” said Zajac, adding that 800 feet of curbs and sidewalks on the east side of Spruce Street will be reconstructed to create a 10-foot wide multi-use path.

Spruce Street resident Lucilia Sprague was opposed to the project.

“The height, six stories, is out of character to this side of Hollis Street,” she said, adding that the abutting residences are one- and two-family homes. “In this neighborhood, the max is three stories high.”

In response, Zajac said that part of Nashua is “in transition.”

“There are a number of large, mid-rise buildings that have popped up in this area,” he said. “We’re certainly in character with the neighborhood.”

Although she agreed that additional housing is needed, Aldermanic Liaison Patricia Klee expressed concerns about large buildings going into that particular neighborhood.

“This is going to be a culture shock for people who do live there,” she said.

In other news, the board voted unanimously to approve a Conditional Use Permit for a women’s halfway house at 49 Kinsley St.

Richard Maynard of Maynard & Paquette Engineering Associates said the building, which has been vacant for “several years,” will house up to 15 residents for 28 days at a time.

He said residents will not be allowed to have cars and the building will be under constant staff supervision from Rise Above Sober Living.

Maynard said the halfway house was also approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment as it will be located within a quarter-mile of Elm Street Middle School.

“This is a very needed project in our city,” he said. “Halfway houses for women don’t exist right now, we need to get these people back into society.”

Michelle Clark, operator of Rise Above, said this will not be a detox facility. Rather, women will move from the halfway house to a Partial Hospitalization Program or an Intensive Outpatient Program. Clark also said the facility will be licensed by the state and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. A clinician, case manager and two behavioral health technicians will also be on site.