Fall River Planning Board backs housing overlay expansion near South Main Street

FALL RIVER — June 10, 2026 — Fall River's Planning Board unanimously backed a 70-acre expansion of the city's Housing Development Overlay District, forwarding a positive recommendation to the City Council at its June 10 meeting. Co-Chairman Michael Ferris presided with members Gloria Pacheco and Orlando Rodriguez after Chairman John Ferreira and member Beth Drake were absent. City Engineer Dan Aguiar explained the expansion would allow the former Atlantis Charter School building on South Main Street — already approved for apartment conversion — to apply for state housing tax credits under Chapter 40B and 760 CMR Section 66; the overlay network has grown incrementally since its 2016 establishment. The board also sent a positive recommendation for the city's updated Open Space and Recreation Plan, tabled the Spring Street roadway reconstruction for a third time to July 8, and unanimously appointed Rodriguez as the board's 2026 SRPEDD representative, replacing longtime representative Mario Luchawa.