The comprehensive permit enables the developer to bypass local zoning laws as long as the development has a 25% affordable-housing component and the town has not yet reached its 10% affordable-housing requirement. While a number of projects with affordable-housing components have been developed in last few years--including an assisted living facility, the New England Home for the Deaf and scattered site units for the Danvers Housing Authority--the town is still under 10%, according to its building inspector, Peter Bryson. "We don't have much choice" about approving these projects, Bryson tells GlobeSt.com, "until we reach 10%." Even with Northland's project, the town still won't hit 10% affordable housing.

Northland is forming a limited liability corporation with the current owners of the 13-acre site on which the complex will be built that will be called Northland Swing-A-Way LLC. Bryson notes that the project was approved subject to the compilation of a formal decision, which includes a list of conditions for the development.

But that will not be all. Another 40B project is making its way through the system here proposed by Avalon Bay Communities. The developer wants a comprehensive permit to build 78 units in Danvers that will be part of a huge 400-unit complex that straddles the border with Peabody.