PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Neighbors are making noise about Kane’s Donuts.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
SAUGUS — Neighbors are making noise about Kane’s Donuts.
Since its expansion earlier this year, John Pizzi, a Dudley Street abutter to the donut shop, is among a handful of residents who say they are concerned about public safety hazards caused by delivery trucks in the early morning.
But Paul Delios, president of Kane’s Donuts, dismissed the allegations, saying they have been operating smoothly at the location for more than 60 years.
Kane’s opened in Saugus in 1955. A second location was launched in Boston’s Financial District last year. Each donut is made at the Saugus location on the same day it’s sold.
“Kane’s is the greatest donut in the world,” Pizzi said. “We know that. But sometimes you get too big for your location. You have to do something at that point. It is affecting a lot of people.”
Pizzi said the shop’s loading dock is not long enough, and the early morning trucks are too noisy. He told the Board of Selectmen in April that it violates a five-minute idling law and blocks the line of vision for vehicles.
Last spring, Pizzi made similar complaints about the noise coming from the shop. About 20 noise complaint citations were issued to the shop by police. But they were dismissed in Lynn District Court.
Delios said the Boston store picks up from 30 to 60 dozen donuts daily. He added that the shop is a supplier to about 60 other cafes, schools and organizations.
“We have been delivering donuts to different entities for the last 30-plus years,” he said. “We, Kane’s Donuts, do not have a vehicle. The other shop in Boston, a separate entity, has a vehicle that comes and picks up. They pick up products like any other customer picks up products.”
He added that the pickups do not generate any more noise than other customers, who have been coming in the early morning hours for years.
“The notion that we’ve overgrown our location is totally false and inaccurate,” said Delios. “This idea that we were a mom and pop business, we were never a mom and pop business. We are a business that makes products. It’s a manufacturing facility.”
Selectman Jeff Cicolini said his biggest concern is for the large number of children living in the neighborhood who ride bicycles. His fear is that the truck idling on the side of the road will lead to accidents.
“If a kid is riding on a bicycle going on Lincoln, down Dudley, they literally have to drive into the street,” he said. “I am not comfortable with trucks parking on that side street. Some kid is going to get hurt, and it’s going to be on our conscious because we’ve heard about it several times.”
Still, Delios said he has invested $250,000 into repairing the sidewalk and other infrastructure around the store.
“I’ve addressed every safety concern possible,” he said. “Every safety concern the town has ever asked me to help out with. Mr. Pizzi won’t be happy until that donut shop is shut down.”
One neighbor, who asked not to be named because she feared the dispute could get ugly, said her driveway is blocked by customer vehicles every day.
“I can attest to Mr. Pizzi’s concerns and complaints,” she said in an email. “He is not exaggerating, nor is he fabricating when he complains about the high level of noise and continuous disturbances. These issues are not few and far between. “
Selectman Jennifer D’Eon said other neighbors have not contacted her with complaints.
“I went down myself at 4 a.m. in the winter to listen,” D’Eon said. “The only noise and trucks I saw were customers. I heard a truck idling, it was a customer. I heard road traffic, but it was Lincoln Avenue traffic, not related to Kane’s.”
D’Eon added that Pizzi was sincere when he went before the board and said she believes he cares about the neighborhood. Her concern is whether the board has the authority to address the problems.
“Safety questions go to the police,” she said. “Garbage questions to the Board of Health, structure questions to the building inspector.”
But Selectman Mark Mitchell said he has received emails from six or seven neighbors with similar complaints. He said the panel isn’t doing enough.
“I don’t live in that neighborhood and I’m frustrated,” Mitchell said. “It’s obvious to me that they’ve changed the use of their business. They’re obviously supplying to their other store. To me, I just don’t feel like we’re doing enough for that neighborhood.”
Mitchell added that sending Pizzi to different boards isn’t the answer. There has to be a better way the owner can work with their neighbors to do the right thing, he added.
Chairwoman Debra Panetta agreed to look into Pizzi’s concerns.
“We haven’t done anything other than what a bakery does,” Delios said. “By nature, it’s a manufacturing facility. That’s what a bakery does.”
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.