By GAYLA CAWLEY
SWAMPSCOTT — Some neighbors are unhappy with officials moving forward with affordable housing plans for the shuttered middle school on Greenwood Avenue.
The former Swampscott Middle School was closed in 2007. Voters later approving a zoning change that would allow multi-family construction on the parcel. Five years ago, voters also approved a plan to transform the building into condominiums.
But a group of abutters filed suit in 2014, opposing the revision in a neighborhood of single-family homes. A Massachusetts Land Court judge revoked the multi-family zoning, ruling that reuse of the school did not result in a public purpose. With the court decision, zoning was reverted back to single-family housing.
At Town Meeting on May 16, voters will be presented with an amendment to the zoning by-law which would create a planned development district, and allow for construction of a 28-unit dwelling, according to town documents.
If the zoning change is approved, a Request for Proposals would be issued. Groom Construction, the company that had its condominiums approved, and has a pending lawsuit against the town, would be eligible to bid.
“Our hope is that Groom Construction does bid,” said Peter Spellios, a member of the Board of Selectmen.
There would be two plans for affordable housing at the school. If voters approve the change, a developer would have to establish at least 15 percent of its units as affordable, according to town documents.
A second option would allow a builder to put a predetermined amount of money into an Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which would be used to pay for affordable housing elsewhere in town. That amount would be no less than 20 percent of the total proposed units multiplied by $25,000, according to documents.
Frank Shorr, of Greenwood Avenue, told the Board of Selectmen at a public hearing Wednesday night that neighbors were shut out of the process.
“You’re asking us for our input but the amendment is already drafted so what difference does it make?” he said.
Jeff Sprague, who lives on Greenwood Terrace, said the proposed structure is “massively” out of scale with the neighborhood. He said the zoning change would ruin the historic neighborhood. He could understand why a school would be exempt from single-family zoning, but questioned why a new residential structure would inherit that exemption.
Freddy Phillips, of Greenwood Avenue, said his property values would go down with the development. He said he was uncomfortable with what he felt is a rush to get the amendment put before Town Meeting.
“Years ago, when we fought this and won at the land court, there was a rush,” he said. “Neighbors weren’t involved. It’s the same thing. Neighbors aren’t involved.”
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley