SAUGUS — The Planning Board on Thursday evening opted to continue a public hearing on a proposal to rezone the property at 39R Forest St. set to go before Town Meeting next month, pending the clarification of two covenants that would disallow any development on Forest Street.
The property is currently zoned as residential, but developer Sal Palumbo is seeking Town Meeting’s approval to rezone the property as part of the Business Highway Sustainable Development district that covers Route 1. Palumbo intends to construct multifamily housing on the lot, but cannot do so with the zoning as it is.
Thursday marked the third time the proposal has come before the Planning Board, after the board had voted to recommend the rezoning to Town Meeting only for Town Meeting to send the proposal back to the board. Members on Thursday did not indicate that their support for the proposal had changed, but said they wanted the covenants reviewed again by Town Counsel John Vasapolli.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Anthony Cogliano, who submitted the article for consideration by Town Meeting, explained that he was employed by Palumbo when the zoning change for Route 1 was approved by the town. He said it was his understanding, as well as that of state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus), Town Meeting members, and former Planning Board member Peter Rossetti, that the 39R Forest St. parcel was included in the new BHSD zoning. The Forest Street property is attached to 961 Broadway.
“Why it was, I have no idea,” Cogliano said.
Attorney Mark Bobrowski, who is representing Palumbo, explained that in order to access the developable portion of the property, his client would need to have the Forest Street property’s zoning amended.
“He wants to take a multifamily use from Broadway, across 39R, and then make a left-hand turn onto 999 [Broadway],” he said.
999 Broadway is the site of a Holiday Inn on Route 1, and attorney Marc Kornitsky, who represents the owner of that property, said his client opposes the rezoning.
Kornitsky argued that the property was intentionally left out of the zoning plan when it was enacted.
Precinct 9 Town Meeting member Robert Long also spoke against the proposal, saying he feared it could open a “can of worms” that would allow other developers to seek rezoning along the residential street.
Long also expressed concern that Palumbo has not submitted any sort of proposal for what he wishes to do with the site beyond simply saying he wishes to convert it to multifamily housing.
Planning Board Chair John O’Brien, however, said expecting Palumbo to have a firm proposal before the property is rezoned would be jumping the gun.
Should the rezoning pass Town Meeting, Palumbo would still have to go through the town’s permitting process for construction of the development and could be turned away at any point.
Planning Board Vice Chair Jeannie Meredith said she had heard from several residents of the area who were concerned about development on Forest Street. She emphasized the need for Vasapolli to sign off on the covenants, which bar Palumbo from developing his property onto Forest Street.
The issue will come before the Planning Board again at its May 4 meeting. The Annual Town Meeting is set for May 1, and should the article come up for discussion on that night, Town Meeting members would likely opt to table it, pending the board’s decision.
