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2 Select Board rejects Richardson Green plan By Anne MArie ToBin LYNNFIELD ― The Select Board declined to give its support to a warrant petition seeking a zoning change of the Richardson Green property on Main Street, seemingly closing the door on developer Angus Bruce’s proposed project to build 54 units of senior housing. Bruce appeared at Monday’s night Select Board meeting to tout the benefits of the project, seeking the board’s support for the zoning change and the project. He said the development will generate “millions of dollars” of revenue for the town. “I cannot endorse the project as proposed for this property,” said Select Board member Phil Crawford. “It seems similar to what we have seen before and it looks like you have added some carrots at the end of the stick and, while that doesn’t diminish the benefits as you pointed out, I prefer the direction we are heading in.” The direction referred to by Crawford concerns the town’s stepped-up efforts to exercise a right of first refusal it holds on the property at the contract price of $2.71 million. Recently, the town received a $1.6 million Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant to help fund the town’s acquisition, which Town Administrator Rob Dolan has described as “one of the largest MVP grants he has ever seen.” In addition, the Lynnfield Conservation Commission has pledged $200,000 toward acquisition. Most recently, the Essex County Greenbelt Association pledged another $300,000 toward the project. Combined, those leave a gap of approximately $571,000, which will be funded from the proceeds of the town’s $3.8 million federal stimulus funds award. The bottom line is the town will use the funds to simultaneously exercise its right of first refusal, assigning its rights to the property to Greenbelt under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 61. The town would then purchase a conservation restriction from Greenbelt to preserve the property in perpetuity as open space. Bruce’s proposal calls for the construction of a 54-unit, 55- plus housing project for seniors on part of the 21-acre parcel, with about 10 acres being given to the town for use as open space. A project rejected by the town two years ago called for a single-family development. Bruce submitted a citizen’s petition for inclusion on the Oct. 18 Town Meeting warrant seeking to change the zoning from single-family residential to an elderly housing district. Bruce’s project will provide access to the property at the rear of the parcel via a road as well as five parking spaces. A 1,700-foot water main from the intersection of Lowell and Main streets will be constructed, along with several fire hydrants. WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 OCTOBER 7, 2021 Bruce said one of the proposed units will be reserved as affordable housing for a veteran. Bruce said the project will generate approximately $800,000 in property taxes, a $20,000 impact fee per unit totalling $1,060,000 plus excise taxes. The town will also benefit from enhanced fire-safety improvements with new fire hydrants. “I am impressed with the presentation and the benefits you cite, but I think that even six months ago we did not know that we would be in this position to be able to acquire this property at no cost to the taxpayers,” Select Board Chair Dick Dalton said. “This, too, is my preference.” While Select Board member Joe Connell agreed with Crawford and Dalton, Bruce did not. “I don’t know why they don’t discuss the money, that’s other people’s money,” he said after the meeting. “It seems like $571,000 is an awful lot of money when I am giving them 10 acres for access and they are getting all of that income. I don’t agree that this is free.” “One of the most important things is the fire protection part of this,” said Mirabeau Lane resident Rich Ripley. “There is a lack of fire protection in that area, and having a developer bring that in there is an enormous benefit to the community and the residents who live there now. This is a missed opportunity on our part for the town. It’s just a shame.” The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Maney Meeting Room at Town Hall to allow residents to weigh in on the petition. Elect Ray Melvin Light Commissioner Dear Voter, DO YOU KNOW YOUR LIGHT COMMISSIONERS??? I’LL BET MOST OF YOU DON’T!!! Well I’m applying for an important job at OUR Peabody Municipal Light Plant. That’s right it belongs to me and you!!! I’m a 40 year electric utility professional that is extremely experienced for this position. I am an advocate for green renewable energy such as a solar panel programs for commercial and residential customers. Also, I’m highly interested in installing a LOW cost or NO COST WIFI network on our electric system. PMLP is a great municipal company and we can only make it greater with qualified commissioners who effectively communicate with the voters and ratepayers and make smart informed decisions to keep rates at their LOWEST and make PMLP the best MUNI in New England. This is a challenge that I am ready for!!! I want to be YOUR advocate; I want to be YOUR Light commissioner! I Respectfully ask for your vote PHOTO | ANNE MARIE TOBIN Developer Angus Bruce carries a rendering of his plan. VOTE TO ELECT RAY MELVIN – LIGHT COMMISSIONER ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2nd, 2021 617.285.1500 Follow us on Facebook @Ray Melvin 4 Light Commissioner rmelvin28@aol.com has reworked the provisions of the bylaw, significantly scaling back the original provisions. “We think now we have addressed all the concerns that have been brought to us by the Select Board and constituents,” Planning Board Chair Brian Charville said. The bylaw applies only to “building activities,” Charville added. “The only tree removal that would be regulated with this (bylaw) is tree removal that is done related to a new subdivision, new home construction, a site plan ― which typically is for commercial property (and) not residential ― or a special permit granted by the Planning Board,” he said. Charville said the board made these changes because they had heard concerns that the bylaw shouldn’t apply to the average homeowner who is performing simple tree upkeep. Director of Planning and Conservation Emilie Cadamartori said the Planning Board met with the Select Board to address its concerns over the bylaw. Before Light agenda on tap for Town Meeting PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK Town Administrator Rob Dolan stands outside Town Hall. TOWN MEETING From page 1 Get your car looking great this Fall After Don Winslow’s AUTO B O D Y Celebrating 49 Years MON-FRI 8-5 • SAT. 9-12 166 Holten Street • Danvers (corner of Center & Collins) 978-762-6366 • 978-535-2474 www.DonWinslowAutoBody.com “We made a few more adjustments after listening to the Select Board and after the board didn’t support it for the June Town Meeting, we had more time to understand the feedback the public was giving us,” she said. “This bylaw is substantially different than prior versions so we are hopeful. “This is a beginning, but people need to realize that this bylaw only came into existence because the public came to us asking, ‘Why aren’t you doing something about this?’ People asked us to do something about the fact that people were removing trees. We just didn’t think this up on our own, people asked us to do something about the loss of these trees.’” The fourth article is a petition submitted by developer Angus Bruce, seeking the rezoning of the Richardson Green parcel on Main Street. Specifically, Bruce is looking to change the zoning from a residential to elderly housing district. The current zoning only permits single-family homes. Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin said that Bruce’s petition automatically goes on the warrant due its status as a citizen’s petition; the developer will appear at a future meeting of the Select Board, he said. The Planning Board will also conduct a public hearing on Bruce’s proposal, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Maney Room of Town Hall. Bruce acknowledged the fact that the project may be “moot” should the town decide to exercise its right of first refusal on the property. The Town Meeting will be held in the Lynnfield Middle School auditorium at 7 p.m.
OCTOBER 7, 2021 WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 3 By Anne MArie ToBin After an 18-month-long wait, the Lynnfield Arts Guild (LAG) will finally be able to show off its work in person. Their latest exhibition, “Creativity on Parade,” will be shown at the Beebe Estate Gallery in Melrose every Saturday of the month of October, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. LAG was able to host shows virtually up until this point, and guild president Dan Abenaim said it was tough to hold shows over Zoom. “For those 18 months (of the COVID-19 pandemic), it was like watching ‘Gone with The Wind’ or ‘Star Wars’ on a 12-inch, black-and-white TV: lucky to see them at all,but not the same as full-color Cinemascope,” he said. “The impact of seeing the real paintings on the walls of a beautiful venue like the Beebe Estate is almost physical ― you are assaulted by multiple stimuli of beauty and forms that make you appreciate the magnificent power of imagination.” LAG recently announced that local watercolor artist and member Patricia (Pat) O’Connor is their latest featured artist. O’Connor has been painting for over 40 years in all mediums, starting in oil and acrylics and now specializing in watercolor. “Art has always been a part of my life,” she said. “I love to travel, cook, and work with my hands doing sewing, knitting and, of course, painting in various mediums over the past 40-plus years. “In my free time I have been involved in various community and professional activities all my life. I love working with people.” O’Connor also added that both her painting and the friends she has made with the America’s Oldest Founded 1818 203 years in 2021 ANDREW MARSHALL SUNDAY, OCT. 10 2PM & 7PM GRANDSTAND Lynnfield Art Guild have sustained her through many difficult times and have brought much joy into her life. Abenaim said that he is grateful for the support from the Beebe Estate, adding that more arts venues like theirs are needed. The president also touched upon the theme of the exhibition, “Creativity on Parade,” and the importance of creative expression for everyone, not just artists. “Creativity is essential for everybody,” said Abenaim. “Sure, it is on display when you see a painting or a movie or a play, but it is also on display when you don’t have all the ingredients for a recipe and you make do with what you have, or when you are closed by a pandemic and you reinvent yourself to survive and strive.” You can see LAG’s and O’Connor’s work and learn more about upcoming events at www.lynnfieldarts.org. FrEe CoNcErTs WiTh FaIr AdMiSsIoN Friday October 1 _ Monday October 11, 2021 Arts Guild to be featured at Beebe Estate in October Pre-Schoolers Love By Anne MArie ToBin A Healthy Lynnfield (AHL) is launching a new four-part seminar series titled “Healthy Conversations, Healthy Kids.” “The goal of this series is to provide parents and caregivers an opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of important topics, ask questions, and share their experiences,” said Peg Sallade, A Healthy Lynnfield’s substance-use prevention coordinator. AHL is an active community partnership working to prevent substance misuse and to ensure that those impacted by substance misuse have the help they need. The new series is designed to provide parents and caregivers with the tools they can use to learn from each other. The series will share the results of a survey conducted this past spring by Scott Formica, Ph.D. of social science research and evaluation.The survey was limited to parents and caregivers with at least one child in grades 5-12. It addressed perceived norms, attitudes and preventive behaviors observed or utilized by parents and caregivers. The results were shared with the members of the Lynnfield Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, also known as AHL. “Scott will present the same slides to the community that he presented to the coalition, with time for questions and answers and facilitated discussion with parents,” Sallade said. “The data was really valid to help deliver a normative message to support and uplift the positive behavior of parents. This data allows us to celebrate the good things in the community, so hopefully parents will think it is important enough to come to.” The first session ― Arts Martial Fun, Games, Adventure and the first steps toward: CONFIDENCE SELF -ESTEEM AND DISCIPLINE FREE INTRODUCTORY COURSE FREE UNIFORM with enrollment Route 1 South, Newbury Street, Peabody, MA 01960 BRUCE MCCORRY’S 978-535-7878 Visit our website for more about us! MARTIAL ARTS Est. 1978 www.brucemccorry.com COLIN JAMIESON MONDAY, OCT. 11 12PM & 5PM GRANDSTAND Healthy conversations, healthy kids in Lynnfield PHOTO | ANNE MARIE TOBIN Peg Sallade, substance-use prevention coordinator. Understanding Parents’ Perceptions ― will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. Formica said the seminars will feature what he hopes will be lively discussions on what Lynnfield parents and caregivers have to say about the health and wellness of their children. Some of the topics to be discussed during the series include: the top concerns identified by parents they feel they face while raising their children, the kinds of positive parenting practices used by Lynnfield parents to keep their children healthy, and how parents can work together to best support their children during challenging times. The seminars will be held in-person at the Al Merritt Media Center at MarketStreet Lynnfield, 600 Market St., Lynnfield (second floor). The topic of the second session is teen marijuana use. That session will be held on Nov. 17. Other sessions will be announced this fall. To register for the series, go to https://ahealthylynnfield.org/ news-%26-events. We Specialize in AFTER SCHOOL MARTIAL ARTS IT’S FUN! • IT’S EDUCATIONAL! • IT’S AFFORDABLE Our unique program will help your child: Build confidence • Learn self-defense Improve grades • Increase self-discipline WE TRANSPORT
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