Saugus residents approve Ballard Street project

SAUGUS – After much concern regarding potential projects, residents along Ballard Street have by and large signed off on a project destined for the corner of Ballard and Route 107.Attorney Richard Magnan asked Selectmen last week to approve a special permit for a developer seeking to build three 1,000 square foot industrial buildings aimed at attracting small businesses.The buildings would cover three separate lots across the street from the defunct Lavoy’s Restaurant. The target market, according to Magnan, would be service related industries such as upholsterers, plumbers, tinsmiths, roofers and or contractors.The neighbors previously fought the idea of a recycling company moving in down the street at the Eastern Tool site and were wary of another developer trying to bring new industry to the neighborhood.Ballard Street resident and Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian said he was happy the developer was open minded enough to work with the neighborhood.”We never said the land shouldn’t be developed, it was just a matter of how,” Manoogian said.Manoogian said with work being done to improve Vitale Park and residents invested in their homes, he simply wanted to see a consistency in businesses approved for the area.Resident Peter Bogdan said his only concern was he didn’t want to see fueling or vehicle repairs being done at the site, though he was happy to see fallow land revitalized.Janice Jarosz, who perhaps lives closest to the development, said she is happy to have the new neighbors. “It’s a depressed area,” she said. “If this passes I would be the first to welcome them to the neighborhood.”Only one resident, Michael Glionna, opposed the plan mainly because he wanted to know what kind of businesses would inhabit the buildings. His concern, he said, was there would be hazardous waste involved, chemicals or large tractor-trailer trucks on site.”Put a McDonald’s down there,” he said. “I’d rather see that. With RESCO (Refuse Energy Systems Corp.) already there, we don’t need this. Nothing against you fellows.”Robert Krech of 26 Ballard St. said he believed that as long as the Fire Department and Inspectional Services did its job, all would be fine. “Everyone should recognize it’s a blighted area,” he said. “I think this could improve the neighborhood.”Manoogian suggested the businesses be subjected to a tri-annual inspection, which would be a new venture for the town and Magnan agreed. The board voted 5-0 to approve the special permit.