Swampscott residents fighting drive-through zoning bylaw

SWAMPSCOTT – Some residents would like to see a zoning bylaw changed that does not allow drive through restaurants in town.Attorney William DiMento said current zoning prohibits drive through windows for restaurants in town even in Vinnin Square, which is zoned a B-2 district.”We have drive through CVS and banks in town,” he said. “All we are asking is a change that would allow drive through restaurants in the Vinnin Square business district if they receive a special permit.”DiMento added even if the bylaw is changed it does not mean any restaurant in that area could add a drive through window.”We are merely trying to update the existing bylaw, “he said. “A drive through would not be a matter of right even if the bylaw is changed. Any application for a drive through would have to go before the Zoning Board (of Appeals) and be granted a special permit.”Zoning Board of Appeals member Daniel Doherty said the board has not received any requests to examine the existing bylaw and he is not aware of the petition being circulated,The Town Charter allows residents to add an article to a Town Meeting warrant by petition, which is what DiMento said he intends to do. A special Town Meeting will be held this fall to act on the Town Building Oversight Committee recommendations for surplus buildings in town and DiMento said he would like the proposed zoning bylaw change added to that warrant.”It takes 10 signatures to place an article on the warrant at the annual Town Meeting and 100 signatures to put it on the warrant at a special Town Meeting,” he said. “We are already circulating the petition and expect to have 200 signatures ready to turn in this week. So I fully expect it will go on the special Town Meeting warrant.”