Swampscott clerk certifying names for bylaw change

SWAMPSCOTT-The town clerk is in the process of certifying signatures on a petition that would require Selectmen to add an article to an upcoming special town meeting warrant.Attorney William DiMento said the current zoning bylaw prohibits drive-through windows for restaurants in town, even Vinnin Square, which is zoned B-2 district.DiMento said the bylaw is antiquated.?We have drive-through drug stores and banks in town already,” he said. “There is no reason not to allow restaurants in the Vinnin Square area apply for a special permit for a drive through. The petition would force the selectmen to add the proposed change to the special town meeting warrant. All we are asking is that businesses in Vinnin Square be allowed to apply for a special permit for a drive-through window. If this change is passed by Town Meeting it would not guarantee a drive-through window as a matter of right.”DiMento pointed out the article is written so restaurants that wanted a drive through would be required get a special permit.?We are trying to update the existing bylaw, “he said. “Any application for a drive-through would have to go before the Zoning Board (of Appeals) and be granted a special permit.”The Town Charter allows residents to add an article to a Town Meeting warrant or special Town Meeting warrant by petition, which is what DiMento is doing. 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 once the signatures are certified, the Selectmen would be compelled to add the zoning bylaw change to that warrant.Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said it only takes 10 signatures on a petition to add an article to the annual Town Meeting warrant and 100 signatures to put it on the warrant at a special Town Meeting.DiMento said he has approximately 170 signatures, but he only turned in 135 to the town clerk. The town has not set a date for the special Town Meeting, but Maylor said he expects it would be held sometime in November.