Revere zoning change plan could bring in tax dollars

REVERE – City Councilors are split over a zoning change plan they say could bring business tax dollars to North Revere or more families to the area which would add to the city’s education costs.”Is this real or a carrot that’s not going to get bit?” Councilor at Large Anthony Zambuto asked after city planners and Overlook’s developers presented zoning changes for the area bordered by Route 1 and Salem Street.The changes are aimed at attracting hotels, restaurants and other retail businesses into a seven-acre site on Salem Street and a 12-acre parcel on the Malden line.They would limit hotel and office buildings to 12 stories and limit restaurants to 10,000 square feet.”It’s more incentive for Roseland (Property Company) to build commercial,” Planner Frank Stringi said.But some councilors are not sold that zoning changes aimed at convincing Roseland to attract businesses to the former Rowe Quarry site in Malden as well as Revere will work.The 720 residential units built by Roseland off Salem Street during the last several years generated property tax money and added revenue to repair area streets and sewer lines. But councilors like Daniel Rizzo said that money is offset by the burdens more residents moving to North Revere place on city schools and public safety services.”I don’t want to sit back and hope they (Roseland) put commercial development up there,” Rizzo said.Ward 6 Councilor Charles Patch represents North Revere and said commercial zoning “gives us a chance” to offset municipal costs associated with Overlook’s residential development with business tax dollars.”With the new zoning, if anything’s going to be built up there, it will be commercial,” Patch said.Stringi said Overlook zoning changes coupled with plans to rebuild and reconfigure the Revere-Saugus stretch of Route 1 will prompt Roseland to include Revere, as well as Malden, into its commercial plans for Overlook.