Peabody-Lynnfield Y parking lot plan faces opposition

PEABODY – Despite complaints by neighbors, the Peabody-Lynnfield YMCA is still moving forward with their plans for a parking lot expansion.The non-profit educational corporation recently purchased the home at 259 Lynnfield St., which sits on a 1/3 of an acre lot adjacent to the facility. Their proposed plan to raze the existing structures and construct a 42-space parking lot with open space was approved by the Conservation Commission, but a small group of nearby residents would like to see that permission rescinded.The group, led by longtime resident Russ Donovan, argue that the paved parking lot would increase flooding problems in the area by a large margin and appealed the Commission’s decision to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Last month, the state agency came out to look at the site themselves and are expected to return to the city with a decision within the next few weeks, said Donovan.”There’s been an increase in flooding since the new Y was built,” said Donovan. “When they keep filling it in up there, it keeps flooding down here.”Greater Lynn YMCA Director Bruce McDonald said he and his staff are just as concerned over flooding in the area as anyone else is, which is why they chose to hire consultants from Hayes Engineering to look into the plan.”We presented our plan to the Conservation Commission and they’ve agreed with us that the system we’re putting in is going to lessen the water problem,” said McDonald. “It’ll be less than it was before we bought the house.”Having the approval of the Commission under their belt, McDonald said the organization must next receive the required building permits to begin construction. However, the DEP could very well override the Commission’s decision and/or call for additional requirements to be met.”I can’t speak for them,” said McDonald, “but it seems like they agree with the local (Commission).”McDonald said he’s amazed at how much attention the parking lot expansion is receiving.”It’ll actually solve some of the problems with traffic on Lynnfield Street,” he said, noting that on a typical weeknight, cars park for quite a distance on the road. “We’re kind of a victim of our own success. There’s been a tremendous response to the new Y and we need more parking spaces.”If all goes well, McDonald hopes to have the new lot ready to use by the start of this summer. He said it won’t solve all of their parking problems, but it will help.”If the worst problem we have here is a parking lot, I think we’re doing great,” he said.