Sign petition gets warrant on Swampscott special Town Meeting

SWAMPSCOTT – A citizen petition will place an article on an upcoming special Town Meeting warrant that, if passed, would give the Zoning Board of Appeals explicit authority to grant special permits for commercial signs in residential districts in town.The petition, which had more than 100 signatures, was submitted to the selectmen directing them to add an article to the special Town Meeting warrant.Town Clerk Susan Duplin said state statute requires the selectmen to place an article on the special Town Meeting warrant when a petition with 100 signatures from registered voters in town is submitted.The petition proposes a change that if adopted would allow the ZBA to allow professional offices to place a sign on their business even if the business is located in a residential district.Duplin said the article would be placed on the warrant for the Oct. 19 special Town Meeting.One of the most vocal opponents of the existing bylaw is Marblehead resident Dr. Ronald Plotka, who has a dental office on Humphrey Street in Swampscott. Plotka, who has been in business in town for more than 40 years, has been battling with the town for more than a year over signage restrictions. Plotka said his dental office is in a building that has been used commercially for more than 80 years and its use as a commercial property predates local zoning bylaws.”I am a taxpayer, good citizen, love Swampscott and have participated in many charitable events and organizations,” he said. “I had an overhanging dental sign that would have blown off the building whenever the wind would blow over 50 mph, which is often. It once hit a car and I decided before it hurt someone I would take it down and attach a new sign flat to the building as other businesses have in my neighborhood.”Plotka said he has spent more than $15,000 going through the proper channels and pursuing litigation so he could place the 42-square-foot sign on his business.”I have tried, time and again, to work something out with the town and do the right thing,” Plotka said. “I am being victimized by this unfair process. I was unequivocally told by the Board of Appeals that a six square-foot sign was it. You can’t have a business that no one can see and identify by its signage. Try to imagine a six- foot-square sign on Humphrey Street.”Lynn attorney Carl Goodman, who represents Plotka, wrote the petition that spawned the article, which will be on the special Town Meeting warrant.”The Zoning Board of Appeals denied him a special permit for his new sign,” Goodman said. “I can’t comment specifically on the case because of the ongoing litigation. But the (Zoning) Board of Appeals said it did not have the authority to grant a variance for the sign and we believe it has that authority. This article would make it clear they (ZBA) have the authority to issue a special permit for non-conforming signs.”Selectman Jill Sullivan, who was on the committee that developed the zoning bylaws, said she couldn’t comment on how the petition would affect Plotka’s business because litigation is pending.”I think the process works,” she said. “I think it’s fantastic that there is a process in place and people are using the process. Any citizen can put forth a zoning amendment (with 100 certified signatures) and Town Meeting will get to decide.”