Big Box opponents from Lynn ask AG to kill deal

LYNN – Two Lynn residents opposed to construction of a Lowe’s Home Improvement Center and a super-sized Walmart just across the border in Salem say they have filed a complaint with the state Attorney General’s Office.The complaint, mailed on Dec. 14, alleges that Camp Lion of Lynn has violated the terms of its charter as a charitable corporation by plotting to sell open land under its care to big box retail store developers. It asks that Camp Lion terminate its purchase-and-sale agreement.Former Lynn city councilors Norman Cole and Deborah Smith Walsh, both of whom live on Coolidge Road ? among the neighborhoods most likely to be affected by the project n have alleged that Camp Lion is not authorized to sell any of its land to the retail store developers without breaching its original Articles of Organization signed on Oct. 23, 1952.According to the complaint by Cole and Walsh, “Camp Lion is in the process of selling approximately 92 acres of natural woodland to Kennedy Development Group, Inc. for the purpose of constructing a Lowe’s and Super Walmart consisting of over 300,000 square feet of commercial space, and altering 19.4 acres for the project.”The complaint asserts that “the sale will remove the existing camp site located on the property that has been used by the Camp Fire USA North Shore Council for many years, as well as negatively impact traffic and drainage to both Salem and Lynn residents. This sale will permanently disturb wetlands and an intermittent stream flowing through the property into Lynn.”Camp Lion was established as a charitable corporation “to sponsor and carry on activities for the social, physical and mental betterment of young people.”At the time, it was given responsibility “to maintain tracts of wild woodland for the purpose of providing ample opportunity for recreation in the open air, to provide suitable surroundings for a camp, and to prevent too near proximity of buildings and uses which might be deleterious to the camp,” according to its Articles of Organization on file with the state Department of Corporations and Taxation.Given these provisions in the original agreement, Cole and Walsh want the construction project halted.”Forget whether it’s legal or not for them to sell the land. It’s a breach of trust,” Cole said Monday. “This is not what it was meant for. It was set up to run a camp.”Lynn attorney Joseph Sano, who represents Camp Lion and is listed on the Attorney General’s Office complaint, said Monday he was unaware of the legal action.”I have received nothing from the complainants or from the attorney general. This is the first I’m hearing about it,” he said.Salem Planning Board secretary Danielle McKnight said drainage, landscaping and traffic issues are still under discussion with the next meeting scheduled for Jan. 6.Harry Pierre, a spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office, said Monday no complaint related to Camp Lion had been received.In a Sept. 8 letter to the Camp Lion Board of Directors, Cole and Walsh were joined by Ward 2 City Councilor William Trahant Jr. and state Rep. Steven Walsh of Lynn in expressing their objections.The letter asks the board to terminate its purchase-and-sales agreement with Kennedy Development Group and not sell the camp land.”We believe this ill-conceived plan in Salem will cause irreversible harm to the residents of Lynn and surrounding communities,” the letter stated.Kennedy Development has been discussing its plans before the Salem Planning Board, which include construction of the Lowe’s and Wal-Mart stores, expansion of the Meineke automotive repair center, and creation of additional on-site parking.The opposition letter to the board noted that “because so many Camp Lion board members are active in the Lynn community as business owners, as well as public and elected officials, you should consider the economic impact this project will have on local businesses as well as the city’s ability to provide services because of the reduced property valu