Newton man sues Lynn over laundromat permit

LYNN – A Newton man filed a lawsuit against the city of Lynn after city officials denied his application for a special permit to operate a laundromat service on Lewis Street.Henry Nguyen, of 45 Harrington Street, Newton, filed the lawsuit in Salem Superior Court against the members of the City Council and City Clerk Mary Audley.In his complaint, Nguyen states he filed an application for a special permit in August to operate a laundromat service under the name of Lewis Laundry at 219B Lewis St.The following month the Lynn City Council voted to table the application at the conclusion of a public hearing, according to the complaint.Nguyen argues that the council failed to take final action on the application within the 90 days required and that there was no written agreement between them.On Jan. 4 the council issued a decision denying the special permit, saying Nguyen failed to provide documentation from neighbors agreeing to the project.They also said it would be unsafe, unattractive and place a substantial burden on city services, according to the lawsuit.Attorney Samuel Vitale, who filed the complaint on behalf of Nguyen, is asking a judge to intercede and rule that the council’s authority in denying the permit is “unsupported by the evidence, is legally untenable, arbitrary and capricious.”He seeks to have a judge annul the city council’s decision and remand the matter back to the Lynn City Council for reconsideration.