Saugus residents roll out welcome mat for Walmart

SAUGUS – Town Manager Andrew Bisignani announced last week an agreement with Walmart executives to open a new, 114,000 square-foot store on Route 1.And while it?s common for there to be some opposition to the retail giant when such an announcement is made, some residents who live in a nearby mobile home park said they support the project.Marie Brooks lives in the Saugus Mobile Home Park next to the proposed site, and said she?d be happy to see a Walmart open next door.?Of course I would (go),” said Brooks, who currently works at Shaw?s in Melrose. “I?d walk right around the corner and go. You bet I support it.”Brooks and her husband, Wayne, a Town Meeting member about to retire, welcomed the job opportunities the new store would offer.?I?d probably get a job there,” said Brooks. “I?ve been in retail many years. For me, it?s a little extra income for us.”Les Martin lives across the street from the Brookses and said he?d like to see a little competition with the nearby Target, even though it may mean a little extra traffic.?I?d like to see it come in,” said Martin. “Traffic is so bad up here it can?t get any worse.But Town Meeting member Janet Leuci voiced some concerns about the type of jobs created by a new Walmart.?It seems odd to me that Saugus? can?t attract other than retail,” said Leuci. “It seems to me we should be able to attract high tech and insurance companies and offices, five-day-a-week operations that would ultimately bring more revenue to the town than retail.”Leuci said all the retail stores in Saugus are impacting the town.?We have so much retail. It clogs our roads seven days a week. It brings low-paying jobs to residents,” she said. “The high tech, the research-and-development, the offices, insurance companies, those would bring better-paying jobs and they?d be business hours and wouldn?t cause such havoc on our roads.”Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian is also supportive of a new Walmart, but pointed out that there may be some planning problems to arise as the permitting process begins.?As far as the project is concerned, I don?t have a problem,” said Manoogian. “My concern is there going to be a deal on the building fee? I really hope the town does not low-ball the construction value to mitigate construction on the water line.”In addition to the new store, developers have also agreed to replace the pumping station and water lines at the site.Saugus currently charges a building permit fee of $24 per $1,000, or 2.4 percent of the total cost of the project. The higher the cost of the project, the more the town will see in fees.Plans for the new store are still in the beginning stages, so a final cost of the project has yet to be announced. But when developers go in front of the Planning Board in July, which will be the first of many such appearances, Manoogian said he hopes for a speedy and open process.?Not only would I urge an expedited process that maintains a sound review,” said Manoogian. “I would also urge a transparent process with all issues regarding building permits and water lines.”