Swampscott ZBA to vote on Cap’n Jack’s proposal

SWAMPSCOTT – The Zoning Board of Appeals told developers that it plans to vote next month on their proposal to replace Cap’n Jack’s Inn with a 15-unit condominium building, provided it receives updated sketches of the proposal and legal documents that specify the proposal meets the criteria for the construction permits.”From a design perspective, I believe as though the benefits far outweigh the accumulated negatives,” said Zoning Board of Appeals member Peter Spellios in the board’s Wednesday night meeting. “But this project is significant. This changes the landscape.”A development team including Bruce Paradise Construction and Parturk LLC and Architect Robert Zarelli of Marblehead originally proposed replacing the three buildings on Humphrey Street that make up Cap’n Jack’s Inn with an approximately 33,000-square-foot building containing 16 condominium units.The designs have been modified several times in response to concerns by both the planning board and the zoning board – which must grant variances and/or special permits for the project – about the proposal’s size and scale in relationship with the surrounding neighborhood. Zarelli presented revised plans to the zoning board on Wednesday that eliminated the proposal’s penthouse unit, reducing the proposal by 3,300 square feet and lowering the main roof line seven feet.Although developers indicated that they would like the board to consider both the 16-unit and revised 15-unit designs, board members indicated greater support for the latter. They also requested sketches of the 15-unit design that distinguished the materials used in the building and incorporated mature plantings. The major request, however, was for “findings of fact” that showed that the project met the criteria for the special permits.Zoning Board Chair Marc Kornitsky requested that anybody wishing to speak in favor or opposition to the project submit statements previous to the board’s July 20 meeting. Nobody at the meeting offered any comments about the project at the meeting.