Swampscott condo plans cheered

SWAMPSCOTT – Neighbors on Friday almost unanimously supported a developer’s proposal for condominiums on Burrill Street, saying anything was an improvement over the abandoned church that currently dominates the block.”It’s a menace, it’s a safety issue,” said neighbor Caron Sanphy. She described continually sweeping up broken glass from the old windows and how she worried about her 8-year-old son getting hurt while playing near the building. “Anything’s better than what’s there now; it’s an eyesore ? I think the (proposal) will be an asset to the community.”But the proposal hasn’t always received such support, according to a report by the State Housing Appeals Committee.Developers in January 2005 originally proposed 12 units of mixed-income affordable housing for the site. The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), however, denied the developer’s comprehensive permit application, citing the proposed building’s mass and density and traffic issues among other concerns. The State Appeals Committee reversed the opinion on appeal.The developer had already filed for bankruptcy, however, according to attorney James Rudolph, who represented the former property owner and now represents its current owner.In April, the new owner submitted a smaller proposal for eight, market-rate condominiums.Since then, the debate over the property has focused on the proposed development’s architectural character as well as its size.”I do agree with neighbors that it’s better than before,” advocated ZBA member Peter Spellios at the board’s May 18 meeting. “But, in my view, it’s not good enough.” He suggested gable roofs with overhangs and other architectural features that “break down” the structure into segments and reflected the neighborhood’s Victorian architecture.Developers submitted redesigned plans that added such architectural details features at the ZBA’s Wednesday meeting. But they also added two units to the proposed building. Board members have continued the discussion until next month. Member Harry Pass said after the meeting that he and fellow board members had not had the opportunity to review the plans beforehand.Rudolph said Friday that the cost of redesigning the building had necessitated adding additional units and that this proposal would be the one submitted at the next month’s hearing.”The plan is a much better plan for the neighborhood and the town,” Rudolph said. “But it is a lot more costly for the owner and developer.”He said that, despite the additional units, the building would only increase by between 200 and 300 square feet. “More than adequate” amounts of parking satisfied zoning requirements, he said, and added that the developers planned to meet with neighbors next week.All of the neighbors interviewed Friday said anything would be better than the abandoned church.”It’s a disaster. Every time a storm hits, something flies off,” neighbor Linda Currie said. “By the grace of God, nobody has gotten hurt? I think (the proposal) is going to be a great thing for the neighborhood.””I’m definitely in support of a proposal there,” said neighbor Rachel Timmons. “It’s just sitting there. I think it would be great.”While eager to see the property improved, longtime neighbor Judy Hapgood said that she didn’t support condominiums at the site.”Anything would be more attractive than what’s there,” Hapgood said. “But I think a multi-unit condo complex is crazy. There’s too much traffic here, no parking. I’d rather see two or three single-family homes? They originally discussed 12 units which I couldn’t see at all.”And while young Glenn Sanphy agreed with his mother that the church needed to be torn down, he raised another concern about construction in the neighborhood.”I’m afraid they’ll be a lot of rats,” he said.