Walmart developers leap last hurdle in Saugus, construction may begin this fall

SAUGUS – The Route 1 Walmart project cleared its final hurdle with the town of Saugus on Wednesday night, as the Conservation Commission approved changes to the plan that separated the plot on 770 Broadway from the adjacent plot at 720 Broadway located in the rear.Lou Masiello, Vice President of Development for WS Development, said construction can start as soon as this fall if two state highway permits are granted in time.”We could be ready as soon as this fall,” said Masiello. “If those state permits aren’t received by the time winter hits, construction would probably start in the spring.”When the 18-acre site was first developed over the last several years, it was originally one large property under one permit. Now that Walmart is looking to build at 770 Broadway, Wednesday night’s meeting allowed them build separately from the rear property.”We’re ready to (build) essentially now because Walmart is here and is interested and wants to build,” said Masiello. “We don’t have tenants yet assigned to the second address.”Plans for 770 Broadway were also modified to show Walmart’s current plan and match what the Planning Board approved in August. The original plan called for an 82,000 square foot building. But the new Walmart will be 114,000 square feet. Despite the increase in square footage, the Walmart plans are now further away from wetlands in the area because it will be elevated with parking underneath.”When Walmart goes and builds ? they will be able to build and comply with their permit in a free-standing manner,” said Masiello. “They’ll comply with all the conditions ? and what happens on the separate tract will comply separately.”The site at 770 Broadway had pockets of wetlands that were filled and replicated into 31,000 square feet of wetlands on 720 Broadway, where the responsibility to maintain that will now fall to whomever builds there.”We’re interested in protecting 31,000 square feet of wetlands,” said Conservation Officer Frank McKinnon. “That’s the most we’ve ever had replicated in all my time here.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter at @MattTempesta.