Swampscott parents upset over building proposal process

SWAMPSCOTT – Hadley School parents and developers shared frustration with a “backwards” approval process Wednesday as parents in a community hearing sought changes to a building proposed for a lot near the school while developers sought to begin construction.”The problem is that you have approval from the planning board,” said parent and Zoning Board of Appeals member Peter Spellios. “How do you intend to give comfort to this group? How can they be sure (changes) will happen?””You’re running way beyond the limits of being a good neighbor, I think you’re just using your power,” said property owner Jayne Carey Orloff. “I’m sorry we didn’t meet with the school, but you have a planning board here, if you have a problem with them, fine ? I’m just wondering what’s going on.”Developers in August presented the planning board with a proposal for a single-story commercial building to be built at the Humphrey Street site of a three-story, mixed-use building that burned down in March.But at the board’s Oct. 17 meeting, Hadley School parents presented a petition to delay voting on the project until parents and community members could review the plans. The board approved the building with the condition that a public meeting be held with school parents and the development team.The meeting caused extensive and divergent debate among the nearly 20 attendees. Parents caused tension when asking developers whether they would replace and add their preference of wall-covering to the school-owned fence and whether developers would guarantee to replace trees singed in the fire that might die in the next few years.Both groups agreed, however, that amendments to the building’s roof line and other amendments added during the planning board process were improvements and that ventilation units should not reach beyond the parapet of the building.Ultimately, however, frustration centered around the process.”I think the town has dropped the ball,” said parent Maura Lau. “They haven’t communicated with (parents) of Hadley School that this is happening.”Carey Orloff noted after the meeting that the three planning board meetings had been advertised and covered in the press – but ultimately agreed the project depended on support from neighbors.”We will do what we can to make everybody happy within the constraints,” she said.Cyrus Moulton can be reached at [email protected].