Lynn puts brakes on proposal to expand construction review

LYNN – Local business owners pounded a proposed city construction review plan, saying it would drive up building costs and steer prospective builders away from the city.?If I wanted to renovate a six-family property, my neighbors are going to tell me what color siding I can put up. I?m against it,” George Banos told Planning Board members who voted unanimously to table the proposed site plan review proposal.Banos and eight other businessmen spoke against the plan at Tuesday?s board meeting and City Council President Timothy Phelan said a council vote on the plan, originally advertised for Tuesday, has been pushed back to June 11 to allow local business representatives to comment on the plan.?I got several calls from people in the business community. We don?t want any site plan review to inhibit development,” Phelan said.Under site plan review, representatives of several different city departments can comment on and offer suggestions about a proposed project?s design details.The review is now required, said city Inspectional Services Director Michael Donovan, for projects proposed for construction on the city?s waterfront and downtown as well as projects requiring special permit approval from the City Council.Proposal critics don?t like the idea of expanding the review to all local construction and renovation projects except for single- and two-family homes.Century 21 Hughes owner David Hughes said the proposal, especially its three- to four-month review period, could slow the renovation and resale process for foreclosed multi-apartment properties across the city.?An empty property could be sitting vacant for another three or four months,” Hughes said.Donovan said the Planning Board will oversee the expanded site plan review process with the aim of reviewing “mostly bigger projects.” The proposal allows comments to the board about a project from 10 officials representing different municipal agencies.Donovan said expanded site plan review is an effective way to spot potential traffic problems associated with a proposed project. He said site plan review applied to a proposed pharmacy on Boston Street resulted in the developer agreeing to spend $250,000 on traffic signal improvements.But insurance agency owner John Olson said the expanded review could hurt businesses trying to rebuild and reopen after a fire or other type of catastrophe.?My feeling is this makes it harder to get up and running,” Olson said.Economic Development and Industrial Corporation Director James Cowdell said a meeting last week attended by business leaders and city officials set the stage for a delay in city action on the review proposal.?The business community will give feedback and views on this to Mike Donovan,” Cowdell said.Real estate representative Christopher Bibby said city inspectors already do a good job reviewing and discussing with businesses the potential impact of a construction project on streets and abutters around the business.?It?s a very predictable process,” Bibby said.Donovan said the changes he is proposing mirror site plan review procedures used by cities and towns across Massachusetts. But Lynnway Sports Center owner Sean Crowley said the expanded review creates potentially damaging uncertainties for business owners.?You can?t get anyone to invest with a bunch of maybes,” Crowley said.Thor Jourgensen can be reached at [email protected].