Committee shapes bylaw to preserve Saugus mills

SAUGUS – A new zoning bylaw is taking shape to preserve Saugus? historic mill district as a committee formed to look at zoning changes in the area reviewed a draft copy of the law Tuesday.The overlay bylaw would preserve the historical mills on Central Street while allowing for mixed use zoning for residential, commercial and retail.?The Historic Mills Mixed Use Overlay District is recognized as a special place to be protected as a community resource because it represents an important part of the town?s heritage and its unusual character creates an identity for Saugus today,” states the introduction to the bylaw.There are three historic mills on Central Street that date back to the late 1800s, one of which can be recognized by the brick smokestack covered with antennas. These include Scott Mill, which is currently owned by 222 Central Storage, Pranker?s Mill located at 180 Central St. and another mill at 179 Central St.The bylaw states that in any redevelopment project, the mill exterior characteristics deemed historically significant by the Saugus Historical Commission must be “preserved, restored and rehabilitated …”Some of the permitted residential uses include one-, two- and multi-family houses or apartments, and bed and breakfasts while approved community uses include churches, schools, museums, parks, playground, private day care or philanthropic institutions.Permitted retail and commercial services include professional offices such as doctors, lawyers or real estate offices, conveniences stores, restaurants, hotels (not motels) and theaters.The bylaw allows for light manufacturing or plant manufacturing, or medical, dental or optical goods or other precision instruments, and has very strict guidelines for signage and design that seek to “encourage visual harmony and historic integrity.”Steven Boccelli owns 222 Central Storage and said he thought the process of forming the bylaw “went well.”?I?m probably speaking for all the owners … I think it will be helpful to the area,” he said.Economic and Development Coordinator Robert Luongo said the goal of Tuesday?s meeting was to finalize the draft to turn over to the Town Manager for approval before holding “some kind of public process.”From there Luongo said the bylaw would go before selectmen, who would refer it to the Planning Board for a public hearing and would in turn make a recommendation to Town Meeting.?Hopefully we could have a Special Town Meeting in the fall and we could introduce this to Town Meeting at that time,” said Luongo.