Swampscott zoning board hears resident concerns on 184-apartment complex

SWAMPSCOTT – The Zoning Board of Appeals had the Hanover Company focus on how they would address the concerns of neighbors in the second hearing to discuss their proposed 184-apartment project set for Vinnin Square.The company, flanked by their experts, concentrated their presentation on what they had designed to accommodate the concerns of noise, traffic, an ugly visual and stormwater drainage they heard from neighbors in previous meetings about the site, which is proposed for the former Jewish Rehabilitation Facility.But despite expert designs and independent reviews, Paradise Road residents were not convinced that the stormwater drainage system the engineers had designed would be effective.Engineers described a 100-year-storm-proof system that would use catch basins at the site to slow the stormwater that usually flowed onto Paradise Road, resulting in less water onto the street.Resident Scott Cohen said the proposed plan was “opinion, not fact,” and said he wanted a recourse agreement in the event that his basement was flooded from a storm. “You need to prove to us that this isn?t going to cause any more of a problem in our homes,” Cohen told engineers.Cohen?s neighbor Virginia LeBlanc was convinced that changing the bedrock through the planned blasting would result in a change in how the groundwater and stormwater flow, thereby flooding Paradise Road and nearby homes.Though the board assured residents that the developers would be required to comply with all local and state regulations testing the site for stormwater issues, Town Planner Brian Szekely said no matter of testing or expert opinion could satisfy residents. “They don?t trust them,” said Szekely.Szekely said for a company to guarantee that the residents would never have water in their basements was unprecedented. “They did their due diligence, and the town did theirs,” he said.Traffic concerns were not addressed at the meeting because ZBA Chairman Marc Kornitsky realized over an hour into the meeting that because of a meeting posting error, the meeting would technically have to adjourn. The meeting will be continued not on Sept. 25 as was publicized, but on Oct. 16, in which all experts and Hanover Company representatives will be present to present their plans to deal with Vinnin Square traffic. Kornitsky advised residents to check when the meeting is posted for the location of the meeting.