Panel approves plan for Lynn Lumber Co. site

LYNN – A plan to turn the former Lynn Lumber Company into a small business district for contractors cleared its first hurdle when it won approval from the Waterfront Zone Site Plan committee.”It’s been on the market for about a year and a half,” said attorney Samuel Vitale, representing developer Nick Meninno. “A couple of people have looked at it but there have been no bites.”According to the plan, Meninno is seeking to reuse the L-shaped building by turning it into a luncheonette and hardware store or some other retail establishment. Stretching out behind the main building will be storage units aimed at tradesmen. Vitale said there are a number of small businesses out there with four or fewer employees that could use a place to house equipment, act as a base of operation or even a retail space.”Some of these people are working out of their house or rent space, this would give them a sense of ownership,” he said.Lynn Lumber Company operated on 180 Commercial St. property since the 1940s but it couldn’t survive the onslaught of the big box stores, Vitale noted.The building itself needs a new roof and some other work but Vitale said Meninno plans to repair and make use of the existing structure.Committee Chairman Peter Capano and Inspectional Services Chief Michael Donovan raised concerns about parking and traffic but Vitale said they had been ironed out.”It’s a dilemma we will face more and more,” said Capano. “We want businesses to expand and development to come in and with that comes traffic. We can’t have one without the other.”Capano said there were also concerns that people would use the sprawling yard as a contractor’s yard, leaving equipment and vehicles out in the open.”But that’s not what we’re talking about here,” he said. “I think it’s a great idea. I would love to see that property fixed up and put to good use.”Committee members Charles Gaeta and Lisa Nerich also called it a good plan.”I think this is a big winner,” Gaeta said.Vitale said he can’t guarantee that an Ace Hardware will move in to anchor the site but he does believe it’s the best use of the property.The plan is the first proposal that has brought the committee together to meet in nearly three years, Capano said. Vitale noted that the plan had to be approved by the Waterfront Zone Site Plan Committee because although it is west of the Lynnway it still falls within the boundaries of the waterfront district.”If we need a variance or want to change anything it comes back before you,” Vitale added. “So nothing can go in there without your approval or conditions ? but I think this will be well used.”