Saugus Town Meeting to discuss Route 1 zoning, high school feasibility study

SAUGUS – The Saugus Town Meeting members gather tonight to debate 25 articles, with some warrant items bound to be hot topics.Among other things, members will be asked to decide on a new article that would re-zone lower part of Routes 1 and 99 into a corridor similar to MarketStreet in Lynnfield. It spans multiple pages on the warrant.According to Selectman Jennifer D?Eon, it is vital that Town Meeting members vote to approve the zoning changes for the future of Saugus, especially financially.?This is a historic opportunity to re-zone all of Route 1 at once, instead of piecemeal, as has been done in the past,” D?Eon said. “This will allow us to establish new revenue streams into the town to pay for capital improvements, such as new schools and parks, better athletic facilities, public safety expansion and infrastructure repairs and improvements.”Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian, who sat on the forum that came up with the plan, which was hosted by the Saugus Chamber of Commerce, also thinks the plan is a good opportunity for Saugus change Route 1 and the image it projects, he said.?Route 1 zoning allows Saugus to take advantage of its fantastic geographical location between Boston and points north by allowing mixed-use development that is consistent with smart-growth features,” Manoogian said. “By creating incentives for quality projects that will have to meet strict design review standards, as well as increasing buffer zones up against residential neighborhoods, the proposal strikes an effective balance that will only tip the revenue scales in the town?s favor.”Town Meeting members will also debate Article 17, which is to see if the town will authorize $1.85 million for a feasibility study on a planned new high school, as well as the town?s eligibility for a grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.D?Eon said the money required for the feasibility study is the next step in replacing the high school. The future of this project lies in the hands of Town Meeting, she said.?I would encourage the residents of Saugus to contact their precinct Town Meeting members and state their desire to see the Route 1 Economic Development plan re-zoning passed and fund the feasibility study article, so we as a community can move Saugus forward to a place of prominence in Essex County,” D?Eon said. “We?ve come to a crossroads, and we must choose which turn in the road we?re going to take as a community.?Will it be the road of growth and development, or the road of the status quo with diminishing returns and the continual decline of Saugus?” D?Eon asked.Town Meeting member Bob Cox said the vote will have massive implications for years to come.?Although there have been poorly attended open meetings, and the political activists are divided ? the public remains ignorant to the details (and) the potential repercussions that may result.”Manoogian also said this decision will be historic and will help determine the town?s possibilities.?The high school feasibility article is purposely written and funded to allow the greatest possible analysis and opportunity for Saugus to consider grade-span configuration, location, economies of scale,” Manoogian said. “To think that it may be possible to deal with all of our K-to-12 needs for the next five decades or more, based on the action of this Town Meeting is not only progressive but historic for Saugus.”The last article, Article 25, is to see if the town will authorize up to $300,000 to acquire a basic life support ambulance, and required equipment, to be operated by the Saugus Fire Department. This is a change from last year?s warrant.?Town Meeting will be voting on a major change in our public safety program, taking in-house our ambulance services as a fire department extension,” Cox said. “It could save money beyond mere dollars, or it could be a disastrous boondoggle that could have long-term repercussions on town finances and public health and emergency protection capabilities.”The meeting