Swampscott Town Meeting to debate turf field, Humphrey Street zoning

SWAMPSCOTT – Swampscott Town Meeting gathers tonight to debate 32 articles, including a proposed $61.8 million balanced budget for next year, an artificial-turf field, and a zoning proposal to revitalize Humphrey Street.The most controversial article is likely to be a request to spend $1,650,509.64 on constructing a multi-sport, artificial-turf athletic field at Phillips Park.Private groups and many town leaders have long advocated for such a field to replace Blocksidge Field at Phillips Park. But Town Meeting in May 2012 rejected a $2.5 million proposal, of which the town was to pay $1,857,856 from the town budget, and private donors would provide the $750,000 difference.The latest proposal completes the projects in phases. The first phase includes the majority of the work and expense, essentially constructing the field and preparing the site for adding lights and a grandstand in phases two and three.The first phase costs $1.65 million, which proponents are asking the town to pay with $114,000 from the town’s sale of property, $301,000 from the capital stabilization fund, $200,222 from free cash, and $850,000 from borrowing. The subsequent phases will be paid for by private donors. The current proposal also uses a nontoxic infill on the field, to quell health concerns about the rubber infill that is often used on such fields.The project must be approved by a two-thirds majority of voters to be enacted. Proponents have also submitted a citizens’ petition to use free cash – of which the town has a record $3.2 million – to pay for the field.Town Meeting will also debate a proposed zoning overlay district along Humphrey Street from Monument to Commonwealth avenues and including Blaney Street and a portion of Redington Street.The overlay district is meant to encourage mixed-use, unified and compact, pedestrian-oriented development in the historic downtown of Swampscott. The district includes design standards for new development, redevelopment that is greater than 2,000 square feet in gross floor area, and exterior renovations.A similar article appeared on last year’s Town Meeting Warrant, but the Planning Board decided to withdraw the article and amend it. The most notable change from last year’s proposal is that the Planning Board and Zoning Board Of Appeals, rather than a new design review board, will enforce the design guidelines and grant the appropriate permits.Article 16 adds a bylaw prohibiting and correcting sewer connections to the stormwater drain system rather than the sewer system. The article basically authorizes the town to find, correct and prevent such illegal sewer hookups. Penalties for an illegal hookup include up to a $300 fine for each day of violation, according to the proposed bylaw.Town Meeting Members will also vote on:? Whether to require a permit for door-to-door canvassers and solicitors.? To allow overnight parking during the winter in designated off-street public parking areas, as long as this does not impact daytime uses of off-street parking areas.? To allow the town to consolidate the business functions of the school department with those of the town. Town Administrator Thomas G. Younger said this has been agreed to by the school department and was on the October Special Town Meeting Warrant but was removed because it can only be done at Annual Town Meeting.? Amend the leash law to allow dogs to be off-leash at a dog park. Younger said that in planning for a park, organizers realized town bylaws didn’t have a dog park as a place where dogs could be off-leash. After Town Meeting, organizers will reconvene discussions on where to put the park.? A bylaw requiring all property owners to register and properly maintain vacant buildings so as to appear not to be vacant.The meeting begins at 7:15 p.m. in the High School Auditorium, 200 Essex St.