ITEM FILE PHOTO
Saugus Town Hall.
BY LEAH DEARBORN
SAUGUS — Design plans for Essex Landing are still under review.
The mixed-use development on Route 1 at Collins Avenue, will include three apartment buildings, two hotels, a mixed-use building and a restaurant.
The 7.5-acre site, that will replace the Miniature Golf & Batting Cages and the iconic orange dinosaur, was purchased in 2013 for $1.4 million by TB Holdings LLC. The entity is managed by Michael Touchette of Lynnfield and Lord’s & Lady’s Hair Salon founder Michael Barsamian of West Roxbury.
Planning Board Chairman Peter Rossetti said the peer review of the project has so far been limited to the design and some landscaping, but none of the engineering aspects.
“This is a project we would like to keep moving quickly,” he said.
The board is considering Davis Square Architects, Inc. in Somerville and TBA Architects, Inc. in Concord for the project.
In a chairman’s update, Rossetti also said that a housing needs forum held at Town Hall on June 3 discussed the lack of living spaces for young people and the elderly in Saugus.
Rossetti said Essex Landing will hopefully provide additional housing for those groups of residents.
He also said that a project on Central Street may come up on the Planning Board’s agenda soon. But he didn’t provide any additional details.
Michael McKeown of BMA Construction has previously mentioned that the Essex Landing development will include one-bedroom apartments as housing options for small families.
In other items, the Planning Board discussed construction on Hitching Hill Road.
Scott Brazis, vice chairman of the Board of Selectmen, was at the meeting to represent Hitching Hill residents.
“It’s been over 12 years, and it’s been too long,” said Brazis in regards to the ongoing construction on the road, which involves the relocation of four homes. “I’m asking you to set deadlines here.”
Developer John Mallon, who was present at the meeting, promised to have work completed by Sept. 15.
