SAUGUS — The Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday night to continue a special-permit hearing for a new housing development that would be built at the Kowloon Restaurant site on Route 1.
The developers, the Wong family, are seeking a height variance that would allow for the construction of two six-story apartment buildings, with a restaurant on the first floor of one of the buildings.
The board is asking for the developers to submit a certified plot plan before it votes on the height variance; the variance is needed because zoning in this part of town allows for structures no higher than four stories.
Board Chair Anthony Cogliano was the only member of the five-member panel to vote against continuing the discussion around the Kowloon development.
“I don’t know what they can possibly do that’s going to change anyone’s opinion,” said Cogliano.
Board Vice Chair Debra Panetta and member Michael Serino both spoke against allowing the height variance. Serino said his opposition was due to concerns over the project’s density.
“This should be a last resort,” he said.
Panetta said she was concerned about the impact that this project would have on the future character of Route 1. She said she wanted more information about the project before she cast her vote.
But Cogliano said that the landscape of the town is going to change. This could mean that Square One Mall is no longer a part of Route 1 in the future, he said.
Bobby Wong, one of the owners of Kowloon Restaurant, told the board that the potential that this proposed development could change the appearance of Route 1 is in line with what he’s seen during his tenure as a business owner in town.
“Change has always occurred since I first started working at Kowloon,” said Wong. “On this project, we purposely wanted to get the voices of our neighbors. I’m not sure if the other projects are going to go into neighborhoods. We purposely went in front of our neighbors for approval.”
He added that new boards might grant even larger exemptions than the one his family is seeking.
“We aren’t a huge developer,” said Wong. “We are a family business that wants to keep our business in town.”
The hearing will be continued to the next Board of Selectmen meeting on March 1.
