SAUGUS — The town’s building inspector has filed a cease-and-desist order for the 180 Central Street Mill project, citing numerous violations.
The building inspector, Daniel Kelly, sent a letter to the Board of Selectmen explaining the order, which listed the nearly 10 violations witnessed at the former Pranker Mills site.
The document listed multiple businesses operating at the site that were unauthorized by the town of Saugus; electrical work and construction work being done without permits; significant portions of the building being locked and inaccessible for fire and code inspections; materials dumped near the wetlands by landscapers and the rear of the property needing to be cleaned up; dumpsters on the premises without proper permits; trucks parked adjacent to the rear despite being audited on April 7, 2021; the second-floor tenant having clothing, mattresses and other debris in front of fire exits, blocking accessibility for fire department response; the third floor being locked with no access available, but appearing to store gasoline-powered equipment and combustible materials ― both fire hazards.
“These are serious violations that need to be addressed ASAP by licensed contractors and proper permitting by the town of Saugus,” Kelly wrote in the letter.
The property owners must be in contact with Kelly within seven days of receiving the letter to avoid further action taken by the town.
During the Board of Selectmen meeting last week, a couple who lives behind 180 Central St. spoke in opposition to the project ― which aims to refurbish the old mill building into a 22-unit apartment building.
One of the couple’s main concerns was parking and how all of the tenants’ vehicles would fit, especially when it snows and the area needs to be plowed.
They also brought up concerns about the entrances, saying they feel there should be two entrances on either side of the building, and how storms will affect the property, since it is a dense area and surrounded by wetlands.
“What happens when it floods? We get flooded a lot,” the neighbor said.
As of Tuesday’s meeting, board Chairman Anthony Cogliano said the building owners have not approached them for any permits yet.
“At this point, we’ve had a letter submitted to us from the building inspector but there is nothing else for us to go on regarding this project at this time,” Cogliano said.
The property owners do, however, have a pending hearing with the Planning Board.
Selectman Michael Serino said he doesn’t believe the property owners have submitted any certified plot plans to the Conservation Commission either.
“They have to have the Planning Board approve the project and then it still needs approval from the Conservation Commission from my understanding, so it’s a process,” Serino said.
The Board of Selectmen made a motion to refer the letter from the building inspector to the Planning Board before it meets with the property owner.
