LYNN — The city’s Conservation Commission has given no indication as to whether it will vote for or against an eight-home subdivision at Judge and Quinn roads, a residential area near Lynn Woods.
The subdivision, known as Lanzillo Lane, is a project of the Danvers-based Z&L Development Company. As it sits 100 feet away from a wetlands region, the plan requires approval from the commission. It was first proposed on Jan. 6, 2020 and, after two years of site visits and review, the commission has yet to make a decision.
Co-owner of Z&L Development Frank Lanzillo expressed his frustration and annoyance with the commission, saying the vote had been open for too long.
“If you’re going to vote it down, then vote it down,” Lanzillo said. “Don’t just hold the vote open.”
Lanzillo claimed that Michael Toomey, a Conservation Commission member who lives in the neighborhood where the development is proposed, had been intentionally delaying the vote.
According to the State Ethics Commission, Toomey is currently under investigation for a possible conflict of interest.
When reached out for comment, Toomey did not respond.
Lanzillo last appeared before the Commission during a remote meeting on Feb. 15. Joining Lanzillo was Z&L co-owner Mario Zepaj, attorney Sam Vitali, and project engineer Giovanni Fordera. Fordera presented an updated plan that would address the commission’s concerns regarding the drainage system not being able to handle a 100-year storm event. These concerns were first identified during a meeting on Jan. 21, 2020.
According to Lanzillo, Fordera had been in contact with a consultant hired by the commission and both worked together to create a drainage system suitable for approval. “We went from having a $30,000 stormwater plan to spending $240,000,” Lanzillo said. “We followed the rules.”
Despite the modifications, Toomey expressed his displeasure with the plan during the meeting, saying it still did not address the 100-year storm event scenario.
“This has been one of the most confusing and frustrating developments because things keep changing as far as I am concerned,” Toomey said. “We had a whole drainage system based on infiltration and the consultant ruled that the site was unsuitable for that. The consultant did not indicate the changes that Mr. Fordera made were suitable.”
Toomey then suggested a further review of the project, citing concerns about the location of runoff.
Recently-selected Conservation Commission member Paul Guthro said did not feel comfortable voting on the project that night.
“There is an engineering issue to be resolved,” Guthro said. “I’d like to see this project get approved, I’d like to see these eight houses get built, but there are engineering issues that need to be resolved.”
When Lanzillo and his team left the meeting, however, Guthro said he had serious concerns that the project broke regulations.
“This proposal stinks; somethings wrong with it,” Guthro said. “I am a little bit nervous that this is a bad egg here.”
The commission once again tabled a vote on the project and will next discuss the issue on March 15.
Lanzillo acknowledged the commission and residents living near the proposed site, who were concerned that the project could damage the wetlands, property and bring excess traffic to the area.
“I get that. I understand their concerns,” he said. “The wetlands, however, are not touched by this project at all. It has a buffer around it. The project meets all the criteria.”
If the commission does vote down the proposal, Lanzillo said he would bring it forward to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for review.
“I think they will see that it follows all the guidelines,” he said.
