SAUGUS — Town Manager Scott Crabtree responded to an ongoing issue of Main Street property complaints at the last Board of Selectmen meeting.
The alleged contractors’ yards at 67 Main St. and 132 Main St. have received several notices of violation, with little reaction from the owners. Both are residential properties that have continuously had commercial vehicles parked. Criminal complaints might be raised against the owners if they refuse to cooperate with authorities.
“Whoever the owner is at this location just has no respect for authority,” said Saugus Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano about the alleged contractor’s yard at 132 Main St. He said that the town was prepared to do “whatever we can do to help rectify the situation.”
The chair said he had spoken to the next-door neighbors of the property in question several times, and they assured the Cogliano that they were just looking for relief.
According to the town manager’s report, the first notice of violation was delivered to the owners of 132 Main St. in August, citing an illegal contractor’s yard in a residential zone. In February, three trucks were witnessed at the location and later removed. The town manager said that nonetheless his office was still receiving complaints of ongoing commercial vehicles overnight for the last few weeks.
The Inspectional Services Department will be filing a criminal complaint, said the town manager. He said that it would be illegal to force the owners to remove the vehicles parked at their property in violation to the zoning bylaws, even though their neighbors were frustrated.
“I don’t think you can physically force anybody. The way the law works, and if somebody is not complying with it, you have a right to go for a criminal complaint,” said Crabtree. He noted that it was a crime not to adhere to a building inspector’s order.
“Tough situation,” said Crabtree.
The 67 Main St. property was sold, despite the heavy commercial trucks parked in the back of the property, said Crabtree. Inspectional Services immediately contacted the new owners and let them know “that no commercially registered vehicle was allowed on the property.”
Inspectional Services, he said, will follow up in the upcoming weeks with violations and fines if nothing has been removed. If there is no cooperation by the owner, the town will file a complaint with Lynn District Court, said Crabtree.
“They were informed that their property is not zoned for a contractor’s yard and were told to remove all trucks, trailers, etc., immediately or fines will be applied,” he said.
Cogliano said he has received numerous calls from residents complaining about the two properties, including the number of construction vehicles going in and out and causing traffic, and large parties being thrown at 132 Main St.
