SAUGUS — What was once Amato’s Liquors on Lincoln Avenue was torn down in January to make way for a new building with new ownership. That new building is set to be a new liquor store if requirements are met and a liquor license is obtained.
However, neighbors and residents have spoken out against the plans during multiple Board of Appeals meetings.
The discussion began on July 24, with Seth Cohen, a representative of Realty Trust Company, speaking about the project.
“I’d like everybody to know up front that Mr. Danny Patel is not the same family as the previous owners that used to have this property,” Cohen said.
The trouble arose when the discussion of a buffer zone was raised. Bruce Jaffin, general contractor of Vector Builders, explained the issue to the Board.
“Even though the building itself meets the requirement (15-foot setback) because it’s more than 15 feet, it didn’t meet the requirement of the zoning inspector,” Jaffin said.
That requirement was a buffer zone. The group was instead asking for a variance, an exception to the requirement, to allow the plans to move forward.
This was met with opposition from neighbors and town residents, who don’t believe a variance should be granted to allow parking in the buffer zone.
At the latest meeting, Cohen returned to present new plans that tweaked the parking and size of the building, in hopes of having a more agreeable proposal for residents.
“We’ve pulled the building off the waterline by reducing the size of the building itself and put it on an angle. As it is now, we’ve been able to pull it out of the flood zone. … By reducing the size of the building, it gives us more buffer on the right side of the building,” he explained.
Cohen mentioned other minor changes, like shifting the angle of parking spots so car headlights would be facing away from resident houses.
Tom Traverse, chair of the Board, also addressed the delivery situation, which neighbors were worried about.
“The building commissioner was adamant in that there’s to be no parking on Lincoln Ave. when there’s deliveries. And any deliveries have to be done within the parking lot,” Traverse said.
Despite the changes, neighbors still came to comment on the building.
Peter Manoogian, a Town Meeting member who spoke to represent the neighborhood, discussed some issues they’re still having.
“They’ve had a month since we were last here, and we were told that they would meet with the neighbors on the site. I remember you, Mr. Chairman, saying to the clerk at the time that when they called to have that message go out. Well, I’ve asked the neighbors if they have heard anything, and they haven’t,” he said.
Manoogian noted that the plans weren’t fully put together.
Traverse spoke up, saying that the building commissioner didn’t get back to the owner of the property fast enough, which is why the meeting with neighbors couldn’t happen.
Manoogian then pointed out that they were putting a liquor store in the middle of a residential neighborhood, to which Traverse noted that a liquor store had been there for “60 to 70 years.”
“What we don’t need is to try and jam an oversized building that cannot comply with buffer zones up against neighbors that are paying the same taxes as everyone else in this town,” Manoogian said.
John Coburn, a direct abutter to the building, spoke next, stating his only concern right now is that the meeting that was promised with neighbors never happened.
“An agreement was an agreement. We were supposed to meet together at my house and put our heads together. That’s my one concern,” he said.
Coburn then mentioned the last owners, also with the last name Patel, and called them “the landlords from Hell.” He stated that he hopes the next owner doesn’t continue the trend.
“They ruined our neighborhood. Not the liquor store. The ownership ruined our neighborhood,” Coburn said.
A site visit has been scheduled for Sept. 5 at 4 p.m.
