SAUGUS — The Board of Appeals continued to review plans for a fence for the new liquor store being built at 206 Lincoln Ave., which has received pushback from neighbors.
The Board noted that they did go to the location of the store for a site visit. Board Chair Tom Traverse also said that he had heard from residents and Town Meeting members, and he added that the petitioners had spoken with each other to try to find a middle ground.
Traverse said he heard about a petition being circulated, and Peter Manoogian, a Precinct 10 Town Meeting member, approached the podium to address the Board about it.
“It’s from the neighbors and abutters to Amato’s liquors. It’s also been signed by all five Precinct 10 Town Meeting members… It’s important to note that we are not taking a position on whether or not you should or should not vote for this. We’re not advocating for it or against,” Manoogian said.
He said that if they were to vote in approval, there is a list of conditions they ask to be placed on the approval.
The first condition was that pervious pavement must be required for the entire site, wherever there’s pavement, to help with runoff and water drainage. The second condition was that the placement of the dumpster must be on the left of the northern side of the building.
They also asked that an experienced landscape designer is involved. The fourth condition is that lighting must be shielded from and directed away from abutting properties. Five requests that an 8-foot fence is built to block vehicular access and parking in the buffer zone.
The sixth was that the Board of Appeals does not include in their findings any decisions about hours of operation, and that “hours of operation be left up to the Board of Selectmen, should they be asked to side on any permit or license request.”
The seventh was that the design of the building must be visually consistent with the characteristics of the surrounding residential structures. The final condition was that a copy of the Board’s decision with the conditions must be provided to the building commissioner when an application is made for a building permit, if it is granted.
The petitioner had agreed to move the dumpster, but Traverse said he had a concern about the dumpster being right on the street.
Bruce Jaffin, the proposed general contractor if the project moves forward, said they had met with homeowners in the area and that this was the preferred conclusion of the homeowners. He added that it would not be directly on the street and would be completely fenced in.
Multiple Board members had comments on the dumpster, and Traverse asked to hear directly from the neighbors about the issue.
Neighbor Karen Coburn said the concern they had was that the original placement of the dumpster was very close to her property line and pool. She said that during the site visit, they believed the dumpster would be farther back, and Jaffin confirmed it would be pushed back.
Resident Ercole Vitalone stated that the property had previously caused flooding issues for his property and the neighboring properties due to the liquor store being located higher up.
Jaffin said the civil engineer would clean out the area where there is a culvert.
“I do want to address the drainage issue. Number one is the size of the building is actually smaller so the tributary area of the roof is less. There’s more permeable ground, probably 1,000 feet, that will help the drainage,” he said.
When discussing the items on the list, Jaffin said that they have agreed to the 8-foot fence, getting a landscape architect to design the proper plantings, cleaning the area, and the lighting.
In the case of the flooding, Jaffin said they were looking at pervious pavement or drywells. He said if the engineers said they needed both, then they’d have both.
Manoogian asked if they would have to speak with the Conservation Commission, and Seth Cohen, a representative of Realty Trust Company, said that, as of right now, he did not believe they needed to file with the Commission, but that he would check in with them.
The dumpster continued to be a discussion throughout the whole meeting as they tried to solve the placement problem.
Board member Stacey Herman-Dorant said there needed to be an updated plan, and member Chris Riley agreed that there was nothing he could vote on right now with what they currently have.
Traverse made a motion for continuation so they could get updated plans and figure out the final pieces to solve any neighborhood issues, and it passed unanimously.
