SAUGUS — The Pranker Mills project, which involves developing apartments on the site at 180 Central St., has encountered several roadblocks since it was brought to the table. The issues persist, as the Planning Board waits for the required plans to move the project forward.
Project Manager Patrick Scully, who was recently brought on to push the project toward completion, and Joe Boccelli II both attended the Board meeting to provide updates on the project.
Scully noted that he has received the redline plans for the interior of the building, showing the areas that have changed.
“We still had issues with the transformer and the wall, which I got a letter today from National Grid and their legal department issuing that that whole process right there was a firewall, not meant to be a blast wall, and that it covers their requirements,” Scully said.
O’Brien said that that wasn’t on any plan the Board has seen yet, to which Scully said he hasn’t gotten the chance to submit it yet, as he had just received the letter.
The Board was also informed that while it was believed the site had two walls on it, it was actually one singular wall that comes up to the transformer.
The project is also working with the Conservation Commission, as the site includes the Saugus River.
“I want to get to the point where we can get the power turned on in the building, get the heat on, and eventually get the water in. We’ve been at a standstill now for three weeks. So, right now I got contractors waiting to be paid. I got people waiting to finish their jobs,” he said.
Regarding the inside of the building and the redline plans, Chair Joe O’Brien stated that the Board has no jurisdiction inside.
“So we’re looking for the redline items for the walls, the transformer location. None of that was on the original plans. There were a few things,” he said.
Town Engineer Todd Baldwin stated that anything new or changed should be put on the redlines for the Board.
Boccelli II, who took over the project from his father and is director of construction at Sleeping Dog Properties, then spoke to the Board.
“I understand we had to submit the exterior and transformer location. We’re just trying to work together and get this thing done off my family’s plate. I know there’s been a lot of back-and-forth between my father and brother, and whoever else. I’m not them,” Boccelli II said.
He said the project has stressed the family out and that he was brought in to take it to completion.
“My father was sick. He had cancer… He’s ok now. But during the time he was preoccupied and didn’t do things maybe the way that they should have been. That’s not how I do business. That’s not how we as a company do construction,” he said.
Boccelli II wanted to assure the Board that everything would get to them in a timely fashion.
Before the meeting concluded, Special Town Counsel Jesse Schomer noted that they are required to include inclusionary housing in the project.
“They were supposed to do it before the building permit was issued. I recommend that you get started on that ASAP. Let the developer know about it because for the last project where we had to do this, it took about six months due to delays and how slow things were at the state level with getting those agreements
