LYNN — City Councilors voted to continue the approval of a petition to construct a multifamily building in a neighborhood business-zoned parcel at 30-32B Western Ave., sparking outrage from neighbors in the council chamber Tuesday night.
Following the vote to approve the continuance, many residents in attendance began shouting at councilors. Also, several residents gave visible thumbs-down gestures before participating in a mass exit from the chamber.
The property is home to the Proodian Rug building, which was purchased by Singh Realty Group LLC, with plans to construct a new multifamily building.
The request for continuance to the Aug. 4 meeting of the council came from Attorney AJ Capano, of Capano & McGloin, LLP, who represented Singh Realty Group, LLC, because the required legal notice — both the published advertisement and the weatherproof on-site posting — had not reflected the date of the hearing.
Capano previously appeared before the council on June 9, requesting the hearing be moved to Tuesday’s meeting. Continuing the meeting to August will allow for the proper posting requirements to be met.
Eileen Scalise, a neighbor of the property, said she attended a neighborhood meeting with Ward Two Councilor Obed A. Matul in May, where “not a single neighbor spoke in favor of that at the meeting.”
She added that the building is “totally barbarous,” and that a major concern of the project is parking, which “will lead to a safety issue.”
Scalise said, “It’s such a small lot. How are they going to build it and have construction equipment on the lot? They’re not going to be able to. So, it’s going to be out in the street. They certainly can’t leave it out on Route 107, right? So Manning Road is going to end up blocked for ages. It’s just too big, too much.”
Scalise also organized a petition signed by neighbors in opposition to the project.
Another resident, Anne Bowen, who lives near 30-32B Western Avenue, said, “They used the slimiest loophole possible to postpone the meeting after we all spent our time coming, and they’re willing to wait until August, knowing that it’s hard to get people to show up twice, but we’re going to be here.”
Bowen prepared a statement for the council, which she was unable to read at the meeting. The statement read in part, “Many neighbors in our area were completely shocked to hear the details of the planned housing development by Singh Realty Group.
The statement also highlighted concerns that the property will impact commuters on Western Avenue, due to delays caused by construction, demolition, and traffic generated by the redevelopment.
“I am not opposed to the development on this lot. I am opposed to the plan before [the council], which exacerbates known infrastructure weaknesses. I believe Sign Realty could submit a more thoughtful, less expensive plan that gives them a return on their investment while benefiting and not harming the neighborhood community,” Bowen’s statement read.
Bowen also highlighted overburdened water and sewer systems and a “modern blocky design” which is “completely out of character from the surrounding properties.”
Matul, who voted in favor of the continuance, said, “I want to apologize to those people who showed up and whose voices were not heard properly.”
He added, “We are going to continue having more communication and posting about it, and hold another neighborhood meeting, so that if they still have more questions, their voices can be heard, and their questions can be answered.”
