6

Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 ROUTE | FROM PAGE 1 two-thirds vote necessary for adoption. Members voted 38-2, with one abstention, to pass Article 2, which, according to its makers, essentially “tweaks” the 2015 bylaw that created a zoning district on Route 1 which encouraged mixed use development. But the primary mission of the revamped Route 1 zoning district is focused on correcting some fl aws which prompted a Special Town Meeting to pass a two-year moratorium on building multifamily dwellings of three or more units. Town offi cials expressed concerns that an unanticipated increase in the construction of multifamily dwellings was hurting the town’s tax base. “Route 1 is our commercial corridor,” Selectman Serino told Town Meeting members. “To allow residential only would not be good for the town,” he said. With the two-year moratorium set to end later this year, Serino said it was important for the town to protect itself from developers who might take advantage of fl aws in the current zoning district. “The moratorium was a reaction to poor development,” Vecchione said. “And this proposal is a remedy to the moratorium four years later,” he said. The minority view The article for the revamped Route 1 zoning district bylaw crafted by Serino and Vecchione, with help from Alex Mello of the Planning Department, drew support from the Planning Board, a 4-1 endorsement – with the lone opposition from its chair, Rossetti, who is also a longtime Precinct 2 Town Meeting member. Rossetti told Town Meeting members that it didn’t seem practical to adopt new zoning regulations for the Route 1 district when the town was in the process of adopting a new Master Plan. “The new zoning may have to be tweaked,” Rossetti said. “It would seem to make more sense to fi rst create the Master Plan, then make new zoning changes. ...It kind of seemed to be putting the cart before the horse,” he said of the new zoning changes. Rossetti also said he believes the inclusion of ratios in the bylaw changes, which are designed to encourage more commercial development, is unrealistic and might actually hurt the town fi nancially by aff ecting the tax base. He warned that the vacancies of buildings on Route 1 could increase because of the new zoning. To make his argument, Rossetti cited a proposed Route 1 development that will be coming before the Planning Board. It involves about 200 condominium units that are set back from the highway. The buildings would reach a height of four stories. Under AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE CA$H FOR YOUR CAR! DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! Cold Hard Cash For Your Car, Truck or SUV! 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 4X4 Crew Cab, Z71 Package, Just Serviced, Clean Title, Only 126K Miles, Warranty! TRADES WELCOME! $11,900 Easy Financing Available! EddiesAutotech.com 2010 MERCURY MILAN 4-Door, Auto., Most Power Options, Clean Title, New Tires, Only 130K Miles, Runs & Drives Great, Warranty! TRADES WELCOME! $3,995 781-321-8841 1236 EasternAve • Malden We Pay Cash For Your Vehicle! SALUTE TO SENIORS: The Saugus Girls’ Varsity Basketball Sachems enjoyed a win over Gloucester High School, 41-33, on Tuesday during February Vacation Week. Pictured here is the fi nal home game for seniors Captain/forward Cat Schena and Guard Haley McLaughlin. (Courtesy photo, Ellen Schena) the new regulations, the entire fi rst fl oor of the development – 25 percent of the project – would be for commercial use. “I don’t see that happening,” Rossetti said. “That’s going to make the project unworkable,” he said. “When you send a message like that to developers, they’re going to bypass Saugus,” Rossetti warned. “...And we’re going to see more and more vacancies on Route 1 with our commercial buildings,” he added. Rossetti advocated that the article be tabled or defeated outright. Town Meeting members voted 32-7 against the motion to table. Supporting Rossetti in the motion to table were Precinct 3 Town Meeting Member William B. Stewart, Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Kevin D. Currie and Precinct 8 Town Meeting Members Joia C. Cicolini, William E. Cross III, Joan Fowler and Thomas E. Traverse. In the fi nal vote, only Precinct 3 Town Meeting Member Stewart continued to back Rossetti. “Route 1 is going to change whether we like it or not,” Stewart said. “The Mall isn’t going to exist,” he noted. He said the article should be tabled “until we see how the world is changing.” “Keep Route 1 on Route 1” But the measure drew strong praise from most of the Town Meeting members who spoke in support of it. “Route 1 is outdated and it’s time for a fresh look,” Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Delios declared. Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Robert J. Camuso, Sr. said he was glad to see protection provided to residents in neighborhoods adjacent to Route 1. “My concern is ‘keep Route 1 on Route 1,’” Camuso said. “Don’t access it through our neighborhoods. I really think the impact of Route 1 needs to stay on Route 1,” he said. Precinct 3 Town Meeting Member Rick A. Smith called the measure “a win for the town.” He complained about not being able to visit a Route 1 business because of the lack of available parking. “It’s time we make changes for Route 1,” Smith said, adding that he thought the proposal would enhance the quality of life on Saugus’s major commercial corridor. “I’m hoping that the Planning Board gets the message that the town wants to see quality development,” Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian said. Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Steven C. DiVirgilio said he abstained from the vote because there was too much information for him to review on short notice prior to the meeting. That was also a complaint of some of the supporters. “We had four days to decide,” Precinct 8 Town Meeting Member Traverse said. “It’s crazy.” Traverse took umbrage with the fact that the article was the primary work product of just a handful of people – which included just two Town Meeting members. “It’s insulting to the work that was previously done,” he said. Serino cites key bylaw changes Selectman Serino stressed that the new bylaw contains about 75 percent of the original version that was approved in 2015. He said the key changes to the BHSD bylaw include: • Requiring a minimum percentage of commercial uses ranging from 10 percent to 35 percent depending on lot size • Including language requiring that setbacks be maintained and preserved as open space • Including language that all developments over 100,000 square feet will require a minimum common space area of at least fi ve percent of the gross fl oor area • Adjustment in regards to building height setback requirements • Lowering the units per acre from 30 to 25 units per acre • Adjusting parking requirements to refl ect realistic parking needs • Including language to prevent traffi c from a development accessing neighborhood streets – requiring Route 1 access only. • Encouraging collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation regarding acceleration/deceleration lanes on Route 1 Congratulations, Lady Sachem Seniors

7 Publizr Home