Two Sides Still Awaiting Greenwood Decision

All parties await a Land Court decision on a challenge to the rezoning of the vacant Greenwood Middle School.

The trial took place in January in Boston Land Court. Post-trial briefs were then filed.

Now the two sides await a decision.

Carl Goodman, lawyer for the plaintiffs, said it is not unusual for a decision to still be pending given the judges' workload lack of staff.

Arthur MacLeod and at least 12 other plaintiffs maintain the rezoning — allowing substantial higher density — is "spot" zoning and impermissable.

The town of Swampscott denies that the rezoning is impermissable.

On the first day of the trial those providing testimony included neighbors who had filed the claim, and witnesses from the town’s side (Jill Sullivan and Angela Ippolito), Younger confirmed.

On the second day witnesses provided testimony from both sides. Mike McClung from the Finance Committee also gave testimony.

Once the Land Court judge makes his decision and enters the judgment, the parties have 30 days to file a notice of appeals to the Appeals Court, Younger said earlier. 

"It is also very difficult to determine how long an appeal would take," the town administrator said earlier.

Groom Construction is proposing to buy the old Middle School building from the town and tear it down. It would replace it with a 41-unit condominum building.

Developers have said that the building is deteriorating and has limited historical significance left, and to preserve it would cost much more than to demolish it. 

A number of Greenwood Avenue residents have said at local meetings that the development's traffic and density — 41 residential units — would destroy the neighborhood's character.

• Sunrise: 6:29 a.m.
• High tide: 9:54 a.m.
• Low tide: 3:56 p.m.
• Sunset: 6:45 p.m.

3. School Notes:

The third of three School Building forums will be held Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the high school at 7 p.m. in room B129

4: Academic Notes: 

The following local resident was among the 2,800 students from the University of Massachusetts Boston who made the Spring 2013 Dean's List:

Cathryn Roberts, a resident of Swampscott.

 5. Town Notes:

Looking ahead to Oct. 13, the MDA Witch Ride will pass through Swampscott Thousands of motorcycles are scheduled to pass through town about 1:30 p.m., a Witch Ride representative told selectmen Wednesday.

The town will post an annoucment ahead of time to remind peope of the event and to expect a traffic delay.