Columbia Pictures Seeks ZBA Approval For Temporary Building

Columbia Pictures will seek permits and a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday, May 29, to build a temporary structure for filming at .

The structure would house a set in the Adam Sandler movie Grown Ups 2.

Columbia has received a foundation permit for the building and has stacked shipping containers three-high for the building's base, said town Planner Pete Kane.

The town has no provision in its by-laws for temporary building permits so the applicants will need permanent building approvals.

They are dimensional and site plan special permits and a dimensional variance due to the structure's size.

The building, a tent-like enclosure above the shipping containers, is well over 3,000 square feet, Kane said.

The site is located on the park's practice football field and part of the parking lot.

Movie representatives met earlier this month with Swampscott public works, fire and police officials to review the site and movie plans, the town planner said.

The site will be restored to its original condition after the shooting is complete.

Movie people will pay for security and police details.

Also, the planner said that a water main break that was thought to be related to the movie construction at Phillips Park was actually unrelated to it.

A pathway that people use for walking to the beach will remain open, said Kane, while updating the Planning Board on the movie plans.

Town Administrator Thomas Younger said earlier that the town will receive $248,000 for the temporary lease of town property through Aug. 17.

That agreement includes $175,000 for the use of the practice football field and a portion of the parking lot at Phillips Park, as well as the parking lot at the former Temple Israel property on Humphrey Street.

It includes $40,000 for a single day of shooting at Swampscott Middle School.

And it includes $5,000 to the Historical Commission for the use of the train station building.

Movie representatives sought the Phillips Park location after the producer withdrew a plan to build a set on Marblehead's Christopher Piper Field. Marblehead residents were reluctant to forfeit their football field for shooting.

Half of the movie is expected to be shot in Swampscott with the remaining filming taking place in Marblehead, Saugus and Tewksbury.

Shooting began Monday in Tewksbury and was to continue Tuesday at the Tewksbury Kmart. according to a report in onlocationvacations.com.

According to the report, Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, Nick Swarsdon and Alexander Ludwig (The Hunger Games) were all spotted on location at the Kmart on Route 38 on Monday.