55-and-Older Condo Project Continued to April 25

A condo project proposed for the Foster's Pond area was continued to April 25, after the Zoning Board of Appeals failed to seat a quorum on Wednesday.

The board only had four members remaining at the hearing after Chairman Marc Kornitsky recused himself. 

The chairman, a lawyer, said he stepped aside from the case because he had worked on an unrelated matter for an abutter to the property slated for the condos.

Developer Ralph DiGiorgio of DiGiorgio & Messina wants to build 16 condos for people 55 and older on a 4.87-acre parcel of undeveloped land.

The development company filed a petition with the town for a site-plan permit, special permit, dimensional relief and a front dimensional variance.

His laywer, Ken Shutzer of Lynn, said in an interview that he was disappointed with Wednesday's continuance seeing as his team was dressed and ready to go.

The opposition was in attendance, as well, ready to comment on the case.

Abutters Pat Burke and Bradley Silsbee were there and estimated their side was represented by about 50 people at the hearing.

The hearing was held at the high school in Room 129 — a lecture/presentation room — due to the large crowd expected.

Usually the hearings are held at the back of the school at the Senior Center.

One of the neighbors' major concerns is that the building project would exacerbate flooding problems for their homes.

The developer said the drainage plan he has assembled will improve drainage on the nearly 5-acre parcel that borders Archer Street and Vaughan Place.

The developer proposes a single 800-foot driveway off Vaughan Place, ending at a cul-de-sac.

The condos are slated to sell for between $479,000 and $549,000.