Politics & Government
Over 55 Development Awaits Drainage Plan
The Planning Board hearing on the drainage review was postponed on Monday.
Lawyer Kenneth Shutzer secured a delay in the proposed because Town Administrator Thomas Younger has not yet selected an independent engineer to review the proposed drainage plan for the project.
"It is out of my hands," Shutzer told the Planning Board, which said it would move the next meeting on the project until its July meeting.
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The Villas proposal by developer Ralph DiGiorgio with DiGiorgio & Messina is for 16 one- and two-story condos for people over 55 years old.
The condos are proposed for 4.87 acres of undeveloped land bordered by Archer Street and Vaughan Place.
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Neighbors whose major concern is that the project will add to existing flooding problems have challenged the development at both ZBA and Planning Board meetings.
The Planning Board is reviewing the Villas site plan and will make a recommendation on it to the ZBA.
Back in March that the developer do an expanded study of the topography and drainage in the area so it indicates the project's influence not just on abutting properties but properties beyond those lots.
In April the ZBA asked for a clearer presentation of the developer’s drainage study.
The Swampscott Department of Public Works has also raised concerns about project drainage, including the use of existing catch basins in the storm water management plan.
Shutzer said the water currently drains down the hill onto the neighbors' property. He said the new project proposes to install systems to catch much of the water. "Anything we do would be an improvement," he said.
