Top 10 Swampscott Patch Stories in 2011

Here are stories 7, 6 and 5.

  The year 2011 brought Hollywood, humor and controversy to town. It also brought fire and water. In no small measure. There was a devastating fire and brutal flood, each of which landed hard hits on residents including destroyed residences and businesses and flooded homes. And in each instance firefighters, police officers, public works employees and other town workers along with neighbors, friends and complete strangers rallied helping hands. These were among the topics that generated the greatest interest on the Swampscott Patch website. Through Sunday we will list the Top 10 stories of 2011 in Swampscott ending with the top story on Sunday. 7) Condo Architects Sent Back to Drawing Boards From April 28: Zoning Board criticizes designs …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Nov. 1

From music history to local tides. Things to know in Swampscott on this fall day in November.

1) Weather Watch — National Weather Service forecasters are predicting a partly sunny day. The day's high temperature will be near 52. 2) Tide Watch — Today's low tide at Fisherman's Beach is 9:57 am (.61 ft). High tide is 4:17 pm (9.98 ft). The sun will rise at 7:16 am and set at 4:36 pm.  3) Swampscott Scrambler — Unscramble these letters to spell the name of a Swampscott person, place or thing (answer to be posted tomorrow): easedew Friday's answer: marching (band) 4) 1968 —  George Harrison released the soundtrack "Wonderwall." He was the first Beatle to release a solo album. (From http://www.on-this-day.com) 5) Town Watch — The Conservation Commission will take up Cap'n Jack's notice of intent when the board meets tonight at 7:30 pm …

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Cap'n Jack's Demo Appears Bound for Delay

Historical Commission members will decide Nov. 1, whether to delay demolition of the Humphrey Street hotel for up to nine months.

Historical Commission members left little doubt Tuesday that they will delay demolition of Cap'n Jack's Inn for up to nine months. The panel opted at the end of last night's public hearing to wait until Nov. 1, to vote on the delay question. But, indicating that they are likely to vote for the delay, several of them said it was their responsibility under the town's delay by-law to try to find an alternative to demolition. Chair Jean Reardon said removing the three buildings that make up Cap'n Jack's Inn would diminish the town's historic character and forever alter the Humphrey streetscape for all the town's residents. It remains to be seen whether the delay will do anything but that — delay plans to tear down the buildings and build a 15-…

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Cap'n Jack's Demo Appears Headed for Delay

A Swampscott Historical Commission vote Tuesday night finds the buildings to be 'historically significant to the town'; a public hearing is to be held October 25

Six members of the Swampscott Historical Commission voted Tuesday night to inform the town's Building Commissioner that they have found the Cap'n Jack's buildings to be "historically significant," and have set a public hearing date for Tuesday, Oct. 25 to hear testimony from the town on the value of the properties as public resources. The vote essentially puts in motion a locally adopted by-law that allows the Commission to request a demolition delay on the project, putting the brakes on a project that had hoped to break ground this year. Historical Commission Chairperson Jean Reardon voted with members Sylvia Belkin, Sue Munafo, Melanie Aldrich-Peterson, Jason Mahler and Merry Glosband in making the determination. Mahler and Glosband were…

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Attorney Asks Town for Probe of Zoning Board

ZBA required developer of Cap'n Jack's Inn site to pay $50,000 for Humphrey Street improvements.

Attorney William DiMento asked the town administrator and Board of Selectmen Tuesday night to investigate the Zoning Board of Appeals requirement that the condominium developers on the Cap'n Jack's Inn site pay $50,000 to the town for undetermined improvements on Humphrey Street. Saying he “has no dog in (the Cap'n Jack's) fight,” DiMento called the fee “illegal” and “embarrassing.” The zoning board last week voted four to one to approve the 15-unit condominium project where the Cap'n Jack's Inn stands on Humphrey Street now. Prior to the vote, zoning board chairman Marc Kornitsky said, “It (the $50,000 payment) will help me get to a yes vote.” Without his vote, the project would not have been granted a special permit. The fee was designed…

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Zoning Board Will Approve Condos at Cap'n Jack's Inn Site in August

Chairman Kornitsky disqualifies board member who wanted a central view corridor through the large building.

The Zoning Board of Appeals Wednesday night postponed a final vote until August on the proposed condominium project where the Cap'n Jack's Inn stands now. But the board left little doubt that it would vote four to one for the Humphrey Street project after Chairman Marc Kornitsky disqualified board member Harry Pass, a potential opponent of the project, as a voting member on this project. It takes four votes from the five-member board to approve a project. Pass was disqualified because he was absent for part of one of the hearings on the condominium project. He objected to being disqualified, saying he missed only part of the meeting because he was recovering from dental surgery. He has attended all other hearings on the project and told …

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