Pleasant St. businesses continue illiegal use of land
Published on July 15th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - Residents and the Railroad Land Use Committee have been frustrated in the past few months by the continued occupation of town-owned land by Pleasant Street businesses.
Committee member Cameron Bain told the Independent earlier this week that three businesses in particular (Stoneham Towing, Lake Industries and the new owner of the Bay Street Box Company building, Joseph Cunningham) have been a thorn in the town's side ever since their leases on these lands ran out in 1991.
Up until that time, many businesses and residents took advantage of the town's offer to lease parcels of the land, formerly used for a railroad, for $1. Since 1991, however, some residents and businesses have continued to use the land for a variety of purposes without compensating the town.
"We had former tenants that had 10 year leases and we waited for those leases to run out," Bain said. "The problem is that while these former tenants have no right on these lands, we just felt, until we got the funding, we didn't want to push them off."
This attitude of acceptance, however, has been diminished to some extent by the actions of the three aforementioned businesses, he explained, which have used the land not only for access to their own site, but also for vehicle storage.
"It's unfortunate that we have some people who don't respect other people's property," Bain said. "They've basically done what they've wanted there.'
Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said that, while these businesses are continuing to use this land, the town sees no need to take immediate action.
"I guess the real issue is that those companies have accessed the right of way since they've been there," Nutting said. "We've had discussions about (having the companies vacate the land). It's a tough issue because if they don't park there, they end up parking on the streets.
Nutting said that there has been some discussion between the companies and the town about using some of the land as a parking lot for Recreation Park and the companies and dedicate the rest to the bike path.
Bain said that would not want the tri-community bike path, estimated to cost the Town of Stoneham approximately $1.2 million, jeopardized in any way. He also said that he does not want the town to get the short end of the stick in any deal with the companies.
"To the passerby, it might look like we're being walked over, but that's not so," he said. "I think that the officials have the upper hand here and that they'll make (the businesses) understand that it's not theirs."
Bain said that the town may have dropped the ball in the 1980's when it allowed the land to be leased for $1 and may have left the ball, at least in the case of Stoneham Towing. He said that Stoneham Towing has used the parcel of land behind their lot for vehicle storage.
"That has bothered me," Bain explained. "If they sent the money to the town every time they stored a vehicle there, we probably could have built (the bike path) by now.
He said that he is confident the land will be vacated by the time funding for the project is received from the state.
"Nutting agreed, saying, everybody knows the bike path's going through there," he said. "If there ever is a bike path, it will go through there."
The railroad land was rezoned in 1991 as open space and recreation land.
Neither Joseph Cunningham nor the owners of Stoneham Towing and Lake Industries returned calls from the Stoneham Independent.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!