Mann Chemical plans gets Selectmen's approval
Published on December 16th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - The proposal for a four story office building on the former Mann Chemical site moved a step closer to becoming a reality on Tuesday night when the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously (4-0) in favor of the project.
The approval didn't come easy, however, as Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello bombarded Charles Houghton, attorney for the petitioner, KLKM LLC, about the veracity of environmental studies which have shown the site to be safe for office building use. Ciccarello also strongly opposed the excavation of land at the site during times when students would be attending the Stoneham Middle School, located next door to the 105 Central Street site.
"Our concern is the school children," the selectman said. "Any contamination- in the air- anything- we just don't want it."
The general contractor for the project explained that little excavation would take place at the site and added that no fill would be taken from the site. Instead, the project calls for four additional feet of fill on the lot.
Houghton said that the biggest change which was made in the plan since it was last presented to the board was the main entrance to the parking lot. The entrance, he explained, had been moved 30 feet farther away (100 feet total) from the Middle School's lot entrance to provide a safeguard.
This change was made necessary due to comments made by the Board of Appeals, the attorney told the selectmen. Houghton said that the petitioner withdrew his application to the Board of Appeals "because, frankly, we didn't have the votes (needed for approval)."
Another change which has been made in the designs is the relocation of the building five feet closer to the railroad right of way which abuts the property. Houghton said that the building would be moved 50 feet away from the right of way in order to increase parking on the site. This additional parking, he said, would likely allow the School Department added spaces for the Middle School. In order to make this move, the Board of Appeals will have to grant a variance.
KLKM LLC is expected to reapply with its co-petitioner, the School Committee, at the appeals board and will likely go in front of its members at their January 21 meeting.
With Selectman Patrick Jordan absent due to illness, the board voted 4-0 in favor of site plan approval conditional upon the Building Inspector's approval.
• The Board of Selectmen approved an application by Columbia Woburn Group to renovate a building at 10 Forbes Road in Woburn and convert it into an ITT Technical Institute.
Richard Williams of Hayes Engineering spoke on behalf of the applicant and explained that a portion of the land involved in the development lies in Stoneham while a larger portion is, in fact, in Woburn. Williams said that the petitioner proposes to increase parking on the site (located adjacent to BJ's Wholesale Club) for use in the training facility.
Town Counsel William Solomon reviewed the application and questioned whether the applicant needed a special permit for the change. He said he would research realted case law and suggested that the applicant seek out the Building Inspector's opinion on the matter.
After some deliberation, the selectmen voted 4-0 in favor of site plan approval for the project.
•Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said that the drainage study of Sweetwater Brook had already begun and was moving ahead as planned. The study should be completed by March 1.
In addition, he said that minor repairs had already been completed on Maple, Hersam, and Perkins streets.
The selectmen will discuss expanding the drainage study to possibly include the Franklin Street area at its January 5 meeting. At that time, Nutting said, he should have some information on how much of the $100,000 appropriation could be applicable for a second phase of the project.
• The annual Christmas tree pick-up is scheduled for January 9. The town requests that the trees not be put in plastic bags and that residents remove tinsel from the trees as much as possible.
• The selectmen's monthly talk show, Town Talk, is scheduled to air live on December 28. Residents will have the opportunity to call in and ask the selectmen about various town topics and will also be informed by the board's "surprise guest."
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