Guttierrez zoning article dead for now, Selectmen want public safety answers first
Published on May 24th, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - Nothing is going to be built on the former Boston Regional Medical Center property for months; the June 12 zoning article looks dead.
Selectman Al Conti wants the Board to commission a feasibility study to determine what additional police and fire equipment, facilities and personnel will be needed if the Gutierrez company develops the BRMC property into a 900,000 square foot office park as proposed in a "conceptual master site plan" (see page 6).
According to estimates from Police Chief Gene Passaro and Fire Chief Larry Lamey, the town would need to spend $800,000 to handle the new development.
Town Administrator Jeff Nutting said the chiefs' figures were wrong.
But to find out will take at least 120 days, according to Nutting.
The big questions are: what do we need and what can we get from the developer? And, what will we get if we ask for too much?
Nobody knows.
But the police and fire chief think more men, a new fire substation and more equipment are needed.
Al Conti thinks the developer should pay for capital costs and agree to pay before selectmen agree to support zoning changes.
And Darin Leahy thinks the town will get low income housing, avoiding zoning on a legal loophole, if the developer is pushed too far with requests.
Gutierrez Company has not returned phone calls.
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