Melrose challenges Gutierrez approval
Published on March 14th, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - The Melrose Planning Board voted 9-0 on March 12 to appeal the Stoneham Selectmen’s approval of the Gutierrez Company’s plan to build three six story office buildings and a parking garage on the former Boston Regional Medical Center site off Woodland Road.
According to information prepared for Selectmen by Town Counsel William Solomon, caselaw exists stating that a planning board in one town has no standing to take action against a zoning board of another town (1998, Planning Board of Marshfield v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Pembroke).
But Melrose Mayor Patrick Guerriero insists something must be done to protect the interests of the people in Melrose, Medford and Malden.
“The greatest impact of this project will be on Melrose, Medford and Malden,” Guerriero said. “I would think the developer would like to be a good neighbor to everyone.”
Guerriero said Mayor Michael McGlynn in Medford agrees and Mayor Richard Howard of Malden is thinking it over. Neither McGlynn nor Howard returned phone calls.
Stoneham Selectmen just heard about the Melrose Planning Board vote.
“I don’t know what to say yet,” said Selectman Darin Leahy. “But it doesn’t seem as bad as I first heard.” A Boston daily reported a “lawsuit.”
Guerriero says that he does not want to kill the project.
“It’s good for Stoneham, and we all have to support each other in these tough economic times,” Guerriero said, but he added, “We need to go to phase two.”
“Phase two,” as envisioned by Guerriero, would include traffic studies incorporating the Highland Avenue neighborhood in Melrose, the Lynn Fells Parkway in Medford, and Roosevelt Circle in Malden among others.
Stoneham Selectmen will tackle the matter at their March 14 meeting.
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