Gutierrez may want money back from town
Published on October 10th, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - An Oct. 15 report from the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency (MEPA) will break the stalemate between Fells developers and preservationists.
Gutierrez’s attorney, Charlie Houghton, said things could get crazy enough for Gutierrez to ask Stoneham to refund some of the $600,000 given to the town for “public safety.”
Gutierrez and the Citizens for Fells Preservation got together last Thursday, but no compromises were reached, according to Houghton.
The CFFP did not return phone calls before press time.
Gutierrez, a Burlington based development company, is trying to build an office park on the 40 acre former hospital site. The Melrose and Medford Planning Boards have sued Gutierrez, demanding road improvements. The CFFP has also sued and challenged the draft environmental impact report filed by Gutierrez in attempt to shrink or kill the project, which the group says will permanently damage the community. And legislation that would kill the project is stagnating in a study committee of the State Legislature.
Stoneham Selectmen are behind the project because of the possibility of close to $2 million in annual tax revenue.
Houghton said the Planning Board suits have no standing. He said the CFFP is asking for more than what the state will require. And he added that if the state makes Gutierrez spend more money, Gutierrez might come back for some of the $600,000.
As of this week, Gutierrez is still planning to put an office park on the site. The Oct. 15 MEPA report will list the environmental requirements for the project.
Bike path progress
Cameron Bain and representatives from Stoneham and the MBTA met on Maple Street last Friday to look at the 910 foot stretch of former railroad bed the Tri-Community Bikeway Committee wants for its proposed bike path.
The outstanding issue is liability for any contamination in the railroad bed. The MBTA wants to sell the land and abandon all liability. Stoneham Selectmen have a right of first refusal, but they do not want to accept liability.
Dale Halchack wants at least some of the land for rear access to his buildings on Maple Street. After the site visit, the MBTA agreed to talk with Halchack and see whether he would consider purchasing the land and then granting an easement to the town for the bike path.
Back to New York
Stoneham citizens should be proud to know that Stoneham Firefighter William Dockery has gone to New York for a second shift as a critical incident stress management counselor at ground zero.
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