Vans are creating log jam on Spring Street
Published on September 11th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - A Beacon Street resident has seen enough commercial vehicles parked in his residential neighborhood and he is trying to drive home his complaint to local officials.
In a letter, written by Alexander Janko to the Board of Selectmen, the Building Inspector, Town Counsel and the Stoneham Independent, Janko names three businesses that he believes are taking advantage of the neighborhood when parking their commercial vehicles at residences, and violating zoning by-laws. Several photographs depicting the by-law infractions of many commercial vehicles parked in the residentially zoned neighborhood accompanied his letter
“The first and most prominent violator is the Heritage Plumbing Company, which is supposedly headquartered at Pleasant and Williams Street. This company is, in reality, being illegally headquartered in our neighborhood and services it’s customers from the residential dwellings at 62 & 64 Spring Street,” wrote Janko.
In a written response prepared by Gordon Switzer, President of Heritage Heating and Plumbing Co., Switzer gave two reasons for the abundance of vehicles in the area. Switzer said that three of his employees live in the Spring Street area and each take one company truck home with them. Also, due to recent theft/vandalism, they have parked additional vehicles at the Spring Street area for security reasons, wrote Switzer. The letter also stated that Heritage Plumbing would happily put forth an effort to accommodate the concerns of their neighbors.
Janko is also displeased with two other companies that he says are in violation of zoning by-laws. They are Roberto Brothers Roofing on Spring Lane and Caswells Landscaping which is garaged at the corner of Spring Street and Fatima Road, according to Janko.
Roberto Brothers Roofing of 87 New Salem St. Wakefield, is owned by Donald Roberto, who resides at 65 Spring St. in Stoneham. Roberto’s son, Anthony, said his father is renovating the first floor apartment at that address, hence the work trucks on the site. Donald Roberto is living in the second floor apartment as the renovation work is completed. Roberto said the dump truck is on the premises to haul away the debris from the renovations.
“It is very hard to renovate a property without work trucks there,” said Roberto.
The construction should be completed in about one month, and then there will be just one truck left at that address. That truck will be Donald Roberto’s, who will continue to live at 65 Spring St. and drive home every day in a pick-up truck with the company logo on it. Anthony Roberto said the company has a fleet of 12 trucks at their Wakefield office and haven’t had trucks parked on the Spring Street property in about ten years.
“We have a permit for all the work being done,” said Roberto. “You can check with the Building Inspector.”
Roberto also stated his intention to contact Janko to discuss the matter and come up with a remedy.
Representatives of Caswell Firewood and Bark Mulch could not be reached for comment.
Also in his written grievance, Janko said that this “residential Class A zone prohibits the garaging of vehicle over 10,000 lbs. He is certain that some of these vehicles parked at the residences are over weight for the residential zone.
“These large vehicles are dangerous in the residential area,” Janko said.
One such heavy vehicle was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident, according to Janko, and he would like to see that safety hazard eliminated. These commercial vehicles are really impacting the quality of life in the area. according to Janko.
“It destroys our right to live the style of life we chose and ultimately voted for. It truly degrades the town‚s residential base and directly lowers property values,” said Janko.
Janko has heard the line of reasoning for the presence of these commercial vehicles form these companies before, and even registered similar complaints to the town several years ago.
“This time I am going to follow through with this to make sure something gets done,” said Janko. “If I can’t get some action in a month, or so, I will pursue this at the state level.”
Janko lives on Beacon Street with his wife where they have raised their children and seen 36 years pass. He fondly recalls when his neighborhood used to be a sought after suburban area. Now, Janko thinks the town needs a total overhaul. “If you let it go, it perpetuates itself and then it‚will become Billerica,” said Janko.
Janko’s letter is asking the Town Manager to instruct his subordinates to remedy this matter through cease and desist orders.
Town Manager Dave Berry is on vacation this week and his substitute, Director of Public Works, Bob Grover, was not privy to information about Janko’s complaint, however he thought it would be a subject for the building inspector. Building Inspector Eugene Argiro was not available for comment.
A source at the town hall did say that action on this matter was definitely forthcoming. The source did not specify what action would be taken to appease Janko in his complaint.
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