Franklin site still Dunkin'
Published on March 10th, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - Citing a need for a newer traffic study that will reflect the re-design of Franklin Street as well as additional traffic culled from the fully-operational Kindercare location, the Board of Selectmen voted to continue the proposed Franklin Street Dunkin Donuts hearing until April 27.
In addition to the continuance, the Selectmen voted by a 4-1 margin -- Tony Kennedy dissented -- to commission VHB to craft the second traffic study.
Kennedy voiced a desire to hire a company that could give a "fresh look" at the intersection and the Dunkin plan, but his fellow Selectmen opted to retain the traffic consultants who crafted the original study.
"In the beginning, we really didn't care who the town decided on as the consultants, but at this point it would be really difficult to bring someone else in to pick up the pieces and start over," said attorney Charles Houghton, the spokesman for prospective Dunkin Donuts proprietor Frank Pino. "We respectfully request that you keep VHB as the consultant."
The Selectmen heeded Houghton's request, but also listened to the complaints and concerns raised by the residents of Franklin Street, Brookmeadow Condos and Benjamin Terrace who crammed into the Selectmen Hearing Room for the public discussion.
"This is bittersweet because Gerry (McCarthy) has been a very good neighbor and we'd all like him to find a suitable tenant for the site," said Franklin Street resident Bob Fields of the currently vacant lot at the corner of Franklin Street and Stevens Street. "I just think given the traffic concerns and the considerable alterations that will be made to the roadway as a result of this Dunkin Donuts, that a better utilization of the property can be realized."
The abutters continued a familiar refrain that included the expected number of high school students that would frequent the Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins, and the perceived traffic difficulties exacerbated by a busy Dunkin Donuts site.
Houghton's new plan addressed many of the concerns from the original site design, a plan that had been heavily critiqued by the town's traffic consultant VHB.
The revised blueprint shows 23 parking spaces (according to Houghton, the legal requirement is for 11 spaces on the site) -- including spaces earmarked for 3-5 employees on the shift, 2 for Mac's Landscaping and one handicapped space -- the removal of a structure and a storage area devoted vehicles belonging to Mac's Landscaping, a revised traffic plan that created a third traffic lane to take the right off westbound Franklin Street and into the Dunkin Donuts, a pair of signs prohibiting traffic from turning eastbound onto Franklin from either Stevens Street or the Dunkin Donuts site, a re-design of the building that allowed traffic to flow from Franklin Street to Stevens Street, and an offer from the developer to finance the creation of a third lane of traffic for those taking a right turn into Stoneham High School from Franklin Street.
In addition, the plan called for the removal of the bumpouts at the intersection of Franklin Street and Stevens Street. While longtime opponents of the bumpouts -- including Stoneham resident John DeGeorge -- lauded the move, some area residents actually want the bumpouts to remain.
"The bumpouts are doing the job the state originally intended them to do -- slowing down the traffic and making it safer for the residents in area," said Fields.
Fields also criticized the traffic study that claimed that 195 cars would travel in and out of the site during peak business hours in the morning, and that 115 cars would pass in and out during off-peak hours.
"Those numbers were taken while work was being done on Franklin Street in both Stoneham and Melrose, and many travelers were seeking alternate routes," said Fields, who also added that Kindercare wasn't fully on-line at the time of the traffic count last April. "It simply isn't an accurate portrayal of the current traffic situation on Franklin Street."
This moved the Selectmen to request a second and more current traffic study, and Houghton opined that a 1-2 month window would be sufficient to create a second traffic study. The study will be paid for by the developer, and is expected to be completed by VHB in time for the late April hearing.
The sometimes contentious hearing devolved into raised voices and perceived threats at several points during the meeting, with land owner McCarthy and Selectman Cosmo Ciccarello exchanging words over the possibility of affordable housing on the site if the current project is rejected.
"You don't come in here and make threats to the Board," bellowed Ciccarello to McCarthy after hearing the subject of Chapter 40B raised by members of the audience.
"Well that's what is going to happen," said McCarthy, in reference to the aftermath of the project being rejected.
Many of the Selectmen remained relatively quiet about the Dunkin Donuts project and were waiting for another traffic study, but Selectman Charlie Smith expressed a desire to allow McCarthy to develop his desired project on the land he owns.
"Do you believe that he has the right to build what he wants on land that he owns?" asked Smith several times when abutters continually raised concerns about the site. "We keep rejecting these projects because this pocket of people don't want it, and that group of people don't want it...eventually we have to start doing what's best for the whole town."
Houghton also attempted to put the passing of the project in perspective with the broader scope of the town's fiscal landscape.
"Listen, we all know about the financial difficulty the town is facing and we can't afford to keep rejecting projects like this," said Houghton. "This is money that will go on the tax rolls, and money that the town could really utilize."
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