By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — As the months of public hearings begin to wind down on Shelter Development’s application to build a 130-unit Brightview Senior Living facility on Crescent Street, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the public last night got a detailed look at what construction of the project will entail.
Senior project manager Michael Callahan of the construction management firm PROCON talked about each stage of construction, which is expected to take 18 to 20 months. ZBA members had asked for the information so that they and neighbors would have an idea what to expect during the construction period.
Callahan said that he had met with Building Inspector Jack Roberto, DPW Director Richard Stinson, Fire Chief Michael Sullivan and Police Chief Rick Smith to obtain input on matters of concern to them during construction.
Callahan explained that demolition and utility work would take place in the first two months. He showed the order in which the existing buildings would be razed and talked about the installation of new sewer and drainage infrastructure. Callahan said that there would be about 20 to 40 workers on site during this phase.
He talked generally about the site which will be entirely fenced in and have three primary gates. There will be “washout” areas at each gate to minimize the amount of dirt tracked out of the site by vehicles. Security cameras will monitor the site.
As the sidewalk in front of the site will be blocked with Jersey barriers, Callahan said that there will be signs on Crescent Street alerting people to the location of crosswalks to the other side of the street.
Any parking limitations on Crescent Street will be at the discretion of the Police Department, Callahan said. No contractors or other workers will be allowed to park on any public street or public parking area. Workers unable to park on the construction site will park at satellite lots and be bused to the site.
Foundation and underground utility work is expected to occur in months 3 through 7. As work proceeds to structural steel, concrete slabs and metal framing in months 6 to 11, Callahan said that the number of workers would grow to 70-100 on site.
As the project approaches month 12, the building envelope will be made weather tight as Tyvek, windows doors and roofing systems are added.
Callahan said that the number of workers on the site would peak at 150 to 200 as exterior building work, interior rough mechanicals, drywall and interior finishes are undertaken starting in month 13.
As the project begins to wind down in months 18 and 19, Callahan said, about 70 to 80 workers will be on site, with about 20 to 40 on site during the final month before the building is turned over to the owner.
Shelter’s attorney Brian McGrail reviewed a three-page document outlining general project requirements and job site rules for the construction period. Areas addressed included hours of work, noise, hours of deliveries, cleanliness in and around the site, safety and security.
When the hearing was opened to the public, Bronwyn Della-Volpe of Cyrus Street voiced skepticism that work and noise would be limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as required in the town’s bylaws.
Ann Fandel, a resident of the Crystal View Condominiums on the corner of Crescent and Main streets spoke for the first time on the project, reading a letter to the board. She asked several other condo owners to stand in support as she read.
Fandel registered the condo owners’ “strong objection to the size of the Brightview project.” Fandel cited parking and traffic concerns and well as noise and congestion during construction.
“This monstrosity will create an influx of undesirable intrusions throughout the day and evening that we should not have to contend with,” Fandel said. “We feel our property values may fall and our idyllic way of life will be taken from us.”
An exchange broke out between Fandel and ZBA member Kim Hackett as Fandel was reading her letter. Hackett questioned where Fandel had been during the previous six months of public hearings on Brightview. Fandel admitted that she “just found out about this project,” claiming that “It’s been kept rather secretive.”
After Fandel finished, Shelter’s Director of Development Michael Glynn observed that there were “some new faces that I haven’t seen before” and “a lot of misperceptions.” He offered to meet and talk with anyone who has not been involved in the process to date.
The hearing was continued to June 24, when attorney Alan Grenier and the opponents of the Brightview proposal will be given time to present their case.
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The ZBA met with Steven MacNeill of MacNeill’s Auto Repair located at the corner of North Avenue and Church Street to discuss progress with work on the property. Board members commended MacNeill on the work done so far. MacNeill said that he was ready to move forward with previously agreed to landscaping and fencing and would work with several ZBA members toward finalizing signage and planters.
The hearing was continued to June 24.