Published February 6, 2019
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Nine minutes.
After several years in the making, nine minutes was all it took for the town to auction the Perley Burrill property on Jan. 29. The successful bidders of the 914 Salem St. property were David Capachietti of Mass Pipeline Services and Marco Tammaro of MJR Custom Homes.
The local developers purchased the 1.9-acre property for $360,000. Two homes will be built on the site.
“We went on it together because we complement each other,” said Capachietti in an interview with the Villager. “We thought it would be a good opportunity and we are excited to work with the town on his project and brighten up the neighborhood by getting rid of the existing eyesore. We are anxious to get going.”
Town Administrator Rob Dolan, who observed the auction be undertaken by Zekos Group Auctioneers, said he was pleased the property was sold.
“The property is a blight on the neighborhood,” said Dolan. “This solves that problem. The developers are going to put two beautiful homes on the property, which is what the neighbors want and deserve.”
Selectman Phil Crawford agreed.
“I am extremely happy the property was sold to local developers,” said Crawford. “It will finally get cleaned up and will become a safe and enjoyable place for the neighborhood.”
Dolan said there were 12 developers who bid on the property.
“It was a very active bidding process,” said Dolan. “We are very pleased with the result.”
Dolan noted the town spent between $150,000 and $200,000 to clean up the property.
The Board of Selectmen voted to foreclose on the Perley Burrill property in August 2016 for former owner Joseph Pedoto failing to pay back taxes to the town. The selectmen were able to foreclose on the property because the Brownfields Act allows cities and towns to foreclose on properties for non-payment of taxes.
The Planning Board approved a definitive subdivision plan for the 914 Salem St. property last June. The proposed two-lot subdivision’s private shared driveway will be 20-feet wide, which is less than the 26-foot requirement for roads. The proposed cul-de-sac width will be 60 feet instead of the full right-of-way width.
The subdivision will include a Cape Cod berm, which will be constructed along portions of the shared driveway in order to provide drainage for stormwater management. The subdivision will not include granite curbing in the right-of-way. There will be no street signs or sidewalks located at the subdivision.
The Planning Board also voted last year to require the subdivision’s two homes to have conspicuous signage.
In addition to the Planning Board approving the subdivision, the Board of Selectmen voted 2-0 to place deed restrictions on the property last year. The deed restrictions will ensure only two homes are built on the former gas station property. A number of abutters previously expressed concerns that as many as four homes could be built.
The selectmen also voted 2-0 to approve an encroachment agreement with abutter Nicholas Boghos, 898 Salem St. According to the agreement, five feet of the building is located on the 898 Salem St. property. The pact stipulates that the town will require the developers to remove the building “as a condition of the sale of the property.” Boghos will also allow the developers or contractors to enter the 898 Salem St. property “for the purpose of removing the encroachment.” The developers will be required to pay for any damages to the abutting property while the building is razed.
Additionally, the selectmen also voted 2-0 last July to approve the conditional approval contract for the subdivision.
“This contract is an agreement between the Planning Board and the applicant for the subdivision,” Town Engineer Charlie Richter explained to the board last year. “For the approval of the subdivision, the applicant agrees to have the proposed lots held until a bond is placed with the Planning Board.”
Perley Burrill was established in 1932.
