By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Zoning Board of Appeals recently voted to continue a discussion on the proposed Knights of Columbus redevelopment project to its next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
ZBA Chair Anthony Moccia recalled that brothers Matthew and David Palumbo’s Top Tier Properties, LLC have applied for a Special Permit and Site Plan Approval for the purpose of razing the Knights of Columbus and constructing a three-story mixed-use retail and residential building at 1 Knights of Columbus Way. The new building would include two retail spaces on the ground floor and eight residential apartments on the second and third floors.
Top Tier Properties, LLC’s attorney, Jesse Schomer, said he had a discussion with atty. John McLaughlin, who represents Paul Guarracino, before the meeting. Guarracino and his family operates the MJA Realty Trust that owns The Shops at Post Office Square strip mall that partially burned down after a six-alarm fire in September. McLaughlin said the trust opposed Top Tier Properties, LLC’s Special Permit and Site Plan Approval requests during the ZBA’s November meeting.
“We are in the early stages of communication with the abutter with respect to resolving his concerns about this project,” said Schomer. “That is why we have requested that the hearing be continued to the board’s next meeting.”
Moccia said he filed a disclosure with the Select Board because Guarracino is a client of his son’s law firm.
“My son has a law firm in Italy,” said Moccia. “Mr. Guarracino is a client of that law firm on matters that are totally unrelated to this matter. I am not employed or have any financial interest in that firm. I am listed on the website as counsel, but I have performed no services and I have no financial interest whatsoever. I have not discussed this matter with anyone employed by that law firm. I don’t believe that it would interfere with my ability to be impartial on this case, but out of an abundance of caution and after consultation with town counsel, I filed that disclosure.”
Schomer said the Palumbo brothers have “no objection” to Moccia ruling on their petition.
“We have no concern whatsoever,” said Schomer.
The Knights of Columbus is located in a Residence B Zoning District even though the majority of Post Office Square is zoned Limited Business. As a result, the Knights of Columbus and the proposed mixed-use development are both considered nonconforming uses. The property is 1.3 acres.
McLaughlin told the ZBA in November that MJA Realty Trust opposed the Palumbo brothers’ mixed-use development project because “it will be more detrimental to the neighborhood” and would negatively affect The Shops at Post Office Square strip mall.
“We are in the Limited Business District, where retail is allowed,” said McLaughlin. “That is where retail should be. It shouldn’t be in a residential area that is going to bring more traffic and will impact our tenants and our customers when they seek to use this new project if it is permitted.”
Schomer said in November that the Knights of Columbus was built in 1930. He said the K of C was previously built in a different location and was later relocated to the current site, but he is not sure when that occurred.
“We are proposing to raze the Knights of Columbus building and replace it with a three-story mixed-use building containing two commercial spaces on the ground floor and eight apartments on the second and third floors,” said Schomer. “There will be an elevator so all of the residential units will be accessible. We are proposing 35 total parking spaces, 23 of which will be associated with a commercial use and 12 associated with a residential use. It will be a brand new building that will be up to all building codes.”
