By MAUREEN DOHERTY
LYNNFIELD — A proposal to replace the corporate offices of Bridgewell at 471 and 495 Broadway with a free-standing CVS Pharmacy is currently in the preliminary stages.
Bridgewell and CVS held a two-hour informational meeting with about two dozen neighbors and abutters to their property, which is located at the intersection of Route 1 North (Broadway) and Route 129 (Salem Street) last Thursday night at the Holiday Inn in Peabody.
A subsequent “neighbors-only informational session” is planned by the two companies in the future to accommodate those who could not attend the Feb. 12 meeting, Bridgewell President and CEO Robert S. Stearns stated in a letter sent to neighbors dated Feb. 6.
No plans have been filed with the town to date or with the Mass. Department of Transportation (DOT), which has jurisdiction over any work that may occur on either of these state-numbered routes, including changes in curb cuts to the site.
In the letter to neighbors, Stearns describes Bridgewell as a non-profit human services organization that has provided “direct support to individuals living with developmental disabilities, experiencing homelessness and other life challenges for over 55 years.” For the past decade their corporate offices have been located in Lynnfield.
“We have outgrown this location and we will be selling the properties. We have enjoyed being at this location where we have experienced great relationships with our neighbors,” Stearns stated, adding, “We have entered into an agreement with CVS Pharmacy to purchase our properties and we want to share this news with you.”
CVS has retained John Hahesy of Preti Strategies in Boston to serve as a liaison with the neighbors. Contacted by the Villager on Friday, Hahesy described the neighborhood meeting as productive and a “very worthwhile endeavor.” They were pleased with the turnout considering both the weather and “the difficulty of getting mail to people,” he said, noting one resident stated his letter was postmarked Feb. 6 but he did not receive it until the day of the meeting.
Emphasizing that this is the “preliminary concept phase” of the proposal, Hahesy said, “The people who came out, we’re grateful to them. We benefited a great deal from that discussion and we look forward to continuing that discussion” at future neighborhood meetings.
Overview of site
Hahesy explained that Bridgewell owns three properties at this location totaling 1.8 acres. The proposal is to remove both the main two-story office building at 471 Broadway and an adjoining 1 1/2-story former house at 495 Broadway that is used by Bridgewell as an office and construct a new CVS on 1.4 acres.
The remaining four-tenths of an acre is occupied by a single-family home at 834 Salem St., which Hahesy said Bridgewell operates as part of its mission. Currently occupied by five women who receive services from them, this home will continue to be operated by Bridgewell because it is “considered an integral and important aspect of the services they provide to clients,” he said. Access to this home is currently through the back of the Bridgewell property, he added.
The Lynnfield Water District office at 853 Salem St. is located next door to this home, Hahesy said.
“On the northern side of the site is Monroe Road, which is a residential street with direct access to Route 1. There is a plan to re-zone a part of that. The existing zone is limited business district and the rezoning request would be to general business,” Hahesy said.
Any rezoning would require action at Town Meeting. CVS would also be required to go through the site plan review process with the Planning Board.
CVS is proposing to build a free-standing retail store of about 12,900 square feet with a drive-through for pharmacy use only. The building design would resemble the new CVS in downtown Wakefield, Hahesy said
Hahesy added that the rear lot lines of the nearest properties on Monroe Road would be 32 feet away from the nearest point of the proposed building on the conceptual plan and 71 parking spaces are proposed.
“The drive-up would be located on the northeasterly corner of the lot, which does orient toward the inside of the lot,” he said, adding that this area of the lot backs up to a fence, shrubbery and trees.
Concerns raised by the neighbors included traffic, particularly at the intersection and traffic flow within the lot; screening and buffering; parking and truck deliveries; drive-through operation and the store’s hours of operation, which Hahesy said are proposed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days per week.
Hahesy emphasized that this remains a preliminary proposal without a fixed timetable and that they want to engage as many people as they can in the discussion.
“We took the neighbors’ e-mails because we want them to have input in this,” he said. Questions or concerns about the proposal may be directed to Hahesy at 617-451-8600 or by e-mail to jhahesy@preti.com.
