FALL TOWN MEETING will be asked to approve the sale and rezoning of the old South Lynnfield Branch Library, 630 Salem St. The Fire Department is currently using the building for administrative offices while the new Fire Headquarters is being constructed. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Voters at Fall Town Meeting will be asked to approve the sale and rezoning of the South Lynnfield Branch Library building on Salem Street.
Town Counsel Tom Mullen said during Monday’s Select Board meeting that the town is in “the process of attempting to sell the South Lynnfield Branch Library property at 630 Salem St.”
“The board, long ago, already declared this property surplus,” said Mullen. “It has not been used as a library for many years.”
While the South Lynnfield Branch Library has not been used as a library for a number of years, the Fire Department is currently using the building for administrative offices while the new Fire Headquarters is under construction.
The Lynnfield Public Library wrote on its website that the branch library was “built in 1923 on the corner of Salem and Summer streets.”
“The following year (1924), the circulation at the branch exceeded that of the main library,” the Lynnfield Public Library wrote on its website.
Mullen said he developed a request for proposals (RFP) for the sale of the Salem Street property, which was published in the Villager as a legal notice in the Sept. 3 issue as well as this week’s Sept. 10 issue. He also noted the RFP was published in the Secretary of State Office’s Central Register, which contains information about state, county and municipal contracts for design, construction and reconstruction of Massachusetts public facilities.
“There will be an appraisal received by us by Sept. 15,” said Mullen. “The bid opening is scheduled for Oct. 7.”
Mullen said the proposed South Lynnfield Branch Library sale will include two alternate bids.
“Currently, it is zoned Residential A,” said Mullen. “We propose to rezone it at the next Town Meeting to Limited Business, which would match the zoning status of the abutting property. We expect that the property would bring in a higher price if rezoned. We are going to need Town Meeting authorization certainly for the rezoning but also to sell the property. Both motions require a two-thirds vote.”
In addition to the rezoning article, a second warrant article headed to Fall Town Meeting will ask the legislative body vote to transfer the South Lynnfield Branch Library to the Select Board in order to sell the property.
Mullen said both warrant articles have to be included on the Fall Town Meeting warrant. He said the rezoning article has to be referred to the Planning Board because the panel will be holding a public hearing on the zoning change.
“I have prepared both motions and have given them to the town administrator,” said Mullen. “Both must be voted on to be put on the warrant. The rezoning needs to be referred to the Planning Board for a hearing.”
According to the request for bids legal notice, the South Lynnfield Branch Library property consists of 10,600 square feet, totaling 0.243 acres.
Select Board Chair Phil Crawford expressed his support for selling the South Lynnfield Branch Library property.
“We have certainly gone through this several times over the years,” said Crawford. “I think this is a good chance for us to receive some funds for a piece of property that we are using now but we are not going to be using once the fire station has been occupied. I think it is a great idea.”
After Mullen gave an overview of the South Lynnfield Branch Library sale and rezoning proposal, the Select Board unanimously voted to authorize the request for bids for the 630 Salem St. property.
The Select Board also voted to refer the South Lynnfield Branch Library rezoning article to the Planning Board to schedule a public hearing.
The date for Fall Town Meeting has yet to be finalized.