THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION recently approved an Order of Conditions for The Shops at Post Office Square strip mall reconstruction project. A large portion of the strip mall burned down in a six-alarm fire on Sept. 10, 2024. (Dan Tomasello File Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Conservation Commission unanimously approved an Order of Conditions for The Shops at Post Office Square strip mall reconstruction project during a recent meeting.
A massive six-alarm overnight fire destroyed seven businesses located at The Shops at Post Office Square strip mall on Sept. 10, 2024. The fire destroyed Cervizzi’s Martial Arts Academy, Dunkin’ Donuts, Fitness Together, Olde Town Market and Wal’s Cleaners. While Bank of America was damaged in the fire, the branch closed and was subsequently razed during the strip mall’s demolition.
Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Glenn Davis recently informed the Villager that the strip mall fire’s cause was unidentifiable/accidental. The fire started at Olde Town Market.
Hancock Associates professional engineer Jay Polakiewicz said Linden Engineering Senior Partner Bill Jones conducted a peer review for the strip mall reconstruction project. He said Hancock Associates provided Linden Engineering with “updated plans and accompanying documentation.”
“He sent us a letter back saying he was satisfied with all of our comments,” said Polakiewicz.
Polakiewicz said a water main installation plan will be submitted to Planning and Conservation Director Emilie Cademartori “prior to construction.”
“Those plans are in the works,” said Polakiewicz. “They are not being done by Hancock. As soon as those are done, they will be submitted to the commission.”
Cademartori gave an overview of the Order of Conditions to the Conservation Commission. She said Jones made “some very minor changes and clarifications.”
“They didn’t change the substance of the order,” said Cademartori. “The important things coming out of this project are the stormwater system that was upgraded in 2016. We didn’t have good documentation on it. As a result of this project, there will be some slight additions made to it. And at the end, they will submit a full as-built plan so that we know it is there and it is functioning. I think that is a huge bonus.”
Cademartori also said the rear of the Post Office Square property is going to be enhanced as part of the project.
“There wasn’t a whole lot between the parking, the dumpsters and the wetlands,” said Cademartori. “They are going to remove some pavement in the back and are doing some native plantings in the back. I think that is a huge improvement. All of that is in the conditions.”
Cademartori said one of the conditions pertains to the planting plan.
“It’s for riverfront mitigation,” said Cademartori. “Under the standards, it has to survive for two years. This won’t be just build it and get a certificate of compliance. There is going to be a little bit of a time period to make sure those plantings all survive. That is documented in the special conditions.”
The Order of Conditions states that, “all landscaping and plantings on site are considered riverfront mitigation and as such require two inspections each year for two years following planting with appropriate maintenance (and/or replacement if necessary), monitoring and reporting.”
“The monitoring period may be extended beyond the two years if there has been significant mortality and replacement such that the plantings do not meet the (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection) standard,” states the Order of Conditions
Cademartori said the water main installation is going to be coordinated with the new mixed-use building that will be constructed at the rear of the strip mall. Brothers Matthew and David Palumbo’s Top Tier Properties, LLC will be razing the Knights of Columbus located at 1 Knights of Columbus Way that abuts The Shops at Post Office Square. The Palumbo brothers will be constructing a new 4,225-square-foot mixed-use building that will include two office spaces on the bottom floor and eight apartments on the second floor.
“Those plans are still being developed, and that is noted in the special conditions,” said Cademartori about the water main installation. “The details for those plans still need to be submitted for approval but because it is on this parcel, it has to be on this order. That is clarified in the special conditions.”
The Order of Conditions stipulates that a “construction plan detailing water main installation, including erosion control, grading and limit of work as it relates to the resource areas” must be submitted to the Conservation Commission before it is installed.
Cademartori said the strip mall reconstruction project is not an easy project to undertake because of its location.
“When you first looked at this project, you thought a building burned down and they are putting it back,” said Cademartori. “But it was very complicated when you dug into it because of the presence of floodplain and the presence of riverfront. It wasn’t just replacing a building because there are a lot of layers of jurisdiction there. Even though the project hasn’t changed substantially from when they first came to you, there are a lot of little details that have changed that I think are significant. I think it makes it a better project. Anytime we can improve stormwater is a bonus, especially since (Hawkes Brook) is a tributary to a drinking water supply for the city of Lynn.”
Cademartori expressed her support for the Order of Conditions.
“I know that everyone in Lynnfield wants their Dunkin’ Donuts back,” said Cademartori. “We don’t want to hold it up any longer, especially when the owner of the property has to go out of town to get his coffee in the morning. I am pretty comfortable with it at this point. I think it is good to go.”
Conservation Commission Chair Don Gentile asked Cademartori if she will be participating in preconstruction meetings with the project team and will be receiving a construction-sequencing plan.
“There will definitely be some construction sequencing and oversight for sure,” said Cademartori.
In response to a question from Cademartori, Polakiewicz said, “the foundation had to be removed because there was no rebar in it.”
“They are replacing it where it was,” said Polakiewicz.
Cademartori said the Lynnfield Wetland Protection Bylaw “does apply” to The Shops at Post Office Square strip mall reconstruction project.
“There are some waivers we have to grant specifically under the local bylaw,” said Cademartori. “All of the waivers that they need were because there were things that were already there. They are grandfathered before we adopted the local bylaw. There is a significant amount of construction or building in the No Disturb Zone, so it is being replaced in kind. That is a waiver. And there is also building in the No Build Zone, all of which is just replacing what was previously there.”
In response to a question from Gentile, Cademartori said most of the work that will occur in the No Disturb Zone is installing the plantings for riverfront mitigation.
“They are removing some pavement, but are restriping and regrading this area that is in the No Disturb Zone,” said Cademartori. “The septic system is staying where it was. It is not changing. Most of the action in the No Disturb Zone is restoration work.”
There were no members of the public who weighed in on the South Lynnfield strip mall reconstruction project.
After the discussion, the Conservation Commission unanimous approved the Order of Conditions for The Shops at Post Office Square strip mall reconstruction project.