By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Fall Town Meeting authorized the Select Board to purchase a historic preservation deed restriction for a Main Street home on Monday night.
Article 9 requested Fall Town Meeting to appropriate $300,000 from the Sale of Real Estate Account that the Select Board would use to purchase a historic preservation restriction for Jay Kimball’s home, 618 Main St.
Town Administrator Rob Dolan said Kimball recently approached the town about buying his Main Street property.
“It’s an iconic piece of property,” said Dolan. “It’s Mr. Kimball’s hope that it will be preserved. We consulted with the Historical Commission, the Select Board and several people who agree that this is an iconic and historic home that is worth so much to our Town Common. However, we did not feel that purchasing this land would be advantageous to the town such as buying Centre Farm. There is a tool in the toolbox called an historic deed restriction that would need to be approved by the state as well as the town. We could pay the owner for that deed restriction to preserve the facade of the house.”
If Fall Town Meeting did not approve Article 9, Dolan said Kimball could decide to sell the home to a developer who would raze it.
“As of right, you could build two two-family houses on that site,” said Dolan. “It’s a giant site that is over an acre.”
Dolan said funds in the Sale of Real Estate Account cannot be used to hire additional teachers, firefighters and police officers.
If Fall Town Meeting approved authorizing the Select Board to purchase the historic preservation restriction, Dolan said Town Counsel Tom Mullen would enter into negotiations with Kimball. He said a developer could construct a smaller home behind Kimball’s house.
“That would be more advantageous in terms of the sale,” said Dolan. “However, the frontage of the house would be preserved.”
While the Select Board voted to recommend Article 9, the Finance Committee voted not to recommend purchasing the historic preservation restriction.
“Money for this would be taken from the Sale of Real Estate Account,” said Finance Committee Chairman Chris Mattia. “At this point, we feel there should be a greater review of all historic properties.”
Chairman Brian Charville said the Planning Board unanimously recommended that Fall Town Meeting approve Article 9.
“The home directly faces the Meeting House,” said Charville. “The Planning Board unanimously recommends adoption of this article because there is money in the Sale of Real Estate Account to support this spending. With the help of our staff, we reviewed the property, its location, its development potential and its importance to the town center. This is an important property, and we feel purchasing a historic preservation restriction for this property is smart planning for the town.”
Grey Lane resident Daniel Lewis asked how big the 618 Main Street lot is.
Planning and Conservation Director Emilie Cademartori said the property is just over an acre-and-a-half.
Historical Society Treasurer Bob Gillon noted that his home, 300 Main St., is the oldest house in Lynnfield.
“My question is when I go to sell my house, will I be coming to Town Meeting looking for the town to buy my house?” Gillon inquired. “If not, why?”
“Mr. Gillon, your home would absolutely be worthy of preservation if it is the will of Town Meeting,” said Dolan in response. “I believe and the Select Board believes that the people should decide the fate of this property. We all know that when something goes away, it never comes back.”
Main Street resident Frances Fleming asked how old Kimball’s house is.
Dolan said the home was built in the early 1800s.
Baldwin Lane resident Michele Cole recalled that a California-based company owns The Centre at Lynnfield shopping plaza. She asked if the company could buy the Kimball property, and turn it into a mixed-use development that would include apartment buildings.
Cademartori said the Kimball home is located in a Residential A Zoning District.
“It can only be used for residential uses whereas The Centre is zoned as a Limited Business District,” said Cademartori. “In order for the Kimball property or any portion of the Kimball property to be used as anything other than residential, the zoning will have to be changed.”
In response to a question from a man in the audience, Dolan said the Sale of Real Estate Account currently has a $1.1 million balance.
“It’s a unique fund used for specific one-time purchases,” said Dolan.
Main Street resident Patrick Rooney asked what will happen if the negotiations fall apart.
“It will be open to a developer on the open market,” said Dolan. “The current owner could split the lot into two. If it’s razed, there could either be two two-family homes or two larger homes that would be built. It cannot turn into anything other than residential.”
Cole inquired if the town can stop historical homes from being razed by developers.
“Lynnfield has a Demolition Delay Bylaw, and that house is definitely on the list,” said Mullen. “If there were an application to the building inspector for a demolition permit, the Historical Commission could postpone demolition for up to one year. But that is the extent of the commission’s authority.”
After the discussion, Fall Town Meeting approved Article 9 by a 416 votes to 96 votes margin.