Greenwood Rezoning Bill Passes At Swampscott Town Meeting

The Swampscott Town Meeting reconvened on Tuesday evening after running late into the night on Monday, the proposal to rezone the site of the old Greenwood Middle School on Greenwood Avenue was passed. An article that would have asked voters to designate Rockland Street as a historic district was rejected. Voters also passed a $63.7 million budget for the fiscal year 2017.

The former Greenwood Middle School rezoning article passed after it was amended to give back site review authority to the Planning Board, which the board felt it should have had since the article was first presented. The amendments in the zoning law help the town create restrictive measures when it comes to development on the former school site. It also protects the town against any lost legal costs, as the Greenwood School site is currently under litigation when Groom Construction filed a breach of contract suit against the town.

The Rockland Street historic district proposal stemmed mostly from community reaction to the demolition of a historic 19th century home at 57 Rockland St., however the proposal was voted down. Siting an overreach on the right of private property owners. The current owner of 57 Rockland St., George Wattendorf, said that the house is in a state of permanent disrepair and this measure would hinder his ability to build a retirement home for himself and his family on the land. The order to cease demolition at 57 Rockland St. was placed in January.

Voters also approved a $63.7 million budget for fiscal 2017. $57.5 million of that figure will come by way of taxation. Included in that amount is $27 million appropriated for local schools.