Salem Public Meeting notes from Oct. 21

During the Salem Public Meeting, the reps of Lowe's presented a view study using balloons.

Before the meeting began in the room, where the union men packed in, with buttons and signs for Lowe's, where a few stood to say 'We need jobs!... there are starving families!'... I had the privilidge to speak with a few union members, who slipped to reveal they themselves are "very busy, and only have a day off, once in a while".  Hmm?  After the meeting, the union men crowded the developer, Thomas Kennedy of the Kennedy Development Group.   I myself had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Thomas, to ask - why not look at alternative locations.   One site, he mentioned, is contaminated and would be expensive to clean  (but would not the cost equate to the amount of lawsuits and court hearings over a period of 5 years, including claims from any neighboring residents, who will sue for depreciation of property values?)  Perhaps it would be quicker and better for the environment of 2 sites, to sustain one and clean an other... rather than wait 5 years.  The economy might recover by then, and there may be a new Salem Mayor with a different perspective?

Other highlights:  It was nice to see the Mayor of Lynn, Judith Kennedy, standing in the background,  listening to the proceedings and concerns of her constituents.  Councilor Dan Cahill was in attendance, but I am unsure if he spoke after I left the room.

Mr. Demakis, an abutter to the property, stood to ask for mitigation and compensation for the loss of his real estate investment.  He criticized the placement of the camera shots when taking the photos for the presentation, saying, "it is easy to hide a balloon behind a tree'. 

Councilor William Trahant stood to make comments.

Calvin Anderson stood to say that Lowe's is not guaranteeing to hire local labor. The Planning Board asked him to stay on topic, but he continued, noting that if the unions are allowed to speak off topic about jobs, then it certainly gives him the right :)  (I was absent from the room when he spoke.)

Here's my critique of the presentation by Lowe's.  (Note:  I stand to preserve the environmental and historic resources, but also stand to help advise the neighboring residents on the issues they should be concerned with.)

Lowe’s reps placed red balloons, where the corner of the building is proposed.  Photographs were presented of different views, to show the balloons cannot be seen.  However, there are standing trees that will be cleared for the drive-around and the basin, eliminating the existing tree buffer where the balloons were placed.  Therefore the test of the balloon views through the existing trees.. is meaningless (as I mentioned).  

When speaking, I was interrupted by the developer's lawyer and the developer (which is fine), but when I attempted to reply... a member of the Salem Planning Board tried to silence me.   I then had to raise my hand to continue speaking again at different turn.  (Certain members of the Salem Planning Board, continuously try to suppress my voice in these proceedings.  This is becoming upsetting and uncivic!)

Continuing on my critique of the design (which was later sent by email)...

In the site section, which is sliced through the marsh,  I’ve drawn the trees in green for the elimination of the road, but this area could be cleared for a bigger basin, as mentioned in a previous meeting.  Either way, the sloping hills at other points of view, may very well reveal Lowe’s building, if standing away from any cleared tree line, or by standing on a 2nd floor level, or from other surrounding hillsides, or by looking through a thin tree line.   From Apple Hills, the building will likely be seen through the thin deciduous tree line.


I then left the room after my critique, to discuss matters in the hallway with the developer.

In this study...

The red and green tree line is drawn over an image from the Lowe’s presentation. 

peace