Sound isolation wall
At presentation, Planning Board would like to ask Lynn neighbors what color they want the 15' high wall their going to looking at up the hill, be. Another Planning board member asked why can't more evergreens be planted in front of the wall to hide it, but the answer to this was that there is a downhill from the wall that will not cover it. A suggestion to the neighbors was to plant evergreens in their own yards (?).
Response by Mr. Demakis, a property owner abutter - he would rather look at nature than a wall.
Addressing the neighboring Salem Condominiums- In the end, there is a noise ordinance in Salem, and Wal-mart will have to follow it.
Response by board member of Condos- Thanked proponent for consideration of concerns and asked to not have vegetation removed.
Bus stop
MBTA does not want on-site bus stops, and wishes them to be on Highland Ave.
Traffic
Engineers say looking at the lights on Rt. 107 is not the correct solution to solve traffic. A proposal the engineers think will work is to have a 2-way turn center travel lane, like at Rt.114 (at the curve, sloping downhill, on the Lynn/Salem line, where highway speeds change.)
Response by Dan McIntyre, member of Lynn Traffic Commission - Two way center lanes are commonly known as a 'dead man's lane', and try to avoid using them.
Response by Lynn Councilor William Trahant - Lynn has worked in the past years to fix the road and lights on Western Ave, so they are already designed properly. (The road was reduced from a 4 lane to a 2 lane to reduce tragic accidents which typically occur here from excessive speeding of cars traveling down Highland Ave from Salem after leaving a higher speed travel zone.)
Response by Mayor of Lynn, Judith Flanagan Kennedy - Speeding is an issue, and adding another lane will increase the problems for Lynn. Lynn's neighborhoods at the edge of the Salem boundary, do not have another way in or out of the area other than traveling through Western Ave. It is necessary for the area residents to be able to move into and out of their roads without further problems. Lights are needed to help the residents. The mayor summed up my thoughts on the curving, downslope at the Lynn/ Salem line, where highway speeds change. I do not think the engineers thought this one through, and do need to experience the site instead of through paper studies. This road is not flat or straight like Rt. 114. I do believe this will be a deadly solution, and do not wish it regardless of any proposed project.
Continued with discussion for traffic study, looking at the intersections of Marlborough Rd to Swampscott Rd and beyond to Pep Boys, it is concluded that these conditions need to be studied more using an Engineering Corridor Study.
Next meeting - Thursday Jan. 13, 7 pm
Planning Board will vote on project.
120 Washington St., Salem Annex Bldg., 3rd fl
