Recycling company passes zoning subcommittee with councillor’s approval

Advocate Staff Report

The Revere City Council’s zoning subcommittee unexpectedly gave a favorable recommendation for the request for a special permit for Joshua Recycling to use the site at 12 Furlong Drive as a contractor’s storage yard within the TED district.

Joshua Recycling first made their request at a brief public hearing during a city council meeting in late January. The company was excoriated by city officials for the dirty and cluttered condition of the property and concerns were raised about risks to Sales Creek.

Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna said the property was in deplorable condition and tires and other debris littered the creek.

“I’m totally against them getting anything,” said McKenna. “I’m saying no, and I hope the council stands behind me.”

Given the weight the council typically gives to the views of ward councillors, that seemed like the end of that story.

But Joshua Recycling was back this week at the zoning subcommittee with the story of 12 Furlong Drive’s makeover.

The company describes itself as a junk and waste removal business but also a construction waste removal company. There are 10 open-top containers in the yard. Although the company tries to dispose of waste at appropriate dump sites within a day, there are times when loads need to be temporarily stored.

The bins are now empty, the clutter is gone and there’s a fence blocking access to Sales Creek.

“I walked the perimeter and found the site to be very, very, very clean,” McKenna told the zoning subcommittee. “There’s nothing 60 feet from the creek. It looks beautiful. He did a really great job.”

Joshua Recycling plans to continue cleaning and they will follow up with the conservation commission about any past problems.

Committee members seemed reassured by a list of conditions from the site planning review committee. However, Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky said he was skeptical and worried that the site will return to its prior dirty and cluttered condition after the permit is granted.

But McKenna said she told Joshua Recycling she plans to visit every three months to make sure the site is kept clean.