Revere City Council approves Park and Fly garage proposal

Special permit for Furlong Drive contractor’s yard rejected

By The Advocate

Two new projects were introduced to the City Council this week during brief public hearings.

The City Council heard a request for a special permit from Stephen and Ralph Caruso, of R&S Realty Trust, to reconstruct nonconforming structures at Squire Rear Road in order to build a new five-story Park and Fly parking structure that would hold 583 cars. Project Attorney Gerry D’Ambrosio presented the plan to the council and said it would be a state-of-the-art parking garage that would generate $400,000 in tax revenue and licensing fees each year. D’Ambrosio stated that two existing buildings on the 2.6-acre property housing an automotive business and a contractor’s yard would be torn down. “The proposed use is a modern, state-of-the-art garage that will be utilized as a Park and Fly.”

Charger Street resident Christine Robinson said she is concerned about traffic, noise and flooding should the project move forward. “How much more can this neighborhood take?” asked Robinson.

But councillors seemed supportive. “I think it’s a great project in the TED district,” said Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya. “This compliments the character of the neighborhood; it’s the perfect thing to build in that area.”

Councillor-at-Large Juan Pablo Jaramillo was interested in how the top floor of the facility could be used to accommodate renewable energy sources. Ward 6 Councillor Chris Giannino suggested the facility would reduce truck traffic on Charger Road. D’Ambrosio said a traffic study is in the works and will be ready to present to the council’s Feb. 3^rd Zoning Subcommittee meeting. D’Ambrosio said the project will also be going before the Conservation Commission.

In other business, Joshua Recycling requested a special permit for a contractor’s storage yard within the TED district at 12 Furlong Dr. However, Nicholas Rudolph, chair of the Conservation Commission, opposed the special permit due to outstanding enforcement issues. According to Rudolph, there are piles of hazardous materials on the site, overflowing dumpsters and illegal fill, issues that need to be resolved.

Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna said the site is in deplorable condition and it is located next to Sales Creek, which poses a risk to the wetlands and the conservation area. McKenna stressed that Sales Creek is important to Revere’s ecosystem and the creek is littered with tires and other debris.

Hector Prieto, a consultant for the applicant, said the property had been cleaned up in April. Piles of soil and other materials are due to ongoing engineering and stormwater management work taking place on the site.

“I’m shocked this is on the agenda without being cleaned up,” said Councillor-at-Large Robert Haas.

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

The special permit will head to the Feb. 3 Zoning Subcommittee meeting.