Reimagining The Future Of Swampscott's Vinnin Square

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — After a lengthy discussion during this spring's annual town meeting led to a vote to approve zoning changes to parts of Vinnin Square, Swampscott officials are now developing design standards that would inform what types of development will be allowed in one of the town's commercial hubs.

A community forum will be held on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. in the Swampscott High cafeteria where residents will be asked to give their feedback on a vision for the future of the area between Essex Street and Paradise Road.

The zoning changes were advanced to include the possibility of mixed-use redevelopment of the area to help strengthen the town's commercial tax base.

Proponents of the change, led by Planning Board Chair Angela Ippolito and fellow Planning Board
members, as well as Select Board members David Grishman and Peter Spellios, argued that change was the town's best chance at attracting a diverse commercial district — beyond banks, budget stores, and a proposed commercial dental office — while adhering to housing requirements in the pending state overlay districts around existing MBTA transportation hubs — of which Swampscott is one given its commuter rail station —before they are imposed upon the town as a mandate required to be eligible for some state funding.

The May town meeting debate survived an amendment for indefinite postponement by a vote of 111-54 and eventually passed by a vote of 152-13.

While zoning bylaw changes cannot be passed based on a specific development request, proponents pointed to mixed-used developments in Woburn and Watertown as possibilities for Swampscott.

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council is helping to facilitate the planning process. Those interested in finding out more about the process are invited to contact the MAPC at 617-933-0760 or jfiala@mapc.org.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)