Hermon St.Project Gets Nod from Council

After months of going back and forth with the Town Council the developers finally got the zoning designation that will allow them to convert an old church into condominiums.

The Town Council voted Tuesday, May 19 to approve the change in zoning to SDOD (special development overlay district). The vote was 7-2 with Councilors Rich Boyajian and Paul Varone. Varone lives on Hermon Street and worked closely with neighbors to have concerns voiced.

But before the vote the council voted they heard from real estate broker Jim Pelino who said his real estate office would not be involved in listing the future condos. Councilor Linda Calla, who works with Pelino, reiterated that she nor Highland Real Estate would not list the properties.

“There is a perception of personal gain that I would rather just go away,” Calla said.

With that said the board voted quickly and with little discussion.

After the vote Councilor Craig Mael questioned the SDOD process.

“I voted for this but it is a terrible process to go back and forth,” Mael said. “It pits the town council against the planning board.”

The Planning Board saw the project first and gave its approval before sending it to the Town Council. Now that the council has approved the Hermon Street SDOD the project goes back to the Planning Board for the finishing work.

Council President Peter Gill said they are following state law and that the Town Council and the Planning Board get along well with each other.