Letter Thanks O'Neil, Urges Opposition to Cinema Project

Letter to Editor:

We are writing to thank Richard O’Neil for his years of service to the Lynnfield Planning Board.  We also want to thank him for, and call attention to, his recent thoughts and comments as it relates to National Development’s proposed cinema.  As a long-time member and chairman of the Planning Board and someone who intimately is familiar with this project, his opinions and recommendations should be noted and accepted by all of the residents of Lynnfield. 

Mr. O’Neil pointed out to the Weekly News recently, that the concept of a cinema was discussed and discarded very early in the process of this project, especially in light of the opposition to the project and the uncertainty of its approval.  Mr. O’Neil also commented that the re-introduction of the cinema proposal by National Development was “premature.”  As he wisely pointed out, the traffic studies that have been conducted are SPECULATIVE, and as he also noted, the proof of the true impact will be in the empirical observations of the traffic when Market Street is up and running.  Mr. O’Neil’s recommendation is to take a wait and see approach (“[L]et’s see how our infrastructure handles what was already approved. . . .  [L]et’s lee what we have first”).  The position of the Market Street neighbors -- that National Development should be made to honor its agreement to keep the size of the retail to 395,000 square feet and no cinema  -- remains unchanged. 

At the very least, however, the Town of Lynnfield should accept and follow the opinions and recommendations of this long-time Planning Board member, by taking a wait and see approach and rejecting the cinema proposal National Development plans to bring to a vote at the fall Town Meeting.

Sincerely,

David Basile

Joe DeMaina

Wallace MacKenzie

Anne Mitchell