Zoning board approves special permits for 525 Salem Street EV‑charging/gas site with conditions

The Wakefield Zoning Board voted to approve site‑plan and special‑permit applications for 525 Salem Street, allowing a gas‑station use that will include electric vehicle charging, after the applicant agreed to add several conditions and finalize plans for DPW review.

Attorney Brian McGriddle, representing the applicant, told the board the traffic advisory committee and town engineer had reviewed the project and that the applicant had submitted revised plans addressing most DPW comments. "We finally received a letter yesterday from town engineer signing off on all aspects of the project," McGriddle said, and he asked the board to adopt the draft conditions he circulated.

The board’s approval was conditioned on the applicant placing specified notes and details on the final plan set, including sidewalk construction and an easement for the new sidewalk, stormwater and drainage details consistent with DPW comments, as‑built requirements and an environmental‑monitor notation. The board also required security‑camera locations to be reviewed and approved by the police chief and asked that exterior lighting be dimmable and subject to a pre‑opening meeting with a designated board member to set overnight illumination levels.

In separate motions, the board also granted relief from several parking and loading standards and other dimensional requirements under Wakefield’s zoning bylaw (sections cited in the motion). The findings read into the record stated that the use is listed as requiring a special permit, that the project’s trip generation and parking were acceptable to TAC, and that existing municipal infrastructure can support the development.

The motions were approved by voice vote; the board recorded unanimous affirmative votes from members present. The decision will be finalized and reviewed by the board chair before filing; the permits cannot be implemented until the final plan set and required permits are complete and DPW/TAC conditions are met.

The board emphasized that final site‑civil and lighting plans must be posted on the plan set before any final permitting; the applicant said it will submit those materials in the coming days so DPW can complete its review.

Next steps: the chair will review the final plans and conditions and the board will not issue permits until DPW/TAC sign‑offs and the final plan set are received.