Left In Lowell

It was a small item in last’s week Column (I cannot link to the Lowell Sun’s static political blog; it is not available on their on-line edition) on Zoning Board meeting that prompted me to watch the meeting on August 9th. The Column’s prediction of a “humdinger of a meeting” came true.

Subsequently, the Sun published a number of articles on the meeting and its aftermath. The meeting was covered by a correspondent for the Sun, Elizabeth Lane. Here is the link to the her article “Pool hall OK’d despite protest from Hindus.”

“Emotions ran high during last night’s Zoning Board of Appeals meeting as officials contemplated permits that would allow the operation of a pool hall 20 feet from a Hindu temple on Middlesex Street.

The board voted 4-1 to approve the petition submitted by Billiard Partners, LLC, despite the presence of nearly 200 members of the neighboring International Swaminarayan Hindu Temple opposing the plan. Board member Vesna Nuon was the lone dissenter.”

During the following days, Erin Smith followed up with an article on the appeal to be filed by the Temple’s lawyer, Louis Saab. And the Sun finished off with an editorial:

The Lowell Zoning Board of Appeals followed the letter of the law Monday night in approving permits for a business owner to open a billiards parlor next door to the International Swaminarayan Hindu Temple on Middlesex Street. Both properties are located in an area zoned for suburban multi-use development, which allows for commercial, residential and industrial use.

While the ZBA did its job fairly and honestly, the 4-1 decision somehow doesn’t feel right under the circumstances.

They are so correct. Something just does not feel right. Yes, this Board had to only focus on a minor variance requirement, nothing else, but by easily approving this first hurdle, I wonder if they felt let the next guy (license commission) do the heavy work.

Here is a 13-minute clip of the meeting.

You can watch the entire proceedings, recorded and originally broadcast on LTC, on the bliptv web site. Here is the link to watch a replay of the 2 1/2 hour-long meeting.

As for the drama associated with the meeting, certainly Saab and State Rep. Kevin Murphy representing the two sides added to the intense atmosphere; especially Saab. Interesting choice of counsel.

And when this comes in front of the license commission, we will have added drama. Murphy law partner and nephew, who sits on that board will need to recuse himself and we will only have the other two members making the decision.

By the way, I thought there was a law that allowed places of worship to prevent establishments that served alcohol from locating so close to them? I am not sure why that has not been raised. Perhaps, that law does not apply to this situation.