The Planning Board voted unanimously Monday to approve Glover LLC’s plans for a 140-unit residential development at the site of the historic Gen. John Glover property.

“As we all know, Gen. John Glover was an amazing historical figure whose farmhouse needs to be saved without further delay,” said Spencer Cassell, of Glover LLC and De Niro Construction. “Every day his house is deteriorating further, and as everyone knows this property has been under extensive scrutiny over the past several years.”

The proposal calls for a 140-unit multifamily development, with KOH Architecture serving as the architect and Stonefield as the civil engineer. Representatives of Glover LLC presented revised plans Monday,addressing traffic and drainage concerns raised at a September meeting.

The plans incorporate the Glover House into the development, with pathways connecting it to each apartment building and nearby parking intended to encourage visitors. 

“This is a unique site for multiple reasons,” said attorney Kenneth Shutzer, who represents the developer.

The development would include 140 units, with 44 on the Marblehead side and 96 on the Swampscott side. There would be about 28 affordable units throughout the complex. No building would exceed 50 feet in height. Of those, 17 would be affordable housing units. There would also be 144 parking spots both above-ground and underground. Consultants said in Monday’s meeting that the underground parking system’s exact design is just an intent until further experts come on board.

There will also be a utility shed for upkeep, and a courtyard that includes a pool. Light would not spill over and be “just enough” to be safe for pedestrians and vehicles. Trash would be picked up by a truck.

Nancy Schultz, the chair of Swampscott Historical Commission who was also representing Save the Glover! Inc., called the development a chance to preserve a Revolutionary War history artifact.

“Tonight, the choice is yours,” Schultz said. “Let a rare piece of our revolutionary legacy slip away or give it more life in a stronger, more welcoming Vinnin Square.”

Updated Plans – Traffic, Drainage

Planning Board Chair Joe Sheridan brought up that the updated plans were submitted to the town on Wednesday, with the traffic report three days later on Friday, leaving the board “with not much time.”

“All of them are important,” Sheridan said.

Cassell said the developer hired Marlborough-based Chappell Engineering Associates to conduct the traffic study.

“They came to the same conclusion as the prior traffic report submitted in 2023 – essentially that traffic generated by our project is insignificant,” Cassell said. “In fact, they concluded that our design is superior to the prior plan as having the curb cuts on Salem Street is far better than on Tedesco Street, as the traffic counts are much higher on Tedesco Street.”

Neighbors and abutters that live on Tedesco Street and represent the Tedesco Golf Club also expressed concerns, calling for a peer review of the traffic study.

Shaun Kelly, senior project manager at Chappell Engineering Associates, was also present at Monday’s meeting. Kelly said the development would generate about 30 additional outbound vehicle trips during the morning peak hour and a similar number of inbound trips during the evening peak hour.

Swampscott Police Officer Kevin Reen questioned whether the study adequately accounted for existing congestion around Sunbeam Lane, Paradise Road and Vinnin Square. He raised concerns with the cutroad that people use at Sunbeam Lane.

“My opinion – and my opinion only – is that the infrastructure being built is going to have an impact on this particular area,” Reen said. “I just think it would be a disservice to the town if Sunbeam Lane wasn’t addressed.”

Planning Board Member Angela Ippolito said many traffic analyses often fail to capture the entire picture of the day-to-day traffic.

“I’ve been on this board for many, many years, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a traffic study that said there would be any impact at all,” Ippolito said. “There’s always something, and people that live here know where the jam-ups are.”

Cassell also shared that “our experts (at Stonefield Engineering) further confirmed that the drainage report submitted before the last meeting will produce run-off at the site than in its current condition.”  Cassell said the project would not generate runoff onto abutting properties, citing the development’s larger area of permeable surfaces.

All run-off would also be filtered prior to entering the public drains, Cassell said.

The Planning Board’s Decision

The Planning Board approved the project on Monday, with four conditions. The board required the developer to relocate the farmhouse access point from the curb to the Salem Street intersection. Ippolito fought for this condition, pushing to mitigate some of the traffic burden and adding more safety precautions.

The developer needs to address any adverse impacts the Department of Public Works may identify during a review of the civil plans, stormwater report, and geotech report.

The group must also connect the farmhouse parking area to the complex’s main surface parking lot.

Lastly, there must be a planned emergency access located on Vinnin Street, with a right-turn-only exit.

“I think this is an improvement,” Planning Board Member Adriane Purdy said.

Shutzer said any changes will be beneficial to the builders and Swampscott residents.

A Piece of Revolutionary War History

Glover was a hero of the American Revolutionary War. In 1775, Glover was elected lieutenant colonel of the 21st Massachusetts Regiment from Marblehead. After Colonel Jeremiah Lee’s death that April, Glover assumed command and led his troops to join the siege of Boston, where General George Washington chartered his schooner to raid British supply ships.

Known as “Glover’s Regiment,” the Marblehead militia later became the 14th Continental Regiment, composed of about 500 local mariners and militiamen. The group famously saved Washington’s army from entrapment after the Battle of Long Island and later delayed British forces at the Battle of Pell’s Point.

Glover is perhaps most famously remembered for leading his regiment in rowing General Washington across the Delaware River on the night of December 25, 1776. The crossing culminated in a surprise attack on Hessian mercenaries in Trenton.

After the war, Glover was offered the opportunity to purchase the farmhouse property that Save the Glover! is now working to preserve. Before the Revolution, it had belonged to Salem Loyalist and judge William Browne, whose land was seized by the Massachusetts government under wartime policies. Browne would become Governor of Bermuda. Glover moved there in 1782, when the property encompassed 180 acres.

Save the Glover! efforts intensified after the town’s building commissioner notified the Historical Commission that the property owners had filed for a demolition permit in July. Although a nine-month demolition delay was previously placed on the development approved in 2022, that delay expired in January 2024. 

The Historical Commission hosted a public hearing on the issue, hearing support to preserve the house from Glover’s descendants, Select Board members, an 8-year-old and other residents from the communities the Glover Farmhouse touches. Following, the Historical Commission voted to instate another demolition delay, which was set to expire July 20, coinciding with the nation’s 250th anniversary month.

Attorney Robert Peterson, who represents the long-time property owners the Athanas family, spoke during public comment, arguing that the development has already extended over several years of public planning and review.

“A developer cannot be expected to remain committed indefinitely while a project is subjected to continued uncertainty,” Peterson said. “If the current development is lost, the town may not lose only a housing opportunity but also the preservation solution that has taken years to achieve.” 

In recent months, there have been efforts to raise money to preserve the farmhouse. Local students raised over $1,100.There was also a commemorative Glover boat in the Salem Maritime Festival’s Annual Cardboard Regatta.

“Imagine what this memorial to Glover and his ethnically and religiously regiment of indispensables could bring to revitalized Vinnin Square,” Schultz said Monday.