Bubier Road House Gets New Planning Board Hearing

The Planning Board will hold a hearing on March 22, on reducing the required width of a home lot in Marblehead from 100 to 75 feet.

That change, advocated by the Committee for Common Sense Zoning, would allow Wayne Johnson to keep his

The board has met twice in the last few months on the issue of lot width and postponed its recommendation until closer to the Town Meeting in May, when

The controversy over Johnson's home, which has generated considerable passion on both sides of the issue, began in the early 1990s. Johnson filed plans to divide his property where he had a home and build a new home on the section of the property where a garage had been.

The new three-bedroom, three-story Georgian home would partially obstruct the Scheys’ ocean views and according to Frank McElroy, the Schey's attorney, leave the Scheys’ home in darkness and impinge on their privacy.

The town's Zoning Board of Appeals and the Land Court have ruled that the house is illegal and should be torn down.

Last week the Massachusetts Courts of Appeal rejected three arguments from Johnson, who claims the Zoning Board of Appeals made an erroneous decision in not granting him a special permit to build the house.

Johnson has a second appeal before the court, challenging whether the Scheys had the right to oppose the construction of the house.

In other business, the planning board unanimously approved plans to replace its swimming pool next fall and winter. The pool will have an extra lap lane, but essentially will be on the same footprint as the existing pool.

Construction is planned for September after the pool closes for the summer season and re-open in May of 2012.

The plans call for adding a new children's pool and moving the mechanical equipment for the pools to the main level. The patio will be extended and the deck replaced. The plans were described as similar to the pool replacement by the Eastern Yacht Club.

Founded in 1885, the Corinthian Yacht Club offers members and visiting skippers racing events and accommodations.

The board agreed that no construction trucks would be allowed to use Corinthian Way. Construction on Saturdays was permitted.