Planning Board Sends Kowloon Redevelopment to Zoning Board Before Final Approval

Planning Board · Meeting of April 9, 2026

Saugus Planning Board continues Kowloon redevelopment hearing to June, directs applicant to seek outside permits first. The board voted 5-0 at its April 9 meeting to pause the master plan site plan public hearing for the proposed two-building, six-story mixed-use redevelopment of the Kowloon restaurant property at 948 Route 1, continuing the matter to June 4. Town Counsel Jesse Schumer recommended the sequencing, warning that approving the plan with conditions requiring subsequent ZBA and Select Board action could expose the board to the same legal risk now playing out in the Essex Landing lawsuit, where a developer is asking the Land Court to strip similar conditions.

Attorney Richard Magnin and engineer Paul Machanda of Machanda Associates, representing the Wong family applicants, pushed back, arguing the project has been in front of the board since November and the delay was unnecessary, but ultimately accepted the board's direction. Schumer's office agreed to compile a consolidated list of required variances and waivers within one week so the applicants can file for a May ZBA hearing. The board also voted unanimously to approve three minor construction change requests for the Chase Bank project on Broadway, including relocating a water line 15 feet south and installing vehicle-protection bollards at parking spaces abutting the building.

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of April 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.