Almost Empty Plaza Owner Files Suit To Keep Signs

The owner of Mt. Wayte Plaza has filed a lawsuit in superior court to keep two large signs.

The Town of Framingham wants owner Sam Adams to take down his signs.

The plaza is completely empty except for Anthony Maenzo’s barber shop, which doesn’t even have a spot on the sign.

In November, the Framingham Zoning Board of Appeals voted 3-0 to uphold the ruling of Framingham Building Commissioner Michael Tusino, who ordered the signs to come down.

The owner of the plaza has fenced in the plaza but has yet to follow through with a proposed $6 million re-development project for the plaza.

Framingham-Franklin, LLC filed the suit in Middlesex Superior Court. The company is arguing the signs are protected by the Commonwealth’s zoning laws. The suit argues the town’s zoning board exceeded its authority.

Adams did not appear at the November ZBA meeting. Instead his attorney James Vevone argued the signs are protected under the state’s zoning act.

During the summer, the Zoning Board of Appeals granted a 6-month extension on project, with conditions the owner submit marketing plan and clean up site within 3 months.

Town Meeting members spoke at the November ZBA public hearing about the lack of progress by Adams and Framingham-Franklin LLC on the redevelopment plan first brought to the Town of Framingham in 2013.

“He’s not followed through on anything,” said Town Meeting member Ken High.