A gravel pit 50 years ago, South Shore Plaza is now Braintree’s largest taxpayer

BRAINTREE — The Braintree Planning Board has gotten its first peek at the proposed expansion of South Shore Plaza, a project that is expected to generate more than $1 million in annual property-tax revenue for the town and create about 800 full- and part-time retail jobs.

A Simon consultant, John Connery of John J. Connery Associates in Melrose, told planners that the project would generate more than $1 million a year in property tax revenues and $1.2 million in one-time building permit fees.Connery said there would also be 300 jobs during construction in addition to 320 full-time retail jobs and 480 part-time jobs when the stores open.

After all this good work by the planning board is there opportunity for input from residents?

Yes!

Planning board Chairman Robert Harnais said the first public hearing on the project would be limited to getting an overview of the plan and its effect on the town.Local residents and planning board members will get their chance to question Simon representatives April 8. Harnais promised a thorough review of the project, which will be the shopping center’s first major expansion since a second story was built 15 years ago.

“We will have as many meetings as we need to have,” Harnais said.