WOBURN - With no opposition from its residential neighbors, Lytron, Inc., successfully petitioned the City Council for a special permit that will allow the company to expand its Dragon Court facility.

On an 8-0 vote (Alderman at-large Joanna Gonsalves was absent), the council approved a proposal for a two-story addition of 20,000-square-foot that will connect Lytron's existing plant at 55 Dragon Court with a building it recently purchased next door, at 49 Dragon Court.

"I have no doubt this project will improve the site," said City Council President Paul Medeiros, whose district includes Dragon Court, off Washington Street, near the Reading line.

To the special permit, the council added eight conditions, most of which were proposed by Medeiros.

Most of the discussion centered around the substance of curbs that will be installed in the parking lot as part of the proposal. Medeiros initially wanted granite, but compromised by allowing Lytron to install Cape Cod berm in about half of the lot, in the back and along one side.

Though there were no specifications on the plans to reflect the new pattern of the curbs, which could have held up passage of the permit, Medeiros said he would trust Lytron officials to keep their word.

"The improvements they're going to this site are night and day," said Medeiros. "If they say they're going to do it, I believe them. If they don't, we have site plan review."

Lytron will also pay $126,000 in mitigation funds, most of which will be used to pay for drainage improvements to the Dragon Court area. Medeiros specified the approximately $8,000 expected to be left over be put toward a study that will lead toward the installation of a sidewalk on one side of Dragon Court.

Safety has been a concern on the street, which has a mostly commercial area at the end that can only be accessed through a residential section closer to Washington Street.

Last month, Dragon Court resident Timothy Swain addressed the council's Liaison Committee, mostly about trash on the street and speeding cars.

(Swain attended the meeting but did not speak during the public hearing portion of the proceedings.)

Another condition suggested by Ward 4 Alderman William Booker addresses the speed, as Lytron agreed to erect a sign at its main exit requesting employees to buckle up and obey the 30 mph speed limit.

(Later in the meeting, Medeiros sponsored a resolve asking the police department's traffic bureau to conduct a survey to determine if the speed limit could be lowered to 25 mph.)

Also, the two dumpsters on the site will be located in the northwest and northeast corners of the property, and screen with a fence of walls, and landscaping - a condition which recently has become a common practice for the council.

Another condition stipulates the dumpsters may only be emptied between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays, to lessen the impact on the neighbors.

At the suggestion of Ward 7 Alderman Thomas McLaughlin, Lytron will be responsible for the maintenance of the drainage system that is installed.

Lytron

According to its website, "Lytron, the Total Thermal Solutions Company[TM], was founded in 1958 to deliver high-quality thermal management solutions. Today, we lead the industry in product innovation and quality, as well as customer support.

"As a solutions-oriented company, Lytron invests heavily in engineering resources to provide efficient, reliable liquid cooling components and systems. Our focus on customer satisfaction is one of many reasons that Lytron has earned its reputation as the Total Thermal Solutions[TM] company."

Lytron officials said the addition, which allows them to incorporate the former Mirror Image building at 49 Dragon Court, will alleviate their space problems, by allowing more office and factory area.

"They are just literally busting out at the seams right now," said local attorney Malcolm Houck, representing Lytron.

The company also eventually plans to increase its work force from 140 employee to 180 in the next 10 years, according to Houck, but the increase in traffic will be offset by the loss of employees who are no longer traveling to Mirror Image, which employed about 70 people.

It was also noted that the average age of Lytron employees is 49, much older than those who worked at Mirror Image, where the average employee was 28, with the point being older drivers have less of a propensity to drive at high speeds.

Lytron officials also acknowledged trash on the street is a problem, and vowed to communicate those concerns to their trash contractor.

"I want to be an ally to the neighborhood," said Lytron CFO Dave Long. "We want the traffic to be slow, and the street to be clean."

Long added he has had a dialogue with Swain, whom he called "the eyes and ears of the neighborhood," and has informed him to continue to contact him with any specific concerns.

Woburn Business Association Executive Director Paul Meaney Sr. spoke at length in favor of the petition during the public hearing.

He noted Lytron paid $130,000 in taxes and $15,000 in water/sewer fees last year. Of the 140 employees, 10 are Woburn residents and 80 live within a 10-mile radius of the city.

He said the trash problem on the street was not necessarily confined to Lytron, and an idea might be to post signs warning of a fine for illegal dumping.

Meaney also said Lytron acknowledged the speeding problem on Dragon Court in a company newsletter in June 2003, that advised employees to be cognizant of the neighbors.

"That shows you they understand what's around them," said Meaney.