A rendering of Lynn’s proposed waterfront plan.

A numerical typo that defines lot sizes has brought a waterfront development plan in Lynn to a temporary halt.

The city created a new waterfront master plan that covers an area roughly from the Revere-Lynn line to the Washington Street area just beyond the North Shore Community College campus. The plan divides the area into four zones.

Unfortunately, the plan the city approved five months ago allows 40,000-square-foot lots in each of the zones. It should have called for 40,000 square feet in the first three commercial zones, and just 15,000 square feet in the residential fourth zone, said James Cowdell, executive director of the Economic Development & Industrial Corp. (EDIC).

City Council President Timothy Phelan said the city could not make the lot size change sooner because of scheduling problems and differences of opinion among city councilors.

Zone four’s lot size was OK’d for the nearby Diamond District, an area of large Victorian homes, some of which overlook the Atlantic Ocean at Lynn Beach. When an amendment to approve the plan reaches a public hearing tomorrow, the problem should be corrected.

Phelan pointed out if the council doesn’t fix the plan, a commercial structure could go up next to a pricy home. Phelan said to avoid further delays they plan to review the lot sizes, parking allot-ments and setbacks at tomorrow’s meeting.

Who’s To Blame?

Asked about the lot size discrepancy, Watertown-based design firm Sasaki Associates did not comment and referred all questions to their client, the city of Lynn.

Nonetheless, Lynn’s legal department agreed that the lot size should be changed to meet Sasaki’s original determination of 15,000 square feet.