The Planning Board will continue two public hearings on the proposed Wal-Mart/Lowe's project on Highland Avenue at a special meeting Thursday at 7 p.m.

Salem and Lynn residents packed into the City Hall Annex on Sept. 16 to discuss the Kennedy Development Group's plans to expand Wal-Mart and Meineke stores and add a Lowe's Home Improvement Store to its Highland Avenue site with respect to traffic in the area. Improvements to Camp Lion, and the addition of a municipal water tank are also under consideration in the plan.

Proponents of the plan, including Salem's Ward 3 Councilor Jean Pelletier, cited job-creation and an alleviation of "tax burden" on residents. Pelletier also said he believed the project could alleviate traffic. Pelletier said Salem is "allowed" to move forward with the project and told Lynn residents to "try to stop us."

Those against the project said they were concerned with the environmental impact, drainage and excess traffic and a decrease in property value.

Lynn Councilor-at-Large Daniel Cahill said the project "should be regional... It's a Lynn issue; it's a Salem issue. It's not just going to go away," he said.

Toward the end of the heated meeting, which lasted until approximately 11:30 p.m., Salem Ward 7 Councilor Joseph O'Keefe Sr. said: "This is going forward with City Council support and the support of the mayor. We need to go forward and stop arguing... There is enough derision in this country [already]," he continued.

The Lowe's/Wal-Mart project public hearings are the second and third items on the agenda for Thursday's 7 p.m. meeting in the City Hall Annex.