Planning Board

Continued public hearings for site plans at 28 Haverhill Road (Amesbury Gateway Village Smart Growth District) and the Rocky Hill Development (multiple Elm Street parcels). Sign permit reviews for 135 Main Street and two 100 Macy Street businesses are also on the agenda.

Planning Board approved the historic-preservation site plan for 29 Water St (including waivers and a payment-in-lieu framework), approved 9 Oakland St.'s site plan with a $10,000 cap on required off-site parking mitigation, endorsed the ANR for 5 and 13 School St., and approved the sign for 26 Friend St.; the Lake Attitash addition at 30 Lake Attitash Rd was approved with DPW stormwater review and ConCom conditions.

Board approved an ANR for 8 Noel St. (creating a non-buildable lot), recommended positive action on Bills 2026-106 and 2026-107 (drainage and utility easements), and approved the site plan and special permit for 84 Congress St. with conditions; continued review of large projects including 29 Water St. and 9 & 9RR Oakland St. for further decision.

Appointment to fill Planning Board vacancy (2026-071); two candidates (Eric Girard and Mark Baggeroer) will be considered.

The board approved sign applications for 2 Merrimac St. and 77 Elm St., sent a positive recommendation with edits to the City Council on the Housing Production Plan (2026-086), and authorized Stantec peer reviews for 28 Haverhill Road and the as-built for 2 Merrimac St.

Public hearings were held for two development projects: a Special Permit for a ~1,000 sq ft addition at 30 Lake Attitash Road (peer review authorized; hearing continued to June 22) and a Smart Growth site plan for 28 Haverhill Road (Pulte Homes — two five-story buildings, 126 units; board requested peer review of engineering, traffic, and environmental components and continued the hearing to June 8). The board also approved a storefront sign at 80 Main Street and acted on several bond/covenant items related to local development sites (101-107 Market St and National Grid site at 9 Allen Clear Drive).