City Council · September 24, 2024 · 7:00 PM
City Council Meeting
Council approved multiple ordinances and budget orders including 2024-109 (increase CPC membership), 2024-112 (fire safety fees, as amended), 2024-114 (animal hearing authority, as amended), zoning ordinances 2024-085 and 2024-086, and amended the Retail Marijuana Overlay District (2024-087); the Council also accepted an easement at 130 Market St. (2024-097) and approved National Grid pole petitions at 58 Highland St. (2024-117) and 16 South Hunt Rd. (2024-118).
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Key decisions
Appointed Margaret Leahy to the Amesbury Cultural Council (term to expire February 28, 2027) (2024-120).
Approved amendment to Chapter 12 to increase Community Preservation Committee membership (Ordinance 2024-109).
Authorized transfer of $4,863 from FY25 Budget Reserve to Mayor Salaries & Wages (Order 2024-110).
Authorized transfer of $19,500 from FY25 Budget Reserve to Mayor Other Expenses and Administration & Finance Other Expenses (Order 2024-111).
Adopted revised Fire Safety Inspection and Permit Fees and Schedule of Fees (Ordinance 2024-112, approved as amended).
Amended City Code Chapter 204 “Animals” to designate the Chief of Police (or designee) as hearing authority for nuisance and dangerous dog hearings (Ordinance 2024-114, approved as amended).
Approved amendment to the FY2025 Operating Budget (Order 2024-115).
Approved zoning amendments modifying Section XI.D (Cluster Residential Special Permit) and Section XIV (Water Resource Protection District) (Ordinance 2024-085).
Approved amendment to Historic Preservation special permit provisions (Ordinance 2024-086, revised).
Amended the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Overlay Map to extend the Retail Marijuana Overlay District and renumber Adult Use Marijuana Establishments (Ordinance 2024-087, revised).
Accepted drainage and utilities easement at 130 Market St. (Order 2024-097).
Approved National Grid pole petition at 58 Highland St. with DPW stipulations and Dig Safe notification (Pole Hearing 2024-117).
Approved National Grid pole petition at 16 South Hunt Rd. (Pole Hearing 2024-118).
Referred revised Amesbury Energy Committee bylaws (2024-119) to the Ordinance & Administration Committee with second reading set for October 22, 2024.
Agenda
Mayoral Appointments
2024-120. Appointment — Margaret Leahy
Appointment of Margaret Leahy to the Amesbury Cultural Council for a term to expire February 28, 2027.
Licenses
Monthly list of licenses
Monthly list of licenses presented to the City Council.
Public Hearings
2024-085. Ordinance — Cluster Residential / Water Resource Protection District
Zoning amendment to modify Section XI.D (Cluster Residential Special Permit) and Section XIV (Water Resource Protection District) to restrict limited development in Zone II by requiring 90% of the parcel be permanently conserved.
Public Hearings
2024-086. Ordinance — Historic Preservation Special Permit
Zoning amendment to modify Section XI.J2 (Historic Preservation - Special Permit) to allow redevelopment of historic structures for residential and mixed uses in Commercial, Office Park, and Central Industrial districts and amend dimensional/density provisions to encourage reuse consistent with traditional style.
Public Hearings
2024-087. Ordinance — Retail Marijuana Overlay District (RMOD) expansion
Amend the Zoning Ordinance and Overlay Map to renumber adult use marijuana provisions and extend the Retail Marijuana Overlay District (RMOD) to include parcels in the Central Business and Central Industrial districts.
Public Hearings
2024-096. Ordinance — REDD expansion
Amend the Zoning Ordinance to expand the Renewable Energy Development Overlay District (REDD) to permit/encourage large-scale solar energy projects beyond current Industrial District locations.
Public Hearings
2024-097. Order — Accept easement (drainage & utilities), 130 Market Street
Order to accept a drainage and utilities easement across a strip of land related to the Site Plan and Special Permit for 130 Market Street and authorize the Mayor to execute the acceptance.
Public Hearings
2024-098. Ordinance — MBTA Communities overlay
Create a zoning overlay in compliance with the MBTA Communities Act that provides at least one district allowing multi-family housing as-of-right meeting statutory density and location requirements.
Public Hearings
2024-099. Ordinance — Cannabis retail license limits
Amend the zoning ordinance to implement a local option capping the total number of retail cannabis licensees operating within the city.
Public Hearings
2024-117. Pole Hearing — 58 Highland St. (National Grid)
Pole hearing for proposed pole work at 58 Highland Street by National Grid.
Public Hearings
2024-118. Pole Hearing — 16 South Hunt Rd. (National Grid)
Pole hearing for proposed pole work at 16 South Hunt Road by National Grid.
Second Readings
2024-109. Ordinance — Community Preservation Committee composition
Amend City Code Chapter 12 to increase the Community Preservation Committee to nine voting members by adding an Amesbury Housing Trust member and a general public member.
Second Readings
2024-110. Order — Transfer to Mayor Salaries & Wages ($4,863)
Authorize transfer of $4,863 from the FY25 Budget Reserve to Mayor Salaries & Wages to cover a salary increase for the Communications Director.
Second Readings
2024-111. Order — Transfer to Other Expenses ($19,500)
Authorize transfer of $19,500 from the FY25 Budget Reserve to Mayor Other Expenses and Administration & Finance Other Expenses to reimburse compensation study costs and cover recruitment firm expenses for CFO search.
Second Readings
2024-112. Ordinance — Fire Safety inspection/permit fees
Amend various Fire Safety Inspection and Permit Fees and adopt an updated schedule of fees to align with the 2022 MA Comprehensive Fire Code and local review.
Second Readings
2024-114. Ordinance — Animals (dangerous/nuisance dog hearings)
Amend City Code Chapter 204 (Animals) to designate the Chief of Police or designee as hearing authority for nuisance and dangerous dog hearings, remove breed names, and update references to 'City of Amesbury.'
Second Readings
2024-115. Order — Amend FY25 Operating Budget (Sewer Enterprise)
Vote to amend the FY 2025 Operating Budget to increase the Sewer Enterprise budget from $2,458,729 to $2,808,729 to account for user fees and a new stormwater user fee.
Second Readings
2024-116. Order — Payment of prior year invoices (FY25)
Approve payment from the FY25 general fund operating budget for listed prior year invoices for services/supplies rendered in prior fiscal years; requires two-thirds approval.
First Readings
2024-119. By-Laws — Amesbury Energy Committee (revised)
Revised By-Laws for the Amesbury Energy Committee, updating membership and appointment processes (AEC originally created 2014; amended 2016).