Planning Board
Board approved sign permits at 34 Market St. and 100 Macy St., approved an ADU at 233 Lions Mouth Rd., directed staff to draft a decision for the 80 Haverhill Rd. historic-preservation project, and endorsed Option 2 for Bill 2024-096 (REDD zoning amendment) sending it back to staff for refinement.
The Planning Board's February 10, 2025 meeting covered multiple development permits, a pre-application review, and an extended policy discussion on a zoning amendment for large-scale solar. The Board approved two commercial sign applications (34 Market St. and 100 Macy St.), and approved an accessory dwelling unit at 233 Lions Mouth Rd. with the standard condition limiting the property to one ADU and prohibiting additional residential structures. The Meadowbrook hearing was continued; a pre-application for 201 Elm St. was discussed with feedback on grading, stormwater, and abutter impacts but no vote was taken.
A central topic was 80 Haverhill Road (historic-preservation project): staff and the applicant reported technical compliance with stormwater comments, identified one required affordable unit, and described agreed landscaping and deed restrictions to address an abutter's concerns; the Board voted to have staff draft a decision for final action. The Board also debated Bill 2024-096 (zoning amendments to expand the Renewable Energy Development Overlay District). After legal counsel outlined risks and options, the Board endorsed Option 2 and sent it back to staff to refine findings and standards and return with recommendations by March 10, 2025. The zoning discussion drew extensive public comment expressing strong opposition to siting large solar on the Lake Attitash watershed, citing water-quality, visual, and public-health concerns and urging protections for the watershed.