Planning Board

The Planning Board conducted a full agenda addressing downtown projects, ordinance updates, and administrative actions. The Board approved a revised sign package for Grind and Go Café at 68 Haverhill Rd., approved the staff-prepared draft decision for the special permit and site plan for 201 Elm St. (including a condition requiring coordination with Public Safety and DPW on additional street signage), and released the $5,975.42 erosion control bond for 31 Newton Rd. The Board also voted to send Bill 2025-054 (wetlands and floodplain regulation amendments required by FEMA/NFIP) to City Council with a positive recommendation; one member abstained.

Substantive project discussions included a pre-application for 45 Main St. proposing restoration, added windows, a raised rear roofline and four rental apartments under a Historic Preservation Special Permit, and a large-scale pre-application for 1–9 Oakland St., a historic mill renovation proposing roughly 124 apartments plus 7 artist live/work units with structured parking and substantial streetscape and stormwater improvements. A new public hearing for 26 Friend St. (three new two-bedroom units above commercial, site parking and park improvements) was opened and continued; public comments raised concerns about shared alley access and snow storage/parking management downtown. Staff and the design teams were directed to continue coordination with the Historical Commission, TRC/DRC, DPW, Public Safety, and other stakeholders as applications proceed.