Technical Review Committee

The Technical Review Committee heard pre-application presentations on three development sites and postponed one item. The largest discussion focused on 28 Haverhill Road, where Pulte Homes described a plan for two five-story buildings totaling 126 ownership units (a mix of one- and two-bedroom units) with 20% affordable housing, 216 parking spaces (including EV spaces and bike storage), below-grade garages, and about 3.5 acres of development on a 13-acre site. The site is bisected by wetlands and has major grade changes; applicants described a proposed subsurface stormwater system, connections to an 8-inch water main on Haverhill Road (including 4-inch domestic and 6-inch fire services to each building), two on-site hydrants, and a gravity sewer tie-in via an on-site pump station and force main. Applicants also proposed passive recreation/open space, trail connections to Amesbury Heights, a pollinator meadow, and limited public parking. Staff and committee raised concerns about DOT approval for the Route 150 access (DOT had been hesitant), traffic impacts (including turn movements and signalization), emergency access, fire apparatus clearances (tree placement), screening of mechanicals and generators, building massing and materials for five-story buildings, delineation and mitigation for riverfront/wetland impacts (applicants reported redevelopment under 10% and plan to file a Notice of Intent), and landscape/edge treatment for the meadow and trails. Police and fire indicated support for two access points and staff advised providing comparative traffic analyses for single- vs. two-access scenarios for city support in DOT coordination.

The Committee also reviewed two smaller, neighborhood-scale projects. At 2 Elmwood Street the applicants plan to subdivide an oversized lot to retain the existing two-family and add a new single-family home; the Design Review Committee recommended revising the proposed colonial-revival roofline to a gable-facing/Victorian form more consistent with the street. Staff requested annotated plans showing work already completed, civil engineering for permitting (utilities, walkways, landscaping), and coordination with the Historical Commission and DRC. For 19 Prospect Street the applicants proposed renovating the existing two-family and adding a new three-unit building (resulting in five units total) with a rear driveway and garage parking. The project includes site infiltration for stormwater, a new sewer tie to Prospect Street, sprinklers and fire service connections, and a proposed retaining wall; TRC raised fire-code compliance for the existing building, mechanical screening, wall/detailing, snow storage, and potential reconfiguration of the wall/garage layout to improve functionality and streetscape fit. City Engineer written comments were noted as having been provided to the Elmwood and Prospect applicants. The agenda item for 230 Main Street was postponed to the February 19, 2026 TRC meeting. There were no substantive final votes on any development applications at this meeting.