Meetings

AUG 5, '25

Agenda includes discussion and a vote on 2025 grant priorities, budget votes for the Cultural Center general supplies, and a vote to waive Open Studio artist fees for SNAP/Medicaid/WIC recipients. Updates planned on Open Studios 2025, Art @ City Hall, Public Art Projects, and the Poet Laureate.

AUG 4, '25

Approved: NOI 002-1351 for 15 & 22 Cedar Street (roof drainage/stormwater work); Partial Certificate of Compliance and lifting of Enforcement Order 002-1299 for 12–14 South Hunt Road with a 2‑year monitoring condition; Certificates of Compliance for 24 Old Merrill Street and 128 Kimball Road; ratified Emergency Certifications for 61 Haverhill Road and 14 Merrimack Street (14 Merrimack ratification requires an after‑the‑fact NOI).

JUL 28, '25

Board approved an ANR for 39-41 Hillside Ave and heard presentations on redevelopment of 5 & 9 School St.; a detailed pre-application was presented for a 152-unit 27.5–29 Clarks Road 40R rental development, and the Board moved to have staff draft a decision on the Historic Special Permit and Site Plan for 38–40 Prospect St.

JUL 23, '25

Committee reviewed two City Council referrals concerning 24 S Hampton Road (2025-82: Order to Dispose; 2025-83: Ordinance to Amend Zoning Map) and endorsed an outline for an August CPC presentation on CPA open-space and recreation priorities tied to the 2020–2027 Open Space and Recreation Plan.

JUL 22, '25

Council approved purchase of 128 Kimball Road for water-supply protection (2025-072) and accepted a $122,661 Drinking Water Supply Protection grant (2025-073); approved an appropriation for temporary repairs on private ways (2025-081); accepted an easement at 12 Elizabeth Street (2025-053); adopted an ordinance establishing a crosswalk at Merrimack River Condominiums (2025-074); and referred disposal and rezoning proposals for 24 South Hampton Road (2025-082, 2025-083) to multiple committees with hearings set for Sept. 23.

JUL 16, '25

Appointed Mel Webster as minute taker and set a goal to open the first Community Preservation project application cycle in September 2026; the CPC also targeted completion of its Community Preservation Plan for Jan/Feb 2026 and planned a public workshop for April/May 2026.

JUL 16, '25

Pre-application review of a proposed multi-building housing development at 27.5–29 Clarks Road covering site layout, wetlands buffer, utilities, traffic, trails, and conservation restriction; informal discussion of redevelopment plans for 5 and 9 School Street including restoration of the Ordway building and proposed residential units.

JUL 15, '25

2025-081: Subcommittee considered an order to transfer $5,000 from the Streets & Sidewalks Stabilization Fund to a Temporary Repairs on Private Ways account; Mechanics Row residents raised concerns about potholes and the administration's process requiring a unanimous notarized abutter memo under existing 1998-181 procedures. The subcommittee returned the measure to the full City Council with a positive recommendation (2-1).

JUL 15, '25

JUL 14, '25

Approved site plan and special permit for 26 Friend St (convert to first-floor commercial with 3 residential units); approved ANR and set an erosion-control bond for 201 Elm St; Planning Board sent a positive recommendation on Bill 2025-053 (easement at 12 Elizabeth St) and adopted updated Planning Board Rules and Regulations.

JUL 10, '25

Preliminary HPSP hearings for the Fuller Building at 45 Main Street and for 1-9 Oakland Street; Historical Commission recommendations to the ZBA for 276 Main Street. The commission will also review workflow/deadlines for HC meetings and discuss proposed revisions to the definition of “Demolition” in Article 40.

JUL 10, '25

ZBA approved a Special Permit to demolish and rebuild the house at 58 Pleasant Valley Road (vote 4-1). The Board also reviewed Housing Support Inc.'s comprehensive permit for 276-278-280 Main St, directed plan revisions, required additional hydrant flow testing, and asked City Counsel to draft a decision based on revised plans.

JUL 9, '25

Trustees accepted the immediate resignation of Bernadette Lucas; Trustees Anne Campbell and Laurie Cameron announced they will not seek re-election this year.

JUL 8, '25

Council approved four mayoral appointments — including Robert Serino as Fire Chief (2025-080) and John Rogers to the ZBA (2025-077) — created an Ad Hoc Clerk Study Committee, withdrew bill 2025-046 (Riverfront Drive signage), and referred bill 2025-081 (a $5,000 appropriation from the Streets and Sidewalks Stabilization Fund) to the Budget & Finance Subcommittee.

JUL 8, '25

Approved using $1,850 from the Soldier’s Memorial Trust Fund as the matching contribution for the Franco‑American Flagpole under the Veterans' Heritage Grant; Eagle Scout bench project at Sumner Goldsmith Park approved to proceed pending DPW placement.

JUL 7, '25

Commission approved selection of Goddard Consulting for peer review of ANRAD 002-1350 (131 Haverhill Rd), issued a Certificate of Compliance for 5 Albion St, approved a driveway modification at 31 Newton Rd (allowing asphalt in place of permeable pavers), endorsed the Bobolink Management Plan rotational mowing schedule at Battis Farm, and ratified emergency tree-removal certifications for 15 Middle Rd and 91 High St.

JUL 7, '25

Approved a Section 12 All-Alcohol license for Forrest Hill Brewing Company (Mill 77) at 77 Elm Street; commissioners also agreed in principle to revise one-day liquor license fees to $50 for wine/malt and $0 for all-alcohol effective Jan. 1, 2026.

JUL 1, '25

Council unanimously approved Resolution 2025-076 to support the Citys application for a Massachusetts PARC grant to help fund the Brian Eldredge Memorial Skate Park.

JUL 1, '25

JUL 1, '25

Hearing continued for Forrest Hill Brewing Co. DBA Mill 77 (77 Elm St) on its application for a Section 12 All Alcohol license; Amesbury Gas and Convenience (23 Rocky Hill Rd) was approved for a Section 15 Wine & Malt license.