The week ahead
Upcoming meetings include major Planning Board public hearings on multi‑parcel development and a School Committee presentation on district regionalization.
Rocky Hill subdivision and Smart Growth site review dominate agenda
Planning Board, Mon, September 28
Public hearings on major development projects: continued site plan review for 28 Haverhill Rd (Amesbury Gateway Village Smart Growth District), continued site plan and definitive subdivision for Rocky Hill Development (multiple Elm St. parcels), a new site plan hearing for 46 Elm St (Section XI.C), and a sign application for 11 Elm St (Low and Slow Southern Kitchen and Tap).
Regionalization study presentation could affect district operations
School Committee, Mon, September 28
The agenda includes a presentation of a Regionalization Study concerning the school district.
Last week
Last week saw adoption of the Community Preservation Plan and City Council actions on traffic calming, a utility pole relocation, and several appointments.
City adopts Community Preservation Plan to guide $1.2M fund
Community Preservation Committee, Wed, September 23
The committee opened the required public hearing and voted to adopt the Community Preservation Plan as amended, establishing how the roughly $1.2 million CPA fund and the 1% surcharge (first $100,000 exempt) will be used for historic preservation, open space/recreation, and affordable housing. Members asked for clearer evaluation criteria and website materials; a subcommittee will draft rubric alternatives and staff said full application forms will be available in the first week of October.
▶ Moments to watch:
- Question about historic-resources reference and central interpretation site — starting at 0:07:27
- Public question and staff explanation about evaluation criteria versus a rubric — starting at 0:15:47
Council approves pole move, $30K traffic‑calming, and appointments
City Council, Tue, September 22
The City Council approved National Grid’s request to relocate a pole and guide‑wire at Bay Street (Bay St. WR 31343970) with DPW conditions, accepted the provisions of MGL Chapter 140, Section 139C (order), and authorized the Mayor to accept a $25,000 FY27 Field Demonstration Project grant (order). The council also appropriated $30,000 from the Smart Growth Stabilization Fund for temporary traffic‑calming measures (order) and confirmed several mayoral appointments.
▶ Moments to watch:
- Open Space committee appointee presents conservation experience — starting at 0:02:33
- Historic‑commission alternate nominee discusses restoration experience — starting at 0:11:29