Peabody City Council Meeting: June 25, 2026 – ADU Ordinance, Special Permits, and Fiscal Policies
Peabody City Council Meeting – June 25, 2026
The Peabody City Council convened on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the Frank Elwigan Auditorium, City Hall, and remotely via Zoom. The meeting covered a proposed accessory dwelling unit (ADU) zoning amendment, a junk dealer license renewal, two special permit applications, and several ordinances and motions, including a trash fee, sewer/water rates, and extended liquor hours for the FIFA World Cup.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar items were identified; all items were considered individually.
Public Comments & Testimony
- ADU Ordinance: A resident of Ward 1 spoke in opposition to the proposed ADU amendment, specifically objecting to the introduction of a "local ADU" concept. He stated that the prohibition of local ADUs would foreclose any opportunity for relief within the regulations and requested that the local ADU concept be stricken from the ordinance. No other public comments were made in favor or opposition.
- Special Permit – 117 Linfield Street: Joel Brenner, an abutter of 5 Al Alexander Street, spoke in favor of the project, noting the neighborhood was excited about the proposed ice cream/breakfast restaurant and requested preservation of the vegetated buffer zone.
- Other items: No public comments were made for the junk dealer license renewal or the Revel Balloon Company special permit.
Discussion Items
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Zoning Amendment: Drew Levin from Community Development presented the proposed ordinance, which had been under development since February 2025. The planning board had sought clarification on state regulations, building size, and short-term rental restrictions. Councilors expressed frustration with the timing of feedback from other departments (fire, health, treasurer, police). Councilor Peach noted that the building department currently operates without a local ordinance, creating turmoil. Councilor Turko raised concerns about public safety, including fire sprinkler requirements for three-family conversions and police access to rear ADUs. Councilor Rosignal criticized the state mandate as an unfunded mandate. After debate, the council voted to continue the hearing to July 9, 2026, to allow time to incorporate feedback from the fire, police, health, and treasurer departments. The motion passed 11-0.
- Junk Dealer License – Blue River Diamonds: The petitioner explained that a lapse in renewal occurred because notices were sent to the mall address rather than his business. Councilor Daigle supported the renewal, noting the business is thorough and restricts reselling from underage individuals. The license was approved 11-0.
- Special Permit – 117 Linfield Street (Restaurant Continuation): Petitioner Charles Holden requested a special permit to transfer and continue the non-conforming use of a restaurant with dairy products, and to replace the existing 1932 building with a smaller 3,000 sq ft structure. Councilor Welton outlined conditions, including maintaining all existing 2017 permit conditions, planting arborvitae in buffer zones, and compliance with department reviews. The permit was approved 11-0.
- Special Permit – Revel Balloon Company: Chrissy Emerson requested a special permit for a balloon decor and party retail business at 145A Summit Street. Councilor Welton noted that helium storage was below regulatory thresholds and no safety concerns were raised. The permit was approved with hours of operation 9 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week, by a vote of 11-0.
- Trash Fee Ordinance (10A): The council adopted an ordinance establishing a $200 annual trash fee per dwelling unit for residential structures of four units or less, effective July 1, 2026. It includes discounts for seniors, veterans, and compost users, and a five-year rate lock. The ordinance passed 8-3, with Councilors Martin, Ladoff, and Corvo voting no.
- Sewer and Water Rates (10B): An ordinance amending sewer and water rates was adopted as amended, correcting a typo in the 2023 base rate ($5.73 instead of $7.73). The vote was 8-3, with the same councilors opposing.
- Tax Title Payment Plan (10C): An ordinance amending the tax title payment plan was adopted unanimously, 11-0.
- Extended Liquor Hours for FIFA World Cup: Councilor Rosignal introduced a motion to adopt the Governor’s authorization allowing bars and restaurants to extend liquor hours until 3 AM through July 31, 2026, for the World Cup. The motion passed 11-0.
- Other Motions: Councilor Ladoff moved to schedule a meeting for the Complete Streets subcommittee and an ad hoc committee on revenue generating ideas for the municipal golf course, both approved. Councilor Corvo moved to receive an update on pending litigation regarding the ADU matter by July 9, passed. Councilor Peach received reports on the city’s credit rating (Moody’s report) and a block party request, both approved.
Key Outcomes
- ADU Ordinance: Continued to July 9, 2026, to incorporate feedback from fire, police, health, and treasurer departments (vote 11-0).
- Junk Dealer License: Approved for Blue River Diamonds at 210 Andover Street (vote 11-0).
- Special Permit – 117 Linfield Street: Approved for continuation of restaurant use with conditions, including transfer of all existing 2017 permit conditions and buffer zone planting (vote 11-0).
- Special Permit – Revel Balloon Company: Approved with hours 9 AM to 9 PM daily (vote 11-0).
- Trash Fee Ordinance: Adopted effective July 1, 2026 (vote 8-3).
- Sewer/Water Rates Ordinance: Adopted as amended (vote 8-3).
- Tax Title Payment Plan Ordinance: Adopted (vote 11-0).
- Extended Liquor Hours: Opted in to state authorization for extended hours until 3 AM through July 31, 2026 (vote 11-0).
- Complete Streets Subcommittee: Initial meeting to be scheduled by Municipal Safety Committee, then handed to Councilor Ladoff.
- Golf Course Revenue Ideas: Neighborhood meeting to be held first.
- ADU Litigation Update: Requested from the mayor or attorney by July 9.
Note: The meeting date was verified as June 25, 2026, from the transcript. The agenda and minutes were not provided; the summary relies solely on the raw transcription.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'd like to call to order the regular meeting of the City Council for Thursday, June twenty fifth, twenty twenty-six. I'm Michael Higgins Woods Sixth City Councillor. All counselors are present. Public participation to this meeting is provided in person and remotely via Zoom in accordance with Massachusetts general law. The Zoom link can be found on the city website. Notice is hereby given that the city council of the city of PVD will conduct a public hearing on Thursday evening, June 25th, 2026, at 7.30 p.m. in the Frank Elwigan Auditorium, City Hall, 24 Lowell Street, PBD Mass, and remotely via Zoom, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 40A, Section 5 of the Massachusetts General Laws to consider amending the zoning ordinance of the City of PBD as follows that the zoning ordinance of the City of PD entitled Zoning Ordinance 2011 as amended is hereby further amended as follows. Section 1 by amending Section 2 definitions, Section 2 by adding Section 6.18, accessory dwelling units, ADUs as follows, 6.18.1 purpose, 6.18.2 definitions, 6.18.3 regulations, 6.18.4 administration and enforcement. Section 3, all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent here with are hereby repealed. Section 4, this ordinance shall take effect as provided by law. For remote participation using the Zoom platform, please visit WW.pvdhenma.gov under sitting calendar on the home page or contact the city clerk's office. PV City Council, Councillor Michael Higgins, City Council President. Thank you. And may the petitioner please come to the podium and state your name and address for the record. Good evening. We're here tonight with the proposed language for the accessory dwelling unit ordinance. This department has been working on this since February 2025. Many of you probably remember it has come before you quite a few different times. But just to highlight that, the planning board provided or asked for I guess sorry. Oh sorry. Okay. The planning board was looking for clarification on a number of items within the ordinance. Many of those items, though, are more of on the state regulation side of things, one of which just being the total size of the building. Um as well. And then there was a question about lease, which really had to do with the short-term rental side of things, um, which has been clarified as well. Thank you. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to speak in favor of this amendment? Seeing none. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to speak in opposition? Please come to the podium and state your name and address for the record. Sorry. And uh I uh as a brief background, uh a couple of months ago we approached the uh uh building department with a tent of seeking some accommodation regarding the size of an ADU we want to build in our property. We live in our one district, and uh we have 25,000 square feet of space, but the house itself is very small. It's 12,000 two hundred and eighty square feet. So the maximum we can go is about six hundred and forty forty-two for to be exact. Which for us is my wife and I is very small. We live right now in that small house with adult with our adult uh daughter, and we want to just get out of her way. But we also want to live in the house that provide some comfort. And we were very disappointed with the position of the uh building department. My issue by uh uh looking right now at the proposed uh amendment amendment to the uh uh regulation is the fact that the part and beyond the state requirement, I think the concept of a illegal I'm sorry, local ADU is being introduced. Local ADU is prohibited, it says, and for that matter, by that prohibition by by inserting that local ADU concept into the uh amendment, uh forever foreclosures their eye off someone to seek relief within the parameters of all of the regulations, and this is what I would like to see with all due respect that locally concept be stricken out. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone in the audience uh on Zoom that wants to speak in favor of this amendment? Seeing none. Uh anyone on Zoom that would like to speak in opposition? Seeing none. Um I open the floor to the councillors for discussion. And also if uh Council Roswell, could you receive late one?
openpublica.com