PBD Planning Board Meeting - May 21, 2026
PBD Planning Board Meeting - May 21, 2026
The Peabody Planning Board met on May 21, 2026, at Wigan Auditorium, City Hall, to approve minutes, consider a subdivision plan, continue a site plan review, and discuss a draft Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance. The meeting included a public hearing on the ADU ordinance and a unanimous vote on a subdivision plan.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (May 7, 2026): The board unanimously approved the minutes of the May 7 meeting.
Discussion Items
- Subdivision Plan – 18 Sparrow Lane (Belanger Family): Attorney John Kelty presented the plan to subdivide two lots (Lot A: 12,224 sq ft, 79 ft frontage; Lot B: 12,947 sq ft, 84 ft frontage). Both lots had been granted variances for area and frontage, and the existing structure on Lot B received setback relief to eliminate non-conformity. Board member Roy asked about separate addresses and driveways; Kelty confirmed these would be handled separately. The board approved the plan as presented.
- 533 Lowell Street (Site Plan Review): John Kelty requested a continuance because peer review by Jim Nicholas was not yet complete. The board granted the continuance to the next meeting.
- 81 Prospect Street: The board noted this matter had already been continued to the next meeting.
- ADU Zoning Ordinance Draft: Drew Levin presented the draft ordinance, developed in response to the state’s Affordable Homes Act. Key points: ADUs will be allowed by right in single-family zones, but the city’s draft restricts multiple ADUs per lot, prohibits ADUs in front yards, and requires a separate entrance (unlike existing FALAs). Discussion included concerns about setback rules (e.g., accessory structure setbacks being used for residences). Board member Gagner noted the state law is ambiguous and has led to varying interpretations. The public hearing is scheduled for the second meeting in June.
Key Outcomes
- Subdivision Plan Approved: Motion to accept the subdivision plan for 18 Sparrow Lane (Lots A and B) passed unanimously.
- Continuance Granted for 533 Lowell Street: The site plan review was continued to the next meeting pending peer review.
- ADU Ordinance Next Steps: The board will hold a public hearing on the draft ADU ordinance at the second June meeting.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call to order the meeting of the PBD Planning Board for May twenty-first, twenty twenty-six. It's being held in the Wigan Auditorium, City Hall, PBD Mass 24 Lowell Street. First matter on the agenda is the approval of minutes of the May 7th meeting. We have a second. Second. Dr. Otto, all in favor? Aye. Motion passed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. My name is John Kelty. I appear this evening. And I'm appearing on behalf of the Belanger family. A has 12,000 two 24 square feet and 79 feet of frontage. B 12,947 square feet, 84 feet of frontage, both of which uh the area and the frontage have both uh been uh allowed by variance. Uh the variance uh which was attached uh also uh provide some relief uh to the existing uh structure uh which is close to um uh sparrow lane, so we did get setbacks once we've created they lose their non-conformity, so uh once we create uh we did uh provide variances for the existing structure on the lot that it sits, which is lot B. Um both structures now by virtue of the variants have uh area and frontage on a public way, sparrow lane, and uh I would ask that the board sign the plan. Any questions from the board? Roy. Uh through the chair to the counselor. Um I have two questions. Maybe three. Um I I would hope that they're gonna have a separate address for the new lot that's created, and it'll be on Sparrow Lane extension. That probably comes from the building inspector. Correct. Okay. Wonderful. And I believe it's fully their intention to have their own driveway, correct? Yeah, I mean, uh it also appears that somebody's intention is to build another home. On the on the cre on the newly created lot. And I assume that the the reasoning behind granting the the the many uh uh bits of relief had something to do with the fact that this entire property was at one time in history three separate lots. Did did that play into the relief? Not necessarily. I did uh uh I did provide copies of the uh uh old uh three lot and then sparrow lane and I uh in my application for variance we uh we did provide the Board of Appeals with the Sparrow Lane plan, which demonstrates that these two lots are both larger uh than the lots that were created by Sparrow Lane extension. Well sparrow land extension is a new street, right? That was a subdivision. Right. And but the zoning at the time was such that they're actually uh smaller than these. Uh has lots that are less than 10,000 square feet. I see. Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? Any further questions? I'll let the 10 a motion. Mr. Chairman, I move that we accept uh the subdivision plan of land on 18th Sparrow Lane. Uh and this the plans have were developed by Eastern Land Survey. And this is for Mark and Ang Amy Ballanger, and uh it's number F is in Frank 9878.
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