Okay. Yeah, I think we're beginning. Good evening. Uh uh we're here for the uh for the public meeting of the Danvers Planning Board. Uh this evening is Wednesday, November 12th, 2025 at 7 PM.
Uh we're here at Danver's Town Hall. Uh my name is Lou George. I'm the chair of the uh the planning board and I'm uh joined here by Jean Hartnett, our clerk, and member uh Michael Dulis. And we're also joined by uh Josh Morris from the
from the town of Danverse. Uh and so um so at today's meeting we do uh Jim Sears will not be uh present at today's meeting. So, uh, so why don't we, uh, and also I did want to make a note just at the outset of our meeting that, uh, that one
of our, uh, one of our members, uh, Tim Spiddle, um, Tim Spiddle did advise us by, uh, advise the planning board is as well as advise the town manager, uh, that he is, uh, that that he that effective immediately he's leaving the
the planning board that he is going to be moving out of town. And so, uh, he sent a a, um, he sent us a note which I think was shared with members of the of the board and it was a and just wanted to say at the outset of our meeting just
really to thank Tim for for his service to the to the board and to the town of Danvers and and wish him all the best. It was really it was good working with him and again wish him wish him all the best in in in the future. So So excellent. Why don't we begin now with
our uh with our public hearing here? First item on the agenda is 200 Endicott Street request for site plan review submitted by Raising Canes Restaurants LLC for property at 200 Endicott Street Map 62 lot 5 pursuant to section 4 site
plan review of the zoning bylaw. Said property is in the commercial 3C3 zoning district. The applicant proposes a standalone restaurant with a drive-thru and associated site modifications. Uh, and Josh, I think we have a note here that and I I did see in our our packet that the applicant requested a
continuence to the December 9th, 2025 uh planning board meeting. >> Yes, that is correct. >> Okay. And I believe that he uh that in the in the materials I think they indicated just in the request for the
continuence and I just want to just make a note here. So, it was a letter from the uh from the applicant through their council that they request a um request the site plan review hearing scheduled for November 12th, 2025 be continued to the planning board's meeting of December
9th, uh 2025 to allow time for the completion of the requested traffic peer review and engineering department responses. So, so that's their their request. Anything further, uh Josh, on that? Um, I think that that summarizes it pretty well.
>> Okay. So, um, so I would like to entertain a motion to uh to continue this item to the December 9th, 2025 meeting. >> I make a motion we continue 200 Endicott Street to the December 9th, 2025
meeting. >> Okay. First by Gan Hart. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Second by Michael Dulis. Uh, any discussion on this motion? Okay, hearing none. Um, all those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? None.
Okay. Very good. So, it's been moved now to our next um uh to our next actually not to the next meeting, rather to the December 9th, 2025 meeting. Okay. So, our next agenda item then is uh 19 Valley Road. It's a request by uh
Patrick D. Connors, uh Mary Connors Behringer, and Robert D. Connors for endorsement of an approval not required ANR plan for 19 Valley Road assessor's map 6 lot 8 to divide the existing lot into three parcels two non-buildable
lots. Uh the property is in the residential three R3 zoning district. >> Uh thank you Mr. Chair. Uh members of the board for the record my name is Connor Walsh um from Glovesky and Glossky 8 Washman Street in Beverly. uh here tonight on behalf of the applicant.
Um you know that you stated everything that I would have said here. This is really just a an ANR plan to um divi divide this property up um to include uh two separate and non-buildable lots from the improved lot.
>> Okay. Very good. Okay. Any um uh you know any questions from the board? And as you know we're we're one member down today. Uh but any questions um uh from the board? Why don't we start with with Jean? >> Um so since they're nonbuildable, is the
plan to sell to the abutters? >> It's really So this was um family property and this is to retain flexibility for future planning. They don't have any plans as to anything to do with either of these lots. Um but
it's part of you know their general kind of estate planning and future planning. Um but there's no plan to answer your question. There's no plan to sell to the abuters in the in the Okay. interim. >> Thank you. Uh I don't have any other questions. >> Thank you Mike.
>> No I'm good. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um councelor just a couple of questions just in terms of the and maybe just to also explain to sort of the uh as well in terms of the uh maybe any viewers watching as well in terms of
ANR. Um so in terms of how does the fact that you have that that two of the parcels are non-buildable how does that affect sort of the ANR process? uh it doesn't I mean that the by noting it as not being a buildable lot um then you
know ANR certainly stands approval not required um if this were to be an attempt to establish parcels A and B as buildable lots be a much different story of course um but here you know by retaining the improved lot as conforming with the requirements in in the R3 um
zoning district then it it um allows through ANR to divide it in such a manner um so long as long as it's properly noted that the smaller parcels that don't conform with the requirements of the zoning bylaw um are non-buildable. >> Okay. So, so in essence that that's sort
of labeling that they're non-buildable um that's going to go and and be and sort of you know sort of uh retained with the property in terms of registry of deeds. >> Yes. So if if if these parcels were to be conveyed out um you know this ANR plan would be what goes to record at the
registry of deeds. The reference would be to parcel B. it would be clear to anybody ever reviewing the title to the property that um you know neither of those parcels are in fact buildable lots. >> I mean can that be can that change at some point? Can you go to can that can that change from non-buildable to
buildable? >> Not without zoning relief. >> Mhm. >> Um but I mean realistically in my experience um that level of zoning relief for buildable lots is typically something that's not particularly well received by zoning boards. Um, and so I suppose there is always the possibility
that somebody could pursue that, but at this stage there's no plan for anything like that. >> Understood. Okay. But again, you say you'd be in it would be in a different scenario if the if if if as we see on the plan here, they were not they were labeled, you know, it wasn't labeled as a non-buildable lot. >> Correct.
>> Okay. Got it. Okay. Very good. I actually have one question. Sorry. Go back. Um Josh, this may be a question for you, but are the adjacent lots buildable currently? Like, so the purple one in
the plan that I'm looking at, parcel B to the left, is a is I think it says M A R J O N irrevocable trust, >> right? >> Is that a currently a buildable lot? >> I believe that's an improved lot already. So, I think that that is my expectation given the fact that it's
held in an irrevocable trust. Um, and just knowing Valley Road, I don't know off the top of my head, but my suspicion would be that that is probably houses a single family home. >> She have any thoughts on that, too? Yeah, I mean I could I don't know how applicable or
or kind of I don't know how much we want to go down this road, but um but potentially but >> before you answer I guess my question was just that is it do we have another unbuildable lot and then this lot can be combined with that lot to then become a buildable lot or is that not logistically how this could work?
>> Single family home. >> Yeah, probably. >> And then on the other side I think that's basically where like the parking lot is, right? >> Um >> or close to So on like the the area that you're talking about, I mean that's probably if there's not a house on it now, I mean there's always potent, right? So in R3, if you have 30,000 foot
and you have 125 ft of frontage, you could build a house. So if there's not a house there right now, but we could uh it looks like Jean commented that there probably is or there is one now. >> Um >> you know, there's potential that you could you could if you have 30,000 ft and you have 12 20 125 ft of frontage,
that is within the realm of possibility. um without relief and then I guess you could you know apply that same >> scenario to the other side um at 31 Valley Road >> there's no house on that side. >> Yeah. So, >> and I I suppose one item of clarity
there is given >> the frontage for that 15 valley road of 785 ft and the 150 ft of depth unless it I mean I don't think that there is a scenario where that lot if it were currently vacant would be
non-buildable. Um and so but I my I don't have it in front of me but my under my memory is that there's a number of single families along that side of the street and I suspect that that's one of them. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. >> Any further questions? >> No. Thanks, Lou. Appreciate it.
>> Jean, any >> And Josh from the town, anything further on? >> Uh, no. No further comment >> on that. Okay. Um, this is not a this is not a public hearing, but we do have a member of the the public here. Does any members of the public have any questions which I can entertain?
>> Yes, Mr. Bradstre. Bill Bradley telling me you have a precinct one >> if if it's listed as nonbuildable that doesn't necessarily it's in perpetuity is that the word >> it can at some point
>> change if it's added to or something has changed. So it's not that's it. It's cut in stone and it's will never change. Anything is subject right quote unquote anything subject to change. >> Okay, let me go and that that question.
Let me ask the um the applicant if the applicant can I think the applicant touched upon that a little bit before. >> I I think he did, but I just want to ask it that's all. >> Okay. If the applicant can can answer Mr. Brad Street's question. I suppose um >> I think you mentioned about there would be a matter in terms of relief would be
necessary or that but if you can >> yeah I mean there are any number of scenarios that exist that could I mean the bylaw could change in a manner that the dimensional requirements are different that possibility exists that at that point it may be considered a buildable lot. Um the other route under
the current bylaw, if anybody were to try to render that particular lot as buildable, it would be it would require significant zoning relief in the form of variances from the zoning board of appeals um both for lot area and
frontage um which is a um in my experience an uphill an uphill climb. And so um so again I mean there's no crystal ball as to what the town looks like in the next 20 years. Um but at this stage there's nothing
>> I uh who knows if I will be you know um so I hope that I hope that answers your question. >> Mr. Bradford anything >> I think I've I've said enough. I just uh I can just see as I said nothing is cut
and dried or in stone that anything can change down the line >> as far as uh the zoning rules like everything else it can change. There are has been mentioned to me there
getting to be less and less buildable land in town which would to me would uh say that at some point someone's going to figure out a way to make however they do it or find some
land that can be used as buildable. Someone will develop development is a way of making a profit. I can just there are enough minds out there figuring how to make money and I just look at this
that I'm not going to be here to worry about it but somebody down the line might be very concerned that things can change and not in a good way necessarily. I know we need housing and all that but we can only go so far.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay, Josh, was there anything further on that at all? >> Um, I think that's probably it, I guess.
>> Mhm. Okay. Anything? And now in terms of the um uh what's needed from us then would be a um would then be a motion with respect to that. >> Correct. Yeah. Just a motion to well yeah to move forward with this. A motion
to approve the ANR plan as as presented. Okay. Very good. Before I entertain a motion, any further questions or comments by members of the board. Okay. Very good. Then I'd like to um uh entertain a motion on uh on 19 Valley
Road. >> I make a motion we approve the ANR for 19 Valley Road. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Motion's been made by Jean, seconded by uh by Mike. Any further discussion on the motion? Okay. Uh, hearing none. All in favor,
please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? None. Okay. >> Good luck, Mary. Thank you. >> So, okay. So, um, all right. So, Josh, let's uh, so I
think our next, um, agenda item here are the are the meeting minutes. And so these are the minutes from our uh these are minutes from the October 28th, 2025 meeting. I notice we have a a little different different format for the
meeting for the minutes rather. So hope you all take a moment to review them and if there are any any edits or revisions uh to the to the meeting minutes. I think I see. Let's see.
And this is just not this is not so much um just because it's referenced in the minutes. I did want to make a note here, Josh, that one of the items that was on the um that's on the minutes from our last meeting was the uh was the 83 Elm
Street and five Essex Street property. >> And I do know and I and we we noted here that we did um uh that we ask staff to provide a stat uh to request a status update from the applicant >> um you know prior to the January meeting and to communicate the board's concerns
about delay and so um we did have I don't if just for the for the record if you can you know give an update on that. I think that you did u that you did do you did obtain an update from the applicant. >> Yes. One moment I could give a I could paraphrase it. >> Sure. That'd be great if you don't mind.
>> Sure. And I I I know you shared it with the members of the board, but I just for the for the record, it would be good if we could >> Sure. >> Because we did ask uh we did raise the a question about it at our last meeting. >> Since it's in the minutes, I thought I would just do a little detour and we
could >> sure >> cover that. >> Yep. So um the development team and through count their council I reached out to them and asked if they could give a brief or just if we could give a explanation for the request from the
October meeting to the January meeting and that was our >> and I think the question was in terms of because of the of an of you know sort of the the question I I think concerned just the ex it was voted on it was you know the the continuence was approved but just the extended you know the period from October through >> January the the the length of the
continuence. So they um the development team was saying that they're um reviewing because during the discussion from the summer when the project was approved um from the conversation of
uh you know reducing the number of units in the building from 16 to 13. They're sort of looking at uh the architecture plans, the building size and how potentially modifying the building would potentially modify the
the site plan related to the building. Um and that was that's sort of the main kind of reason that was given for the request and the length of time. So >> Okay. >> Okay. Very good. Okay, thank you for that.
Okay, great. Um, so just turning back to the minutes, any uh any edits or changes to the minutes at all? >> Okay, I'd like to entertain a motion then to um to approve the minutes from the October 28th, 2025 meeting.
>> I make a motion we approve the minutes from October 28th, 2025. >> Okay. Motion's been made. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Motion's been made by Jean, seconded by Mike to approve the minutes from the October 28, 2025 meeting. Um, any further discussion on the motion.
Okay. Hearing none. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I. Any opposed? None. Okay. So, our minutes have been um been approved. So, uh that's the end of the uh the agenda for our meeting. Josh, can we give us a sort of an update on what's coming up?
Um what's coming up next? >> Yeah, a couple things. So just in terms of um our meeting schedule um the meeting schedule for on that Tuesday, November 25th, we had a scheduled meeting. Um there are no
applications in front of the board and in discussion with the chair since there were no applications. It's a week of Thanksgiving. Uh we thought it would be um we thought it would be okay to um cancel that meeting just in terms of people's time and the vacation um the holiday period. Okay.
>> Um so we won't be meeting that night. >> So there no applications that are pending. That would be before the octo before the for the for what would would be the November 25th meeting. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> And so um our next meeting regularly scheduled meeting would be on Tuesday, December 9th. Mhm.
>> Um and that would be um that evening would be as we speak right now the 200 Ender Street site plan review applica application that we continued um several minutes ago. >> Mhm. >> Um I guess for
>> that's the raising canes >> the the raising the proposed raising canes at 200 Ender Street. Um, I guess I would ask the members of the board if um, they will be participating that night if there are any issues in terms of your schedules. Um, just wanted to
just while we're here to talk through that. >> I should be here. >> Okay. >> We have a little smaller group now. >> Yeah. >> Right. And then, um, >> yeah, December 9th is fine with me. Mike, are you going to be >> in person as well? >> Yep. >> As far as I know. >> Okay. >> I think we should all be then here and in person.
>> Very good. And, uh, Jim will likely be here. Um. >> Okay. Great. >> So that's great. Um and then just in terms of other um non-scheduling items just like planning related uh items. Um
>> let me see here. >> Yeah, a couple of things we had talked about at the last meeting. Uh I think um >> housing production plan discussion as well as a >> discussion about sort of >> sort of a followup to some of the planning initiatives that we had that there was a presentation about a few
months back. So, housing production plan, it's looking like that probably will be likely probably probably at a January meeting now as we speak just because the way that you know I didn't know that we were going to continue this from tonight and
I thought maybe December 9th we could do that potentially, but um it's okay. It's all just moving pieces. Um, and we are just looking to kind of nail down um a a time or date that the consultant who put it together or helped us put it together
um is available. So that's likely a January item, January meeting type of item. Um >> we have a date for that. >> We our first I don't there's a meeting on January 13th and then a meeting on
two weeks from that on January 27th. Uh I'm not I haven't nailed that down yet and I'm working with um Aaron the the land use direct um director just um because he was really involved with it just kind of nailing down that date and time and the idea would be have a
discussion with the with the consultant with questions that we can that that we can ask as well as members of the public can ask about the housing production plan and then we would then have a vote on the plan at at then at at a following meeting following
Correct. Yeah, absolutely. Um >> yeah, that's just for us as a group and the public to kind of have a public discourse about um that you know the draft that we're trying to finalize, but it's definitely an opportunity for the public and the board to talk through
that questions, comments. >> Um ultimately the board will have to officially vote on it, but um from staff's perspective um doesn't have to happen. uh we're not expecting it to be that same night that we kind of it it has been quite some
time since we've talked about it. So >> yeah, since it's been a while since we talked about I would prefer that we have a discussion we're able to ask questions and then be able to digest it before Yeah. >> actually having a vote on the matter. >> That's how staff views it as well. >> So >> okay good for both you. >> Okay.
>> What other what other just item discussed to the board? Um, I know in late October we received um a couple weeks ago we had been talking about um doing a v a visioning and a planning
initiative planning public conversation about um the Liberty Tree Mall and Endicott Street. >> We had applied with the state's executive office of economic development for a $75,000 grant to help us. You know, the plan was to do it to have a
big public kind of conversation about the future of the mall in Endicott Street. >> Uh, unfortunately, we did not receive that grant. Um, but we are still obviously very interested in that topic and that item.
>> Um, it is a certainly an in a strong focus of our office in that item. Um so we are as we speak still look we are looking at additional or new um funding
sources for that item but that just uh the timeline on that seems like it might be pushed back a little bit more than what we would ideally what we were hoping. >> But um that's okay. We'll keep it keep it going. Um
>> I know we covered some other things as well when we we had our so um so I I would I would want to you know see also about having an update you know more formal update on where things stand with in terms of other initiatives we talked about as well. I think we talked about even you know like potentially a master
plan that sort of So, in January, at one of the meetings in January, um we're still talking about internally which one. Um we were hoping to give a little bit more um a little a more of a formal update on several of these items. Um
>> particularly some of like the like the lighting >> uh zoning amendment stuff. The issue is that we're we're trying to figure out um when the next town meeting that we could bring zoning amendments to. >> Mhm. and sort of when that's been kind
of finalized with the town manager's office, um when we could bring a zoning amendment to town meeting and which town meeting that would be. >> Um and then we would just kind of backtrack >> because historically the zoning zoning
matters have been brought up either at like the the fall or it's maybe been the also it's been the the winter town meeting as opposed to during the annual town meeting in May. historically planning and zoning uh this is what I've I guess I'm just the messenger whatever
uh zoning and planning stuff generally or you know when they're kind of sign a number of numerous planning and zoning amendment articles they are generally not at annual town meeting in May >> um
so um if that's the case or is going to be the case going forward >> um we just have to kind of figure it out when but we just have to in consultation and you know collaborate with the you know the town manager's office when when that would be
>> um >> so we're hoping by January that we would have a good indication you know like if we are going to have a special >> in or could we you know hopefully by January we'll have a little more clarity
on whether >> if we had an a smaller item or two could we throw it on the annual or could we do a special in the fall of 2026 or could we do a larger special, you know, and potent, this is me just talking, um
potentially a larger special in like February of 2027. >> Okay. >> And then we would just like backtrack, you know, >> right? Working backwards, >> working backwards from all right, so we know that we're definitely doing we're definitely have zoning out articles on this town meeting. we're going to open
the public hearing for lighting, you know, in, you know, three or four months, you know, to that date and, you know, the whole process. So, >> um, we're hoping that in January we should have a better kind of feel for, um, where we stand on some of those
bigger items. So, >> well, I would like to have a um have a you know um have staff providing a a a report, you know, perhaps in at at one of the meetings in January. Yeah. even if at that point even if we don't know where things stand just so at least we
have it as an agenda item so people can know okay you know obviously you gave the you gave the update now about in terms of the Endicott Street corridor that that is you know that the grant for that didn't you know didn't get the the grant for it but at least we have it as an agenda item so then people can be
yeah um you know can be able to you know to you know be advised of it and be able to sort of know where things stand even if we even if we're things are sort still potentially up in the air. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Y happy to do that. >> Great. Okay. Um anything uh so in terms
of our um so anticipated our meeting on FE on on 25 November is going to be is is going to be cancelled but with respect to 9 December we have so we have um we have the two you know 200 Ender Street. Any other ones do we have anticipated right now?
>> No. >> Okay. And then um the first meeting January, January 13th would be the 83 Elm Street site plan application. So So that's um as we speak right now, those are the applications and um the
dates as we speak that they will be discussed. >> Okay. >> Sounds sounds good. Any questions from members of the board? >> I do see a hand raised by Mr. Bradstreet. Do you have a question about >> if you want to go up to the podium just
so people can >> can can hear you and see you >> again. Bill Brady Tommy precinct one 200 Anticod Street will they bring be bringing in a selection of their menu
items for observation or a ruling whether they pass or don't. I'm just just a question. >> I Are you asking if they're bringing >> something for you to view and possibly
taste? >> Not trying to not trying to sway you, but just trying to >> see uh >> what the uh >> whatever. >> I don't believe that. I don't town staff. I don't believe that is required by the uh the zoning code. People bring
food. I don't think that would be uh where we sit. Uh maybe the best way to do that. >> No, I don't think so. >> I was just asking kind of tongue and cheek. >> If you'd like if you'd like to try the proposed food establishment there, the closest one is Sus if you'd like to if
that's an interest of yours on Route One South >> 25. Thank you. >> Very good. Thank you, >> Josh. Anything further? >> Um I think that's it. >> Okay. Very good. So um anything further at all? Okay. Well, this is a a shortest
meeting, so I will entertain a motion uh to adjurnn. >> Make a motion we adjourn the meeting. >> Okay. Motion's been made by Gene. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Mike Doulis. Any further discussion? All in favor of the motion to adjurnn, please say I. I. >> I. Any opposed? None. Okay. Well, have a
good evening everybody. And we don't we won't see