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Danvers board continues 342 Andover Street case after applicant cites surveyor delays and cleanup work
Summary
Owner Guy Costanza asked for and received a continuance to Nov. 10 for a request to expand a pre-existing nonconforming use at 342 Andover Street; the board pressed him on longstanding noncompliance, on-site hazards and unresolved parking/site-plan submissions.
The Board of Appeals continued a zoning hearing on 342 Andover Street to the board's Nov. 10 meeting after applicant Guy Costanza said he needs more time to deliver a plot plan and a parking plan requested by the planning department.
Costanza told the board he contacted about a dozen surveyors; the estimates he received ranged from roughly $6,000 to $8,000 for the required parcel survey and overlayed parking plan, and he said he has engaged a local surveyor who expects to deliver within about two weeks. "It proved to be a harder task than I thought... two of them that I received written quotes for after a month of back and forth with them, are between 6,000 and $8,000 for these parking plans," Costanza said.
The case concerns a finding to expand a pre-existing nonconforming use to allow landscaping businesses that park in the rear of the property to also park in the front, and to allow rental of office space inside the main building. Planning staff and board members emphasized that the property has been under enforcement for noncompliance; the planning director said the board had conducted a site visit in July and the department has asked repeatedly for a plan. Several neighbors and members of the public reported recent activity on the site: moving of log/landscaping operations toward the front of the lot, new heavier equipment and trucks hauling gravel, continued presence of unregistered vehicles and tires, and a school bus used as storage that the applicant said had been removed.
Board members also flagged on-site safety or code issues: members asked that Costanza arrange an electrical inspection of an exposed receptacle/disconnected cord on a stump and remove unpermitted junk and tires; the applicant said he would contact the electrical inspector and follow up with tenants about registration or removal of vehicles.
After discussion the board voted to continue docket 25-5108 to its Nov. 10 meeting and requested the applicant deliver the survey and parking plan to Town Hall in time for staff distribution. The board recorded that multiple earlier continuances had occurred and directed staff to follow up if materials were not filed by the posted deadline.
