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Board grants special permit to allow reconfigured parking at 114 Hale Street
Summary
The Planning Board unanimously granted Special Permit 202-25 to allow a reduced driveway/aisle width and relocation of parking for a three-family at 114 Hale Street, conditioned on the Parking & Traffic Commission letter and recorded easement allowing neighbor access for a portion of the driveway.
The Beverly Planning Board unanimously granted Special Permit No. 202-25 on Aug. 19 to allow deviations from the City zoning parking design rules for a proposed expansion and reconfigured parking at 114 Hale Street.
Summary: Attorney Alexander told the board the lot is narrow (36 feet) and has historically used the front yard as paved parking, which required backing into a busy Route 127. The project will provide a nine-foot driveway aisle across the neighboring parcel under an easement, supplying six conforming parking spaces accessed forward-facing; the existing front paved area will be removed and replaced with landscaping and a curb cut reduction as required by the Department of Public Services. The applicant also plans to sprinkler the building.
Key findings and conditions: The board made the required special-permit findings that the use is appropriate at the site, property values will not be adversely affected, no undue traffic or nuisance will be created, adequate facilities and city services exist or will be made available. The permit requires compliance with the Parking & Traffic Commission’s letter of Aug. 19, 2025, which acknowledged the driveway width relief was not significant and noted public-safety benefits of moving parking to the rear; it also noted that an easement allowing a 9-foot portion of the driveway across a neighboring property is or will be in place and that the applicant will remove paved front parking and reduce the existing curb opening as required.
Why it matters: The action replaces a hazardous perpendicular back-out condition onto a busy street with forward-facing spaces and formalizes an easement agreement that includes neighbor consent. The board explicitly made a finding that the improvement would enhance safety and aesthetics.
Vote: The board’s vote to approve the permit and its findings was 8–0.
Ending: The board filed its findings and the permit with the conditions; the applicant may proceed subject to the recorded easement, final sign-off on curbwork from the Department of Public Services, and compliance with the Parking & Traffic Commission letter.
