The Peabody Planning Board continued review of a site plan for 0 Hardy Street on Aug. 7 after lengthy discussion about sidewalks, curb cuts and flood‑zone drainage requirements.
Attorney John Kelty, representing the applicant, said the project has cleared most peer reviews but cannot meet the city’s sidewalk requirements without losing essential vehicle maneuvering area on the small lot. “If we supply the sidewalk as provided by that ordinance … we’re gonna lose valuable area to turn our vehicles around and gain access to the garage,” Kelty said.
Board members and city staff discussed several possible approaches: creating multiple narrower curb cuts rather than one continuous opening, installing a low or sloped granite curb with a concrete sidewalk edge, or providing only curbing that the Department of Public Services (DPS) and the building commissioner could accept. The board discussed the city’s sidewalk ordinance (section 27‑36) and the planning board’s rules, noting the regulations call for a 5‑foot sidewalk and standards for curb height, which could be subject to the director of public services’ determination.
Concerns were also raised about stormwater treatment and a mechanical separator (referred to in the meeting as an MDC or oil separator) for vehicles parked inside the proposed garage. A board member said DPS staff had warned that devices located in the flood zone could allow oil to enter the municipal system during flooding; the possibility of sensor‑triggered controls to prevent discharge was discussed as a technical mitigation to present to the building department.
Several board members and the applicant emphasized that final decisions about sidewalk location and curb height rest with the director of public services and the building commissioner. The applicant asked the board to note the plan’s deficiency regarding sidewalk compliance and requested a continuance; the board voted to grant the extension to Sept. 4, 2025, for a revised plan showing the chosen curb‑cut configuration and related notes.
The applicant said he will consult with DPS and the building commissioner before returning. The board did not approve the site plan or waive the sidewalk requirement at the meeting.