Peabody planning board asks applicant to show easement on site plan, grants continuance for restaurant conversion

Attorney John Kelty, representing MKPBD Investments Inc., asked the Peabody City Planning Board on Jan. 16 to approve site plan review for a conversion of the former bank at 2 Central Street into Shoyu, a two‑story restaurant with a second‑floor dining deck.

The board focused its discussion on a recorded easement that abutters say crosses the property and on utilities and emergency access. Attorney Nick Amiliotis, speaking for abutting property owners, said the deck ‘‘is being constructed entirely on the abutters easement area’’ and asked the board to continue the matter until plans explicitly showed the easement. Kelty said the easement dispute is a private, civil matter between property owners but agreed to provide more detail on the site plan.

Why it matters: Board members said the easement affects the board’s usual site plan requirements and could affect access for motor vehicles and emergency apparatus. Members also raised questions about stormwater compensatory storage, building clearance under the deck and utility connections that must be inspected with public works before final approval.

Key facts - Proposal: Convert the former bank at 2 Central Street into a two‑floor restaurant (Shoyu) with an elevated outdoor deck and removal of drive‑through…