The Town of Danvers Zoning Board of Appeal continued an application to convert 15 Oak Street from a single-family home into a two-family (duplex) on Jan. 13, citing unresolved parking and emergency-access concerns.

The proposal, filed as docket 24-5091 by EXMA Properties LLC and presented by attorney Craig Hartwell, would change the existing single-family structure into two three-bedroom units on a preexisting nonconforming lot. Hartwell said the units would be roughly 1,300 square feet each and that the project raises the roof height by about two feet to 26 feet 7 inches, remaining under the 30-foot limit.

The board’s decision to continue followed extensive public comment and a multi-member discussion about how tenants would park. Marshall Smith, a resident and landlord, told the board, "You can't get a fire unit down that street, period," stressing that Oak Street is narrow and that additional curb cuts and on-street parking would complicate emergency access. Jeff Sauer, a member of the Zoning Board of Appeal, said he was not opposed to the building itself but was a "no on this plan" because the proposed parking layout, which relies on tandem spaces, would likely push vehicles onto the street.

Brian Zakeli, Planning Director for the Town of Danvers, explained the parking standard for multi-family units outside the town center: two spaces per dwelling unit plus one space for each bedroom over two. For two three-bedroom units, that yields six required parking spaces in total. The applicant’s current plan showed two full driveways and tandem parking, which board members and residents said would yield only four readily usable spaces and could force street parking on trash or snow-removal days.

Hartwell offered alternatives during the hearing: expanding the rear parking area, adding additional paved spaces behind the house, or accepting a condition that the building commissioner require additional parking if needed. He told the board, "Having heard your concerns and the concerns of the abutters about the parking, I think that would give us plenty of time to address that on the plan, and we'll actually delineate each of the spots. So the 6 spaces will be shown each according to their required dimensions on the next iteration." He asked for a continuance to prepare revised plans.

Board members also noted procedural facts relevant to the decision. One board member, identified at the meeting as Boerner, recused himself from the case, leaving four voting members present. Board members and staff also discussed the process for obtaining a curb cut; Zakeli said a Department of Public Works street-opening permit is required and described it as generally a short administrative process that checks for spacing near intersections.

After deliberation, the board voted to continue the application to the Jan. 27 meeting and set a deadline for revised plans: the board asked for updated drawings by Tuesday, Jan. 21. The applicant agreed to provide plans showing six delineated spaces with dimensions and to consider adding paved parking in the rear if necessary.

Votes at a glance:
- Docket 24-5091 (15 Oak Street) — continued to Jan. 27, 2025; revised plans requested by Jan. 21; outcome: continued.
- Docket 24-5083 (48 North Putnam Street) — continued to Feb. 24, 2025 at applicant request; outcome: continued.
- Docket 24-5089 (18182 Pine Street & 75 Sylvan Street) — continued to Jan. 27, 2025 at applicant request pending town-counsel input; outcome: continued.

The board adjourned at the end of the session.