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Planning Board approves 24-unit expansion at 98 Newbury Street, grants temporary authority for outside engineering reviews
Summary
The board unanimously approved a conditional site plan to add 24 mobile-home pads at 98 Newbury Street, accepted withdrawal of a mixed-use application for 83 Elm/5 Essex, and authorized temporary use of outside engineering consultants under G.L. c.44, Section 53G while Engineering staffing is low.
At its March 10 meeting the Town of Danvers Planning Board approved a conditional Site Plan Review for 98 Newbury Street, permitting the addition of 24 mobile-home pads to an existing 72-unit park in the Highway Corridor Zone. Attorney Nancy McCann represented applicant Temar Properties, LLC; project engineer John Morin described site improvements including an 18-foot roadway (20-foot clear width), new water and sewer lines, two new hydrants, a stormwater system, preserved vegetation buffers and additional guest parking.
Abutters raised concerns about the emergency-access gate becoming a cut-through, preservation of a historic stone wall and hill behind 182 Centre Street, sightlines into yards, runoff and snowmelt impacts, and the park's appearance. The project team agreed to strictly control the emergency gate, preserve the hill and stone wall, add screening where vegetation is sparse, avoid grading the hilltop and stabilize slopes. After hearing from the applicant and abutters, Jean Hartnett moved to close the public hearing; Mike Decoulos seconded and the motion passed 4-0. Hartnett then moved to approve the Site Plan Review with conditions; Decoulos seconded and the approval passed 4-0.
In separate business the board granted staff temporary authority under G.L. c.44, Section 53G to initiate third-party peer reviews for medium and large projects without a six-week waiting period, with review costs charged to applicants until Engineering staffing is restored. The motion (moved by Jean Hartnett, seconded by Mike Decoulos) passed unanimously; staff will report back in June 2026 on staffing progress and consultant use.
Also on the agenda Attorney Nancy McCann requested withdrawal without prejudice of the Site Plan Review for 83 Elm Street and 5 Essex Street because of an unresolved title defect; the board granted the withdrawal and deferred any fee-waiver decision until a new filing is submitted. The board also approved the January 27, 2026 minutes (3 in favor, 0 opposed, Jim Sears abstained).
What happens next: the 98 Newbury approval is conditional on the agreed protections and technical conditions; staff will return in June with an update on 53G implementation and any further action tied to upcoming filings for the withdrawn 83 Elm application.
