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Special Magistrate reduces driveway fine to $500 for Haverhill homeowner
Summary
A Haverhill special magistrate cut a $5,400 fine for unpermitted driveway pavers to $500, with payment due Sept. 23, 2026 or the original amount will be reinstated.
Special Magistrate William P. Doney reduced a fine against the property at 4681 Belvedere Road from $5,400 to $500 during the Town of Haverhill’s June 23, 2026 special magistrate hearing.
Code Enforcement Officer Joseph Petrick had told the hearing the unpermitted pavers were in violation of Town Code Section 14-7 for unsafe buildings and structures and that the property was in violation from March 25 to May 18, 2026 — a span CEO Petrick quantified as 54 days at $100 per day. Petrick said the Town had warned the property on multiple occasions dating to 2022 and recommended against a reduction.
Respondent Cesar Morales told the magistrate he attempted to obtain a permit, encountered review comments from the Building Official he could not immediately resolve, and said the June 2, 2026 photo showed him briefly parked on the sodded area while unloading in the rain. Assistant Town Clerk Virginia Botello said staff reached out on March 19 with the Building Official’s comments and received no response.
Town Administrator Tracey Stevens requested the magistrate accept a reduced amount. The official order states, "the fine against Respondents' property is hereby reduced to the amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00)." The order requires payment by September 23, 2026; if unpaid the original Five Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($5,400.00) will be automatically reinstated.
The Special Magistrate did not impose additional conditions in the written order distributed at the hearing.
