Council Moves to Protect Historic Highlands Area

Planning and Development Committee Chairman William J. Macek.

Haverhill City Councilor Andy Vargas.

Haverhill City Councilor Andy Vargas.

Haverhill city councilors Tuesday will hear a subcommittee’s recommendations on protecting the integrity of a city neighborhood, including “expanded notification” for proposed multi-unit conversions of existing, larger single-family homes.

On the meeting agenda, Planning and Development Committee Chairman William J. Macek will report on a review of zoning regulations during its meeting last Thursday, focused on future conversions or cosmetic changes to existing homes in the Highlands neighborhood. Macek, along with committee members Andy Vargas and Joseph J. Bevilacqua, unanimously passed recommendations to require council approval

of special permit applications to housing conversions outside existing zoning rules and expanded notification to neighbors. Notifications, prior to its first planning board hearing, would take place through on-site signage and the city’s “electronic notification system.” A third committee recommendation asks the “full council go on record as supporting the formation of a Highlands Historic District.” According to meeting minutes, talk of creating a Highlands historic district, similar to the existing Bradford Historic District, came on concerns by meeting attendee and Haverhill resident Michael Valvo for “houses that are falling down and/or being cosmetically changed.” Planning Director William Pillsbury Jr. and City Clerk Linda L. Koutoulas each noted such districts either “only create standards on exteriors” or “doesn’t include every property.”

Haverhill City Councilor Joseph J. Bevilacqua.

Haverhill City Councilor Joseph J. Bevilacqua.

“Mr. Pillsbury said that the Highlands could start a Historic District Commission and to seek help, grants and grant training, from the Haverhill Historic Commission to form and operate a neighborhood historic district,” a statement read.

Haverhill City Council meets at 7 p.m., Tuesday, in Theodore A. Pelosi Jr. Council Chambers at Haverhill City Hall.

2 thoughts on “Council Moves to Protect Historic Highlands Area

  1. You are right, skiman! A Highlands Historic District has existed for many years; just have to re-activate it if the Historic classification has gone dormant. Did the City forget this? Did no one research the history of The Highlands?