The Haverhill City Council unanimously approved the addition of an extra unit at a 40-unit apartment complex on South Grove Street and noted a suggestion for streamlining development applications from the project’s attorney.
At issue was the procedure for making a change in the special permit that already governs the apartment complex at 2 S. Grove St. The project came back before city councilors because the developer seeks to convert a storage shed and little-used community room into a two-bedroom rental.
Haverhill attorney Robert D. Harb, who represented the Lawrence-based company, argued the city needs more residential units and the proposed addition would have minimal impact on the neighborhood. However, he said, said he doesn’t believe adding a single unit to an unfolding 40-unit project should trigger a “major site plan” review and add mounds of paper. He suggested calling it a minor modification might be more appropriate.
“It was mentioned to me why did I file all those 39-40 pages of plans. Because it is a major site plan approval, I gave you the original plans that set up the major site plan in 2017. I wish it could just be a modification. Maybe in the future, they might amend the code and say it could just be a modification. Then I could have just filed the architectural plans,” Harb said.
The purpose of the special permit process, as outlined in the city’s rules and regulations, is to ensure “developments meet community standards and are in harmony with the public interest.”
In other business, the Council accepted a plaque that once hung on the north end of the Pfc. Ralph T. Basiliere Bridge so that it can be relocated to the Vietnam War Memorial in Mill Brook Park. As WHAV reported last week, the marker was removed to make way for a $240 million replacement bridge. Once the new bridge opens, a new plaque will be installed at a rededication ceremony. Basiliere was the city’s first casualty in the Vietnam War.
Haverhill Pride was also granted permission to hold its second annual Pride Parade and Celebration Saturday, June 20, downtown. Washington Street from Washington Square to Railroad Square will be cordoned off for a block party from 12:30-8 p.m. The parade starts at GAR Park, marches down Main Street, turns on Merrimack Street to Washington Street and ends in Railroad Square. The group was also granted a one-day beer and wine permit to host a beer garden in the Riverfront parking lot from 12-5 p.m.
Jimmy Carbone was granted a one-day beer and wine permit to host CiderFeast Haverhill Thursday, June 18, from 5:15-8:15 p.m., at the Harbor Place plaza and courtyard, 2 Merrimack St.
Councilors also recognized 14 young people from the Brick By Brick fitness center on River Street for collecting the most litter during the city’s Earth Day cleanup Saturday, April 25. Youth collected 40 contractor bags of trash in downtown. Mayor Melinda E. Barrett reported the event, organized by Haverhill’s Brightside in conjunction with the city’s Department of Public Works, garnered over 500 volunteers, the most since the event’s inception.
The youths who received citations were Noah Campbell, Messiah Chase, Colin F. Gostanian. Anthony Matthias, Greyson Powell, Brandon Quintal, Ryan Quintal, Adah Stevenson, Anaiah Stevenson, Neveah Stevenson, Noah Stevenson, Jayce Schofield, Jaceon Snow and Nicholas Stoddard.
The Council set a public hearing for Tuesday, June 30, on the application from Procopio Companies of Middleton to allow offices at its Beck apartment complex at 39 Railroad Ave. The developer is requesting a major modification to its special permit because Coldwell Banker Real Estate is interested in relocating from 40 Kenoza Ave. to its property next to the Sgt. Joseph C. Comeau Bridge. Currently the project’s special permit allows residential, retail and a restaurant only. In a letter to the council, the project’s attorney said Procopio has been unable to find a restaurant or a retail concern interested in locating at the property since it opened last year.