Haverhill city councilors continue deliberating during a public hearing Tuesday night whether to allow a proposal to turn a single-family home in a rural zone into a four-unit bed-and-breakfast business.
Maryam Salehi-ala-Yamin initially proposed to operate the small inn in the renovated Victorian she owns at 421 E. Broadway as well as host small weddings, tea parties, baby showers and cooking classes there. When the council took up the issue at the end of June, however, her abutting neighbor objected to potential noise and added traffic that would be generated by regular outdoor parties. Salehi-ala-Yamin, who lives next door, was asked by councilors to return with a more modest proposal.
The plan, which requires a special permit from the Council, prompted several dozen letters and petitions from neighbors who either object or support the idea. Salehi-ala-Yamin also received tentative support from several councilors. If passed, her “Mariam Cottage” would be the city’s first bed-and-breakfast.
Built in 1871 by Nathaniel Johnson for his bride, the house has views of the Merrimack River. For most of its history, the property operated as a small dairy farm. The house fell into disrepair and was at one point condemned by the city.
In other business before councilors, Haverhill City Clerk Kaitlin M. Wright Esposito is suggesting the fee for notarized signatures be raised from $1 to $10. In a letter, Wright noted her office does not require appointments which means her staff is routinely interrupted from other work by walk-in customers. She said $10 more closely reflects the actual cost of providing the service and remains a bargain.
Matt Silva, representing Sterling Commonwealth Builders of Everett, is asking the Council to schedule a public hearing Tuesday, Sept. 15, on his company’s special permit request to demolish a single-family house at 27 Marshland St. and replace it with three, attached three-bedroom townhouses which would be sold as condominiums.
Ward 3 Councilor Devan M. Ferreira plans to introduce poet Mark Lipman to speak about his year-long Vagabond Poetry Caravan across the United States and an event on Sunday, Aug. 2, at Whittier Birthplace to celebrate his return.
Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett and Council President Timothy J. Jordan plan to recognize Lindsay Paris for winning first place in a national hometown media award contest for her Haverhill Journal program on HC Media. Ferreira and Ward 1 Councilor Ralph T. Basiliere also plan to introduce Matt Webel who will talk about the Book Buddy program for the city’s third graders.
Vice President John A. Michitson is also expected to inform his colleagues a planned meeting of the council’s Planning and Development Committee to discuss where battery storage businesses may be sited will be rescheduled. The meeting moves to Monday, Aug. 24, at 6 p.m. in the Theodore A. Pelosi Jr. Council Chambers, Haverhill City Hall, 4 Summer St., Haverhill. Michitson, who heads the subcommittee, says he is making the change to ensure more councilors can attend.
The Haverhill City Council meets Tuesday night at 7 p.m., remotely and in-person at the Theodore A. Pelosi Jr. Council Chambers, room 202, Haverhill City Hall, 4 Summer St. As a public service, 97.9 WHAV plans to carry the meeting live.