The board started by addressing the application by Brendan Byron and Julian Jackowitz for a special permit to build a detached accessory apartment on High Road. The permit was sought as relief from a specific section of the Newbury Zoning Bylaws. Presenting updated site plans, utility connections, landscaping, and lighting plans, the applicants sought approval for construction. The Select Board, after a brief discussion, closed the public hearing and moved to grant the special permit. They reviewed and made some textual adjustments to the draft decision before voting to accept it.

Following this, the board turned its attention to a notice of appeal filed against the town’s director of inspectional services concerning a zoning enforcement decision. The appellants, Tim and Andrew Joseph, were represented by Attorney Jeff Olov, who requested a continuance of the hearing to the next meeting. The board approved this request and noted that their future decision would be based on the application’s merit, opting to either accept or deny it.

Another permit request came from Martha and Teresa Richie, who applied for relief to merge two lots and construct an addition to an existing single-family dwelling. The board reviewed the decision draft and made necessary text edits before finalizing it. This application was part of a larger discussion on the proper adherence to procedures and the importance of complete information for decision-making.

The meeting also included the review of a special permit application for a property footprint increase. The board examined the presented arguments and testimony and concluded that the merging of the lots would result in a single property. After making additional edits to the draft decision, the board voted to accept it.

Another proposal involved the special permit application for the reconstruction of an existing dwelling. The applicant provided updates on the site’s elevations and the planned mean roof height of the new structure. The board reviewed these updates and incorporated them into the decision, which was subsequently accepted with the new information.

A separate application concerning the renovation of an existing detached barn garage into an accessory apartment was withdrawn by the applicants without prejudice. The board approved this withdrawal, thus closing the matter.

The Cricket Lane project was a focal point of the meeting. The board discussed the project’s current status and the necessity for the Select Board to sign a regulatory agreement to facilitate the project’s continuation. There was an understanding of the project’s history and present requirements, and the developer provided an update on progress. The Town Council is required to review the regulatory agreement before the Select Board can sign off. The developer agreed to provide regular updates and requested the board’s attendance at a preconstruction conference.

There were conversations about the impact of construction on the existing neighborhood. The board showed a keen interest in the project’s development and agreed to schedule a group site visit to better understand the project’s scope and progress. They also decided that regular updates on the project would be included in future meeting agendas.