The meeting commenced with a endorsement of an ANR (Approval Not Required) plan concerning properties at 5 and 5R High Road and South Pawn Street. Attorney Jeff Roloffs, representing applicant Blake Wilcox, explained the plan aimed to consolidate two lots, confirming common ownership as a key factor. This consolidation would facilitate the creation of lot B without constituting a subdivision, allowing recording at the registry. Board members, including Larry Murphy, engaged in clarifying discussions before a unanimous vote endorsed the plan.

Following the lot consolidation, a proposed continuance for a subdivision application on High Road was discussed. The applicant, represented by John Morren from the MREN Cameron Group, requested the hearing be postponed to October 15, 2025, to allow town council time to review pertinent legal documents. The board unanimously agreed to the continuance.

Attention then shifted to the multifamily development on Newbury, where Attorney Mark Babroski and his colleague, Christian Smith, of the Massachusetts Housing Opportunities Corporation, provided updates. The focus was on a connector road design, crucial for addressing municipal council and planning officials’ feedback. Despite a brief technical glitch, the board engaged in a detailed review of the revised site plans.

A presentation on proposed infrastructure improvements, including a road featuring a bottomless box culvert and a riprap plunge pool within wetland areas, was also a major topic. The presentation highlighted compliance with septic system placement regulations, with the distance from the well to the edge of the impervious liner and the proposed leach bed meeting Title 5 requirements. The board emphasized the importance of resolving outstanding issues, including a mounting analysis essential for septic flow considerations.

The meeting also addressed the project update for a property on Boston Road, where KN&R Construction is fulfilling site plan permit conditions. A landscape plan involving a tree buffer and native species was reviewed, with contributions to the town’s tree fund acknowledged.

Other notable discussions included updates on a federal land access flag grant explored by Fish and Wildlife and Newbury, with regular bi-weekly meetings facilitating progress. The involvement of the city engineer from Newburyport in concrete design plans was noted as beneficial, highlighting inter-municipal cooperation in regional planning efforts.

The meeting concluded with reports from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC).