Newbury Planning Board Faces Key Project Delays and Departures

The Newbury Planning Board meeting addressed significant project extensions and expressed farewells to two pivotal figures — the Planning Director and a long-standing board member. The discussions revolved around extension requests for two major projects on Main Street and the Newburyport Turnpike, as well as the departure of the Planning Director and the recognition of a board member’s contributions.

The Planning Board faced the challenge of granting extensions for two substantial projects. John Colin of Triple Q Inc. sought an extension for the project on Main Street. Citing the intricacies of the Parish Road Project and the need for additional time, Colin proposed a deadline push. After deliberation, the board suggested a new completion date of February 17, 2026, pending submission of a revised Form D. They also considered converting the performance Covenant into a tripartite agreement, contingent on the project’s advancement.

Simultaneously, project owner Joe Bavaro requested an extension for a project on the Newburyport Turnpike due to a contractor switch caused by underperformance. Originally requesting a one-year extension, the board settled on a new deadline of July 31, 2026, after evaluating the situation. Furthermore, the board awaited additional details from the architect and pond calculations before reviewing the plan modifications.

Emotions ran high as the board bid farewell to two influential individuals. The Planning Director was celebrated for her dedication and impact on the town’s development. Board members shared their gratitude for her service and reflected on her years of involvement. Additionally, the board acknowledged the valuable experience and knowledge of a departing member, recognizing the difficulty in filling the vacancy.

In the realm of new business, the board tackled the issue of project completion timelines. Opinions varied on the appropriate length of extensions, highlighting the need for alignment in decision-making.

The meeting also touched upon administrative matters such as the postponement of reorganization and the designation of authorized signatories, which were deferred due to the absence of a full board. The board also planned to revisit the liaison positions for the Select Board and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) when all members were present.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Town Administrator:
Tracy Blais
Planning Board Officials:
Lawrence Murphy, Peter Paicos, Woody Knight, Scott Kinter, Mary Stohn, Stephen Mangion, Martha Taylor (Planning Director/MVPC Commissioner), Kristen Grubbs (Assistant Planner)

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