Danvers OKs Chick-fil-A License, Zoning Referral

Select Board · Meeting of October 22, 2026

Danvers Select Board approved a Chick-fil-A license and sent five zoning articles to the planning board. The board voted unanimously to grant a common victualer license to Blue Diamond Hospitality, Inc. for a Chick-fil-A at 50 Independence Way, where owner-operator Jordan Diamond said the restaurant will create about 150 jobs and donate $25,000 to the Greater Boston Food Bank, with an opening planned for November 12. Separately, Land Use and Community Service Director Aaron Henry won a unanimous referral of five zoning articles, covering dwelling conversions, accessory dwelling units, short-term rentals, signage and lighting, to the planning board, whose public hearing opens November 10.

Member Gardner S. Trask III said he favors "strong restrictions on Airbnbs outside of the zoning that's currently there," while resident Eileen Harris, who has run a legal Airbnb for three years, asked the board to preserve rentals outside downtown. Residents also pressed the board for a financial accounting of the town's landfill backfill project and a long-promised, still-unbuilt solar farm.

In the full story:

• Approval of Minutes
• Public Comment: Landfill Backfill Revenue and a Stalled Solar Farm
• Public Comment: Cemetery Road Land-Taking Dispute
• Public Comment: Short-Term Rentals and the Airbnb Debate
• Public Hearing: Chick-fil-A Common Victualer License
• Zoning Articles Referred to Planning Board
• Town Clerk Update: November 3 State Election
• Town Manager Report and Consent Calendar
• Select Board Closing Comments
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,926 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of October 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.