Newbury ZBA Approves Two Plum Island Special Permits, Adopts Minor Modification Format

Zoning Board · Meeting of February 19, 2026

Newbury's Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved special permits for two Plum Island properties and adopted a new certificate format for minor modifications at its February 19 meeting. Chair Eric P. Svahn led the three-member voting panel, also including Mario Carnovale and Jack Kelly, with new associate member Joshua Walker attending his first meeting, through back-to-back approvals for 25 Harvard Way and 7 Exeter Way, both on Plum Island.

The 7 Exeter Way case drew extended deliberation over whether the project's lowest level qualified as a story above grade under the zoning bylaw; the applicant's representative, Andrew, explained that raising the exterior grade along the driveway side of the building would tip the calculation so that less than 50 percent of the level sits six feet or more above finished grade, reclassifying it as a basement. The board added a seventh specific finding to the decision memorializing that rationale before approving. ZBA Administrator Chrissy Beaupre will mail abutter notices early the following week, starting the 20-day appeal clock on both permits.

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Source: the Zoning Board meeting of February 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.