Planning Board continues height ordinance to Aug. 19
Newburyport's Planning Board continued a joint hearing on a residential height-limit ordinance to August 19.
Planning Board · Meeting of August 5, 2026
Newburyport's Planning Board continued a joint hearing on a residential height-limit ordinance to August 19. Chair Robert Koup and the City Council's Planning and Development Committee, led by Councilor Ben Harmon, debated Ordinance 226, which would cut the default R2 height limit from 35 feet to 25 feet after a new state budget provision, effective July 1, let nonconforming homes expand by right without Zoning Board of Appeals review. Koup proposed extending a 27.5-foot limit into the Demolition Control Overlay District but withdrew the amendment after member Jamie Pennington objected, calling the process "not a strong process and that's frustrating." Planning Director Andrew Port presented built examples from Erie Avenue and Beacon Avenue showing prior Zoning Board of Appeals compromises between 22.5 and 24.5 feet.
The board also reviewed a draft recommendation proposing a 5,000-square-foot minimum lot size for the historic district, down from 10,000 square feet.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,448 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of August 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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