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Friday, October 30, 2026 Essex County, Massachusetts · Change town
Government · Planning Board

Planning Board continues two hearings to Nov. 4

West Newbury's Planning Board continued two active subdivision hearings to Nov. 4 and ordered a peer review of a dated traffic study. Chair Rob Phillips opened by apologizing for an unposted site walk at 187 Main Street, where applicant John T.

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Planning Board · Meeting of October 6, 2026

West Newbury's Planning Board continued two active subdivision hearings to Nov. 4 and ordered a peer review of a dated traffic study. Chair Rob Phillips opened by apologizing for an unposted site walk at 187 Main Street, where applicant John T. Sarkis is seeking a 26-unit special permit.

Interim Town Planner Denise McClure said the project's traffic analysis relies on May 2024 counts from a since-shelved MBTA zoning study, prompting Vice Chair Ann Bardeen to say she didn't want the 26-unit count "completely engraved in stone." Resident Susan DeMattia urged a new study outright. The board voted 5-0 to continue the Main Street hearing and unanimously continued a second hearing on a common driveway at 20 Ash Street, where design work was estimated at $10,000 to $15,000. Separately, the board learned the town manager search has narrowed to about six finalists, with interviews set for Oct. 23 and 24.

In the full story:

  • Who Was There
  • Organizations And Documents Referenced
  • The complete report — 3,008 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of October 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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