Swampscott Planning Board approves two permits, eyes December zoning changes

SWAMPSCOTT -- June 8, 2026, Swampscott Planning Board unanimously approved two site plan special permits and launched a policy push to protect commercial space across all business-zoned districts in town. The board cleared a revised half-story addition at 80 Puritan Road for applicant Scott Miller, approving it with conditions on landscaping and deck coordination, and approved a 896-square-foot ADU at 10 Puritan Park for resident David Wilkinson, whose architect Craig Bosworth presented a one-story classical wood-frame structure intended to house Wilkinson's father-in-law. Member Angela Dowd raised design concerns about the ADU's departure from the existing 1941 brick house but found all criteria met. The board then moved to a wide-ranging discussion of potential December town meeting articles, coalescing around a proposal to extend Vinnin Square's existing commercial-space preservation rules to B1 and B2 zones town-wide, following recognition that "absentee landlords" are converting ground-floor commercial units to residential without restriction on Humphrey Street and along Essex Street. Staff was directed to draft language and consult town counsel KP Law on the legal mechanism, with all warrant language due to the Select Board by the second Wednesday in September for the December 7 town meeting.