ZBA approves Margin Street ADU variance

Zoning Board of Appeals · Meeting of June 15, 2026

Peabody's Zoning Board of Appeals approved an ADU setback variance but stalled two other cases on a missing fifth member. The board voted 4-0 by roll call, members O'Brien, Bakula, Bacardi and Galucci, to approve a side-yard setback of 4.8 feet, plus or minus, where 15 feet is required, for an accessory dwelling unit at 77 Margin Street sought by David and Eloise Gabriel. Abutting neighbor Leslie Couture submitted a letter saying she and her husband "give our consent to the setback variance for the proposed ADU." General contractor Richard Campo asked the board to continue a 407-square-foot pool cabana variance for Dennis C. Ruas at 17 Murdoch Drive after a fifth member, referred to only as "Barry," failed to arrive; the board continued that case to July 28.

A remand from Essex Superior Court over 256 Newbury Street was continued to July 20, with a participant saying he would "prefer not to go forward without the fifth member."

In the full story:

• Opening and procedural matters
• 77 Margin Street: David and Eloise Gabriel ADU variance
• 17 Murdoch Drive: Dennis C. Ruas pool cabana variance
• 256 Newbury Street: Essex Superior Court remand
• Minutes approval
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,472 words

Source: the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting of June 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.