ZBA sends zoning bylaw drafts toward Select Board

Zoning Board of Appeals · Meeting of October 19, 2026

DANVERS — The Danvers Zoning Board of Appeals previewed five draft zoning bylaw changes ahead of the Select Board's warrant decision. Planning Director Brian Szekely presented proposals on signs, outdoor lighting, accessory dwelling units, short-term rentals and dwelling conversions, with no formal votes taken. The lighting draft sets compliance deadlines of December 31, 2029 for commercial properties and 2034 for residential properties, and would be Danvers's first local lighting standard.

Board member Kevin Berich argued against allowing short-term rentals in accessory dwelling units, saying such units should go toward "the best and highest use" of housing stock, while members favored keeping short-term rentals limited to downtown. A proposed five-year "look-back" would block dwelling conversions on properties recently expanded, targeting a project near Hobart Street. The Select Board takes up the package Thursday, October 22.

In the full story:

• Overview and Process
• Sign Bylaw: Size Standards and Political Signs
• Outdoor Lighting (Proposed Zoning Section 38)
• Short-Term Rentals
• Accessory Dwelling Units and Extended Family Living Areas
• Dwelling Conversions
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,589 words

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

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