Peabody council approves zoning request

PEABODY – Residents of the Brooksby Farm area had a huge weight lifted off their backs Thursday night when City Councilors approved their rezoning request.Ninety parcels along Mount Pleasant Drive, Felton Street, Felton Terrace, Richartson Road and Hog Hill Road were unanimously re-designated from an R-1B zone to an R-1A zone, which allows the same uses, but increases the the minimum required lot size from 10,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet. Minimum frontage also changed with the vote from 100 feet to 150 feet. Of those 90 parcels, 33 will become existing non-conforming.”We’re trying to hold on to the integrity of the land,” said Ana Ortins of 12 Felton St., adding that increased development onto smaller lots would negatively affect the neighborhood. “Backyards are for families, not for more houses.”Ortins and the numerous other residents who signed a petition in support of the zone change suggest that keeping the zone as it were would lead to overcrowded schools and jeopardize wetlands.”Decreased lot sizes have been of no benefit to the city,” said Ortins.Councilors showed overwhelming support for the residents’ cause.”I think it’s a good idea,” said long-time Councilor Bob Driscoll. “I feel strongly that it’ll improve quality of life in the area.”One commercial entity, however, was in opposition of the change. Peabody Center Limited Partnership, developers of the property on Andover Street which houses TJ Maxx and Outback Steakhouse, said that the rezoning would decrease the value of the property. In a letter from Attorney Jack Keilty, it was made clear that the developers would appeal their decision.The risk proved to be worth it to Councilors.”It is our prerogative to redo rezoning,” said Councilor James Liacos. “I think it’s worth rolling the dice.”Two parcels, equal to roughly four acres of land owned by the Historical Society, have been exempt from the change until President Bill Power can assess the effect such a change would have on the organization in terms of property value.