PEABODY— Attorney Jason Panos is continuing to urge the Zoning Board of Appeals to look at J.D. Raymond Transport Inc. under a microscope.
At Monday’s ZBA Meeting, Panos highlighted how J.D. Raymond claims to be exempt from the Zoning Ordinance due to its agricultural affiliation. Vehemently, Panos combatted their claims, noting that “J.D. Raymond does not cultivate or harvest crops, and does not raise cattle, horses, or poultry on the property.”
“To claim this exemption renders the Mulch Special Permit requirement in the DDD (Designated Development District) meaningless,” Panos added.
Panos asked the ZBA to “reject entirely the arguments made by J.D. Raymond,” and to “keep J.D. Raymond accountable.”
In an interesting turn of events, the ZBA invited Commissioner Albert Talerico to further explain what he means by “not issuing an enforcement action.”
Additionally, Rabbi Nechemia Schusterman, a representative of the Chabad Jewish Center located at 682 Lowell St., appealed for 1,350 square feet to construct an open-air pergola. This quantity was too big, according to the board, as the allowed amount of space for an accessory structure is 500 square feet.
“It’s just too big,” Chair of the Board Frances Bisazza-Galugi said.
As opposed to completely giving up on dreams for the pergola, Schusterman asked for a continuation of the appeal, allowing him to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new spacial quantity. The board agreed to this appeal and it will be continued at next month’s meeting, along with the J.D. Raymond issue.
Dorothy Irrera can be reached at [email protected].
