Newburyport Planning Board Unanimously Approves Two-Home Special Permit for Murphy Avenue

NEWBURYPORT — June 3, 2026 — Newburyport Planning Board unanimously approves two-home special permit for 5 Murphy Avenue infill project. The board granted a Section 6C special permit to applicant Joe Nathan to demolish a dilapidated 1947 house and build two gambrel-style condominium homes of approximately 1,805 and 1,940 square feet on a 17,105-square-foot lot — exceeding the 15,000-square-foot minimum required by ordinance. Architect Scott Brown told the board the project uses "natural cedar shake" siding and open front porches, and called it "a pretty nice, modest project" consistent with a pending city ordinance limiting large-scale residential construction. The board conditioned the approval on resubmission of a corrected front setback calculation, a mandatory contribution to the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund prior to building permit issuance, and maintenance of four on-site trees per Tree Warden recommendations. One abutter, Michael Wilkinson of 7 Murphy Avenue, offered support but asked the board to hold the developer to the single-car garage plan, which the board addressed by conditioning any future garage changes on zoning compliance or return to the board for review.