ZBA rules 95 High St. changes are major, not minor

Zoning Board of Appeals · Meeting of October 27, 2026

NEWBURYPORT — The Newburyport Zoning Board of Appeals ruled that generator, fencing and transformer changes at the 95 High Street development require a new, fully noticed public hearing rather than administrative approval. The board voted 5-0 that the changes were not a minor modification, after abutter Stephanie Nikotich said a 2024 hearing had been told the only mechanical equipment would be roof-mounted heat pumps, with no generators mentioned. A member recalled that "it was one of the members here, it was actually Larry, asked about the mechanicals" and was told there would be "no sound." Developer representative Stephen Chaplin argued the three generators sit under the three-foot height threshold for "structures" under city ordinance and run five minutes weekly.

The board separately approved, 5-0, a special permit for a deck-to-porch conversion at 18 Colton Drive, with a cedar clapboard siding condition. No hearing date was set for the 95 High Street matter.

In the full story:

• Opening business: roll call and minutes
• 18 Colton Drive: special permit for nonconformities
• 95 High Street: request for finding of minor modification
• Other business
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,136 words

Source: the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting of October 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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