3 Story Height Limit on New Buildings Proposed in Beverly
Posted on October 5th at 3:56pm.
At a Monday, September 27, 2022, Beverly Legal Affairs Committee meeting, Councilor St Hilaire called for a new zoning ordinance amendment that would limit new building projects in Beverly to three stories (35 ft).
Under Massachusetts law, the City Council as a body can propose an ordinance change, but an individual Councilor cannot. Once an ordinance change proposal is formally submitted, then a process requiring join meetings with the Planning Board and public hearings would commence.
After discussion, the proposal to impose a height limit of three stories on new construction was referred back to the Committee of the Whole for continued discussion.
Currently, Beverly has a tall building overlay district which allows developers to seek a special permit for buildings greater than the five-story maximum. Beverly is in the process of reviewing its Master Plan and the Planning Board will make zoning change recommendations at a future City Council meeting.
