Beverly Opens Public Process for Bass River Waterfront Overlay District

BEVERLY — September 27, 2021 — Beverly launches public engagement on a proposed Bass River waterfront overlay zoning district covering roughly 14 industrial acres adjacent to the commuter rail depot. Mayor Michael Cahill and Planning Director Darlene Wynne told an overflow remote audience of approximately 100 residents Monday that a formal ordinance is unlikely before early 2022, with public meetings and stakeholder sessions planned through the end of the year. The draft framework would allow mixed-use residential and commercial development up to four stories over a ground floor on the River Street side, stepping down to two or two-and-a-half stories near the water, with 8 percent of units required to be affordable at 60 percent of area median income. Ward 2 City Councilor Estela Restrepo Rand called for accessory dwelling units and more citywide housing distribution before committing further to the Bass River plan, while resident Michael Hakeem argued the overlay approach was "hitting a single or a double when we have an opportunity to hit a home run" and pushed for a full rezoning. The Bridge Street reconstruction, budgeted at roughly $14 million and targeted for a summer 2023 construction start, would signalize the River Street and Bridge Street intersection as an early component of that project.