On Monday evening, nearly 650 North Reading voters appropriated $125,000 to fund North Reading's appeal of the Department of Housing and Community Development finding for 20 Elm developer Nick Yebba in his appeal of the ZBA's 40B Safe Harbor declaration. The vote was all but unanimous, with the highest Town Meeting attendance in many years. Defend Ipswich River Communities thanks all those who exercised their vote to allow the town to defend itself against the developer's lawsuit.
Next Steps
Following the DHCD decision finding against the Safe Harbor declaration, the North Reading ZBA has 20 days to appeal that decision to the commonwealth's Housing Appeals Committee (HAC). The ZBA will meet this Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the NRHS Performing Arts Center to vote on whether to file the appeal. Should the ZBA appeal, the Town Meeting appropriation will allow the town to fund such an appeal. North Reading recently tapped 40B experts,
Jonathan Witten
and
Barbara Huggins Carboni
of Town Counsel KP Law, along with attorney
Amy E. Kwesell
, to handle all legal matters regarding 20 Elm on the town's behalf. The town will present an update on 40B inventory at the ZBA meeting, according to Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto's Town Meeting statement.
Thursday's ZBA meeting is expected to be brief, but DIRC encourages all those able to spare another hour this week to attend.