Storey Avenue by the numbers

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January 30, 2012

Newburyport City Notebook Dyke Hendrickson The Daily News of Newburyport Mon Jan 30, 2012, 11:27 AM EST

Here are some numbers gleaned from recent encounters at City Hall. Numerologists and Keno players who have run out of hunches take note:

104

6-5

302

There are 104 signs on Storey Avenue between I-95 and Atkinson Common, according to City Councilor Barry Connell.

There are 302 acres of "open space" between Storey Avenue and the city landfill.

The margin was 6-5 the first time the City Council first voted on the rezoning.

Numerous side issues emerged during discussion of the rezoning of a parcel on Storey Avenue from residential to business, and one thing residents complained about was too many commercial signs on that thoroughfare.

And Connell, speaking at a recent meeting of the Planning and Development Committee, indicated that the discussion of Storey Avenue had inspired him to actually count the signs on the "gateway to the city."

Connell said he recently found 104, and suggested that councilors and the Planning Board consider ways to diminish commercial clutter as municipal officials increase their efforts to brand the city as a "historic seaport."

Mayor Donna Holaday, though not a part of Connell's sign-counting effort, recently expressed frustration that a mammoth sign has been installed just west of the 1-95 on-ramp.

It was ordered by the state Department of Transportation, and says that a right turn will lead toward Boston.

The circumference of the sign is immense and seems to raise the question of whether it is there to inform motorists coming from West Newbury or attract the attention of satellite cameras sending back info to Google maps.

Holaday said she has called the DOT to complain that such a oversized sign is not appreciated in this city.

• • •

During the same discussions about Storey Avenue, representatives of Tropic Star Development, LLC of Hampton, N.H., reported that there are numerous parcels off Storey Avenue that could be utilized as parks or open space — 302 acres worth, they said.

It is in the interest of Tropic Star to discuss open space — it is offering about 19 acres to the city if the rezoning takes place.

Suffice it to say members of the Open Space Committee will have plenty to do if the rezoning is approved and acreage does come to the city.

It seems like a long time ago, but the City Council has already voted on the rezoning measure.

By a 6-5 vote, they approved the rezoning. But the measure required a "super-majority" of eight votes, and thus it was defeated.

But Councilor Ari Herzog petitioned to have the measure "reconsidered," and in recent weeks the "reconsideration" has become heated as local residents who don't want a CVS have expressed their opposition at several hearings.

This was the breakdown when the council voted on the rezoning: in favor, Connell, Brian Derrivan, Greg Earls, Allison Heartquist, Tom Jones and Tom O'Brien. Voting against were Ed Cameron, Robert Cronin, Herzog, Steve Hutcheson and Kathleen O'Connor Ives.

Hutcheson has been replaced by Dick Sullivan Jr., so that is one vote that could change.

• • •

From the Horse-is-Out-of-the-Barn Department: Councilors and planning department officials last week were ruminating about (almost completed) construction on the corner of High and Woodland streets.

When people try to articulate exactly why a Local Historic District is needed, some point to that corner as if to say "there was an attractive parcel that wasn't well supervised."

In recent months, two residences and a two-car garage have been constructed there.

It appears that builders tried to do the right thing: a weather vane in the form of a clipper ship was placed atop one structure and design of the houses appears to be in accord with other parts of that neighborhood.

But it was noted that the setbacks from the sidewalks are much shallower than setbacks throughout that area.

And the distance between one new structure and the adjoining lot line is just 10 feet, which makes the insertion of three structures look a bit cramped.

City Planning director Andy Port confirmed that the distance is 10 feet and said all siting regulations were followed.

But he and committee members Connell, Ives and Derrivan appeared to lament that the city regulations at the time weren't strong enough to require deeper setbacks and more space between properties.

City planners are currently drafting new regulations to ensure that setbacks and minimum lot widths are more suited to the given neighborhood; but in this case, action came too late.

• • •

Officers of the Local Historic District Study Committee report that they will hold a forum to discuss the proposed LHD on Monday, March 19.

The session will be at the City Hall auditorium and will begin at 7 p.m.

The panel will hold a follow-up session on Monday, March 26, in the same place and at the same time.

The format of the sessions themselves will be finalized in coming weeks, said LHDSC secretary Margaret Welch.

• • •

The following meetings are scheduled this week and are open to the public:

Monday

City Council, 7:30 p.m., council chambers

Tuesday

School Building Committee, 7 p.m. City Council chambers

Wednesday

Licensing Commission, 7 p.m., police conference room, 4 Green St.

Planning Board, 7 p.m., City Council chambers

Newburyport Redevelopment Authority, city library

Thursday

Open Space Committee, 7 p.m., police conference room, 4 Green St.

Highland Cemetery Committee, 7 p.m., city library

Historical Commission, 7:30 p.m., City Council chambers

• • •

Dyke Hendrickson covers Newburyport for The Daily News. He can be reached at 978-462-6666, ext. 3226, or at dhendrickson@newburyportnews.com.

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