Lawrence
Upcoming
City Council
The council will consider several public hearings regarding noise ordinances, street pole installations, and parking adjustments. Key business includes approving airport drainage grants, adopting a 'Vision Zero' traffic policy, and confirming various municipal commission appointments.
- Mass DOT Aeronautics Grants for Runway 5 Drainage ($27,856.70 total)
- Intersection Safety Signal Equipment Grant ($177,400)
- City Bridge Projects supplemental costs ($250,000)
- Rezoning of city land off Bay State Road and Jordan Street to Open Space Recreation
- Adoption of 'Vision Zero Policy' to eliminate traffic fatalities
City Council
The Lawrence City Council will hold public hearings on a proposed update to the noise ordinance and on creating a Billing Analyst position. They will also vote on adopting a Vision Zero policy to eliminate traffic fatalities, and consider over $427,000 in state grants for intersection safety and bridge projects. Numerous appointments to boards and commissions are on the agenda.
- Public hearing on proposed update to Noise Ordinance (65/26)
- Rezoning city land off Bay State Road and Jordan Street from industrial to open space recreation (46/25)
- Authorize $177,400 state grant for intersection safety signal equipment (291/26)
- Authorize $250,000 state earmark for supplemental bridge project costs (292/26)
- Name new park on Bay State Road as 'Billy Robertson Park' (269/26)
Last 30 days
Planning Board
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on a special permit for multi-family housing at 447-449 Essex Street, proposing four apartments in an existing commercial building. They will also continue a case for 9 Osgood Street and handle board business including appointing a chairperson and vice chairperson.
- Special permit for 4 apartments at 447-449 Essex St (B-3 district)
- Continued case for 9 Osgood Street by Osgood Street Partners LLC
- Appointment of chairperson and vice chairperson of Planning Board
- Approval of minutes
Lawrence School Committee
This agenda outlines a procedural training workshop for School Committee members. The session focuses on governance coaching, community engagement, and time use evaluation. No official business or votes will be conducted.
- Effective Schools Boards Training
- Governance Coaching session
- Community Engagement workshop
- Time Use Evaluation exercise
Retirement Board
The Lawrence Retirement Board will discuss and potentially approve its FY27 office budget and hear updates on GASB 67/68 disclosures. They will also vote on superannuation retirements for Michael McCarthy and Jose Perez. Several items from previous meetings remain tabled, including the COLA base increase and a declaratory judgment.
- FY27 office budget discussion and approval
- Michael McCarthy and Jose Perez superannuation retirements
- GASB 67/68 disclosures as of 12/31/2025
- COLA base increase (tabled)
- Monthly warrants and retiree payroll approval
Personnel Committee
The Personnel Committee will vote on extending Santiago Matias' temporary role as Planning and Development Director by 90 days. They also consider appointments to the Conservation Commission, Lawrence Redevelopment Authority, and Airport Commission, plus tabled items.
- Extend Santiago Matias as Planning & Development Director for 90 days (264/26)
- Appoint Valencia Tanairi to Conservation Commission (265/26)
- Appoint Rolando DeCastro to Lawrence Redevelopment Authority (266/26)
- Tabled: Appoint Robert J. Blackwell to Redevelopment Authority (231/26)
- Tabled: Appoint Carmen Garcia-King to Airport Commission (205/26)
Budget & Finance Committee
The Budget and Finance Committee will consider two authorizations to expend MassDOT Aeronautics Grants totaling $27,856.70 for drainage improvements on Runway 5 at Lawrence Municipal Airport.
- Auth to Expend $5,409.36 MassDOT Aeronautics Grant for Runway 5 Drainage Improvements
- Auth to Expend $22,447.34 MassDOT Aeronautics Grant for Runway 5 Drainage Improvements
Zoning Board of Appeals
The Zoning Board of Appeals will hear a continued petition for a dimensional and parking variance to build a 30-unit mixed-use building at 348 Jackson St. New cases include a two-family dwelling at 85 Berkeley St, a liquor license for Opalos Café at 89-95 Essex St, and converting a commercial building into four apartments at 447-449 Essex St. The board will also ratify a prior approval, accept a resignation, and appoint a vice chair.
- Continued petition: MBAG LLC seeks variances for 30-unit mixed-use building at 348 Jackson St
- Ramon Baez requests variances for a two-family dwelling at 85 Berkeley St
- Opalos Café requests variance and special permit for liquor use at 89-95 Essex St
- God's Good Company LLC requests variances to create 4 apartments at 447-449 Essex St
- Board to accept resignation of Frederick Diaz and appoint vice chair
Airport Commission
The Lawrence Municipal Airport Commission will discuss the design for a new administration building and review lease requests. The body will also determine annual rates for landing, parking, and tie-down agreements.
- Admin Building Replacement Project design presentation
- Eagle East request for additional aviation space lease
- Safelite North Andover parking agreement renewal
- Annual approval of landing, parking, and tie-down fees
- Executive session regarding Charles Street
Licensing Board
The Lawrence Licensing Board will consider a liquor license transfer and manager change for a local business. The board also plans to amend its internal rules and regulations and address noise complaints at two restaurants.
- Liquor license transfer and manager change for Tavern on Merrimack, LLC at 275 Merrimack St.
- Amendment of board rules and regulations
- Noise complaint hearing for Cavallo Restaurant and El Barrio Restaurant at 297 So Broadway
Ordinance & Intergovernmental Relations Committee
The Lawrence Ordinance Committee will discuss new business including a zoning change request at 46 Winthrop Avenue, naming a park and a square, and several parking requests. The committee will also revisit numerous tabled items from previous meetings, including a proposed ordinance to prohibit city employees from serving on boards and a vote to opt into the PACE program.
- Zoning change request for 46 Winthrop Avenue (Elias Kanj)
- Naming of park on Baystate Road as "Billy Robertson Park"
- Naming of corner of Haverhill and Amesbury Streets as "Anthony DiFruscia Square"
- Proposed ordinance prohibiting city employees from serving on boards (tabled)
- Vote to opt into Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program (tabled)