Saugus meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Saugus boards set to weigh 300-unit housing proposal, roof contract, and more

No decisions were made at Saugus town meetings this week, as all recent meetings were agenda-only with minutes not yet published. The most consequential item on the horizon is a 300-unit housing proposal that will go before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Aug. 27.

Recent meetings

Town Meeting Zoning Review Committee (Aug. 10)

The committee held an organizational meeting for new members, distributing zoning materials, electing officers, and planning future sessions. No substantive decisions or public hearings were scheduled.

Housing Authority (Aug. 12)

The board reviewed financial reports and considered several contracts, including a roof replacement project at Laurel Gardens II (Project 262108 667-2) and a parking lot reconstruction. It approved a Certificate of Final Completion for the parking lot in the amount of $3,548.90. The board also discussed implementing a gas grill policy and approved July 2026 invoices and check registers.

Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District (Aug. 13)

The district's Policy, Records, Public Relations & Planning subcommittee met to discuss Student Handbook updates for the 2026-27 school year. The full School Committee also met later that day, with a collective bargaining executive session, approval of minutes, personnel reports, bids, and citizens' participation on the agenda.

Board of Selectmen (Aug. 18)

The board held public hearings on a special permit for Hope Massage Studio at 5 Broadway, #203B; an amendment to Chipotle Mexican Grill's license at 444 Broadway, Unit E, to extend hours; and a taxi/livery license request by Edwin Soto for EAS Transportation at 34 Bristow St. The board also accepted two new vehicles for the Saugus Council on Aging.

Conservation Commission (Aug. 19)

The commission issued certificates of compliance for two completed projects (John Dick at 3 Berthold St., DEP #67-1126; Stephen Longmuir at 141 Broadway, DEP #67-1014) and continued or opened public hearings on four wetland-related proposals, including a new hearing for a subdivision and dwelling at 11 Daisy Ave. & 23 Brookfield Ln. (DEP #67-1145).

Town Clerk (Aug. 20)

The Town Clerk's office met to test the election deck for the upcoming State Primary Election, a single-item agenda.

Planning Board (Aug. 20)

The board held public hearings on site plan review permits, including a new hearing for 1 Rear Pennsylvania Avenue (D'Ambrosio, LLP) and continued hearings for properties on Broadway (920, 928, 936, 848, 950 Broadway; 266, 268R Broadway; and 24 Broadway).

Coming up

Retirement Board (Aug. 25)

The board will approve August warrants, including payroll, expenses, and retirement allowances; review an investment update from Wainwright; welcome two new members (Sandandeep Kaur and Sopeep Bau); process a transfer out for Glenn Deluca; and discuss a PERAC-approved accidental disability retirement for Francis Mckinnon. Nomination papers for a 4th board member are due Sept. 16 at noon.

Zoning Board of Appeals (Aug. 27)

The board will hold a public hearing on five petitions, the most consequential being a comprehensive permit for a 300-unit rental housing development (75 affordable units at 80% AMI) at 20 Rear Bennett Highway, 29 Hood St., 0 Mildred St., and 0 Goldie St. Other items include an appeal of a zoning violation for an illegal fence at 24 Ballard St., variances to redevelop the Kowloon's property at 920-950 Broadway into two 6-story mixed-use buildings with 198 one-bedroom units, a lot line relocation at 214-218 Hamilton St., and a variance for an ADU addition at 22 Harwich St.

All meetings are open to the public. Check the town's website for agendas and any changes.

Saugus roundup: No decisions yet, but 300-unit housing proposal heads to hearing

In the past two weeks, Saugus town boards met on routine matters, but no decisions have been published. The most consequential item on the horizon is a 300-unit housing proposal that will go before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Aug. 27.

Recent meetings

All recent meetings were agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published.

Cultural Council (Aug. 4) — The council planned to vote on final costs for the Art Show at the Summer Concert, approve Community Engagement Survey findings and grant cycle guidelines, finalize Founders Day activities and budget, and consider a program expansion opportunity. No votes were reported.

Town Meeting Zoning Review Committee (Aug. 10) — An organizational meeting for new members. The agenda included distributing zoning materials, electing officers, and planning future meetings. No substantive decisions were scheduled.

Housing Authority (Aug. 12) — The board reviewed financial reports and considered several contracts, including a roof replacement project at Laurel Gardens II and a parking lot reconstruction. A Certificate of Final Completion for the parking lot was on the agenda in the amount of $3,548.90. The board also discussed a new gas grill policy and approved July invoices.

Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District (Aug. 13) — The School Committee held a regular meeting that included a collective bargaining executive session, personnel reports, and bids. A subcommittee met earlier that day to discuss Student Handbook updates for the 2026-27 school year. No specific decisions were detailed.

Coming up

Board of Selectmen (Aug. 18) — Public hearings on a special permit for Hope Massage Studio at 5 Broadway, #203B; an amendment to Chipotle Mexican Grill's license at 444 Broadway, Unit E, to extend hours; and a taxi/livery license request by Edwin Soto for EAS Transportation at 34 Bristow St. The board will also accept two new vehicles for the Council on Aging.

Conservation Commission (Aug. 19) — Hearings on four wetland-related projects, including a continued hearing for a single-family dwelling at 148 Forest St. and a new hearing for a subdivision at 11 Daisy Ave. & 23 Brookfield Ln. Certificates of compliance are also on the agenda for two completed projects.

Planning Board (Aug. 20) — Public hearings on site plan review permits, including a new hearing for 1 Rear Pennsylvania Avenue and continued hearings for properties on Broadway (920-950, 266-268R, and 24 Broadway).

Zoning Board of Appeals (Aug. 27) — The most consequential item is a comprehensive permit application for a 300-unit rental housing development, including 75 affordable units at 80% of area median income, at 20 Rear Bennett Highway and adjacent parcels. The board will also hear an appeal of a zoning violation at 24 Ballard St., variances for redevelopment of the Kowloon's property at 920-950 Broadway into two 6-story mixed-use buildings with 198 one-bedroom units, and other variance requests.

Residents interested in any of these items are encouraged to attend the meetings or check the town's website for updated agendas and minutes.

Saugus roundup: Broadway site plans, assessors' warrants, cultural council grants on agendas; no decisions yet

No decisions were made at Saugus board meetings over the past two weeks. All three recent meetings were agenda-only, with minutes not yet published. The Planning Board continued hearings on two Broadway site plans, the Board of Assessors reviewed warrants and abatements, and the Cultural Council finalized plans for an art show and the next grants cycle.

Planning Board (July 30)

The Planning Board met to continue public hearings on two site plan review permits along Broadway. The first, for 266, 268, and 286R Broadway, is filed by The Morin Cameron Group, Inc. The second, for 24 Broadway, is filed by Meisner Brem Corporation. Both hearings were continued, meaning no final action was taken.

The board also discussed an ANR (approval not required) plan for 214-218 Hamilton Street from Otte & Dwyer, Inc., a site plan modification for 1753 Broadway from D’Ambrosio, LLP, and roadway acceptance for 10893 Rivercrest Circle from David Dwyer. These items were on the agenda for discussion; no votes were reported.

Board of Assessors (July 27)

The Board of Assessors met to sign motor vehicle, boat, real estate, and personal property warrants and commitments. The board also discussed revaluation data in regular session and held a roll call vote to enter executive session to discuss real and personal property abatements, exempt property filings, and Appellate Tax Board cases. No outcomes from the executive session were published.

Cultural Council (August 4)

The Saugus Cultural Council voted on final costs for the Art Show at the Summer Concert (held August 5), approved guidelines and priorities for the upcoming grants cycle, and finalized the Founders Day activities and budget. The council also reviewed Community Engagement Survey findings and voted on a program expansion opportunity. The FY25/26 financial update was approved. Specific dollar amounts and vote tallies were not included in the agenda summary.

Coming up

Town Meeting Zoning Review Committee — August 10

This is an organizational meeting for new committee members. The agenda includes distributing zoning materials, electing or appointing committee officers, and planning future meetings. No substantive decisions or public hearings are scheduled.

All meeting agendas and minutes are available through the town’s official channels. This roundup is based solely on the published agendas; minutes for the recent meetings have not yet been released.

Saugus boards weigh major housing proposals, retirement changes, and conservation hearings

Saugus residents saw a packed stretch of public meetings in late July, with the Zoning Board of Appeals scheduled to take up two large residential developments — including a 300-unit Chapter 40B rental project — while the Retirement Board, Conservation Commission, Board of Assessors, and Planning Board all had full agendas. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so the items below reflect what was on each agenda; outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Zoning Board of Appeals — July 23

The Zoning Board of Appeals was scheduled to hold a public hearing on a major comprehensive permit application under Chapter 40B at 20 Rear Bennett Highway. The proposal calls for 300 rental units, with 75 designated as affordable, spread across four buildings plus an amenity building, with 475 parking spaces. The applicant requested waivers from numerous zoning bylaws.

Also on the agenda: a petition to redevelop the Kowloon's property at 920-950 Broadway into two six-story mixed-use buildings with 198 one-bedroom units, ground-floor commercial space, and a drive-thru. Variances were sought for the project.

Additional items included a special permit request at 11 Harvard Ave. for a second-story accessory dwelling unit on a nonconforming lot with a 19-foot front yard setback where 20 feet is required; a petition at 24 Ballard St. to reverse a zoning enforcement notice and vacate fines for an illegal fence; and variances at 214-218 Hamilton St. to split a lot with an existing dwelling and business, requiring frontage, setback, and area relief.

Retirement Board — July 21

The Retirement Board agenda included a vote on July payroll and expenses and discussion of a PERAC memo proposing an increase to the post-retirement earnings limit from $15,000 to $25,000. The board was also scheduled to consider a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) posted to the July 2027 retirement payroll and Quinn Bill adjustments for retirees.

New members Richard Skomurski (Electrician) and Joseph Videtto (Purchasing Manager) were slated for enrollment at a 9% + 2% contribution rate. The agenda also listed a transfer-out for Richard Skomurski, with a date of hire of July 13, 2026, at the same contribution rate.

Conservation Commission — July 22

The Conservation Commission scheduled a new public hearing on a Notice of Intent for construction of an accessory dwelling unit and driveway at 104 Saville St., located within the 200-foot Riverfront Area to the Saugus River.

Continued hearings were set for 148 Forest St., involving a single-family dwelling in a wetland buffer zone and riverfront area, and for 41 Rear Pennsylvania Ave., an abbreviated notice of resource area delineation for Hammersmith Storage, LLC. The commission also planned to consider certificates of compliance for 3 Berthold St. (single-family dwelling in buffer zone to BVW) and 141 Broadway (parking lot improvements, continued to September 16, 2026), and to vote on an October meeting date.

Board of Assessors — July 27

The Board of Assessors was scheduled to approve prior meeting minutes, sign motor vehicle, boat, real estate, and personal property warrants and commitments, and discuss revaluation data in regular session. The agenda included a roll call vote to enter executive session for abatements, statutory exemptions, and possible continuation of Appellate Tax Board case discussions.

Planning Board — July 30

The Planning Board agenda included continued public hearings on site plan review permits for 266, 268, 286R Broadway (The Morin Cameron Group, Inc.) and 24 Broadway (Meisner Brem Corporation). The board also planned to discuss an ANR (Approval Not Required) plan at 214-218 Hamilton Street (Otte & Dwyer, Inc.), a site plan modification at 1753 Broadway (D'Ambrosio, LLP), and roadway acceptance for 10893 Rivercrest Circle (David Dwyer).

Coming up

The Saugus Cultural Council meets August 4 to finalize art show plans for the Summer Concert on August 5, approve grants cycle guidelines, finalize Founders Day activities and budget, vote on a program expansion opportunity, and approve an FY25/26 financial update.

Note: All recent meetings listed above were agenda-only at the time of this report. Minutes have not been published, so final votes and outcomes are not yet available. Readers seeking confirmed decisions should check the official meeting minutes on the town's website.