In the Newburyport Daily News, Tuesday, February 7, 2006, there is an article on “the developer’s plan to build new condominiums and renovate existing buildings on the property behind the Towle building.”

The City of Newburyport has worked with the developer for nearly a year to work out a compromise that benefits the City. “The property owners will renovate existing historic homes on the property and preserve the view of the Merrimack River from Tyng Street by keep all buildings out of that sight
line.” They will also “incorporate open space and public access, including extension of city harborwalk.”

This is made possible by a “zoning overlay.”

Mayor John Moak is quoted as saying, “Not being an expert in zoning, it seemed like a good approach.”

It is a great approach and has been used successfully since Nick Cracknell’s arrival as Planning Director to save a number of projects from really inappropriate design.

Addressing zoning issues like the Towle project is an unbelievably complicated and time-consuming process. I am glad John Moak admits that he is not “an expert in zoning, ” but he has a Planning Director who is.

I hope John Moak examines this project in detail and understands the intricacy and negotiations that have gone on to make it a possibility (the Towle project needs to be passed by the Newburyport City Council.) I hope he also realizes that the Towle project and the other very successful zoning overlays would never have taken place without the guidance and expertise of Newburyport’s Planning Director, Nicholas Cracknell.

Mary Eaton, Newburyport