Panel approves NEEDS Center flood-zone ramp, 5-2
Conservation Commission · Meeting of September 9, 2026
Peabody conservation board splits 5-2 to approve a flood-zone accessibility ramp at the NEEDS Center. Commissioner Arthur Athas and a second member voted no after abutter Russell Donovan warned the Linfield Street site has flooded even without rain in his "50 years" there, calling the rear ramp an unreliable emergency exit for disabled students. Commissioner Bruce Comack countered the board was "making a mountain out of a molehill" over a ramp built on existing pavement.
Engineer Dave LaPointe said removing the old concrete stairway actually adds more than 100 cubic feet of flood storage. The same meeting unanimously cleared two Salem Country Club golf projects at 133 Forest Street, a lengthened tee on hole 15 and contour tweaks to three greens, plus a mobile-home replacement at 33 Pine Street. Six other cases, including a disputed wetland line on Linfield Street and enforcement orders on Pierpoint Street and Livingston Drive, were continued to October.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,811 words
Source: the Conservation Commission meeting of September 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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