Proposed Danvers Hockey Rink Faces Uphill Climb At Town Meeting

DANVERS, MA — A proposed Danvers zoning change that could pave the way for a skating rink at the site of a former animal hospital on Andover Street will face an uphill climb at the annual town meeting after both the Planning Board and Select Board voted to forward an "unfavorable" recommendation on the proposal.

Rink proponents, including the company financing the potential development, are pressing for the zoning change of 249 Andover Street from residential property to a highway commercial zone.

The proposal argues that the rink would be a community benefit as a "long-term recreational, youth athletic, public wellness" facility and that the commercial zone is aligned with "its appropriate corridor location."

But those opposed have raised questions about the lot's appropriateness for development in a residential area that borders the Home Depot property and Route 114, as well as traffic concerns.

Those who spoke against the zoning change at Tuesday's Select Board meeting also said there is concern that the lot — once zoning is changed — could be redeveloped for any commercial use should plans for the hockey rink fall through or become unsustainable over time.

Danvers Director of Land Use and Development Aaron Henry told the Select Board that while the stated intent of the citizens' petition may be expressly for a hockey rink, state law does not allow "conditional" zoning changes, and that the new highway designation would allow for any number of businesses allowed under that designation.

A spokesman for developer Broadway Capital told the Select Board that while the project faces "some environmental issues that we have to deal with," plans are firm for the rink that includes sound testing and traffic testing.

"We are fully going forward with the hockey rink if we can get the approval," the spokesman said. "We do have some connections with TruNorth Bank. We have worked with them in the past. They are very interested in this deal if we can get it approved at town meeting as a highway corridor zone."

The Select Board also issued an unfavorable recommendation to a citizens' petition that would allow for pet sitting at residential homes, through a special permit, throughout the town.

The Select Board backed a proposal for an abandoned building registry that could allow the building commission to impose fines on building owners who failed to register buildings in disrepair that could present a public danger.

The annual town meeting is set for May 18.