Short-handed ZBA approves five special permits

Zoning Board of Appeals · Meeting of October 20, 2026

SWAMPSCOTT — The Swampscott Zoning Board of Appeals, operating with only four of its five members, unanimously approved five special permits covering Paradise Road, Essex Street and Palmer Avenue projects, and continued a 45 Pleasant Street housing proposal to November 17. The board approved a third facade sign for First Watch and for Shake Shack at 450 Paradise Road, signed off on converting a 1,300-square-foot commercial office at 324 Essex Street into a single-family rental, and issued a nonconformity finding for an 8 Palmer Avenue addition. Abutter Charles Della Iacono told the board "these cars have been totaled out there," citing illegal sidewalk parking near the Essex Street site; neighbor Tina Phillips said the lot "has not been used." The board responded by having the petitioner drop a tandem fifth parking space in favor of four rotated spaces.

Attorney Kenneth B. Shutzer represented the petitioner on two of the evening's items.

In the full story:

• Petition 26-09: 45 Pleasant Street Continuance
• Petition 26-10: First Watch Signage, 450 Paradise Road
• Petition 26-11: 324 Essex Street Office-to-Residential Conversion
• Petition 26-12: 8 Palmer Avenue Addition
• Petition 26-13: Shake Shack Signage, 450 Paradise Road
• Petition 26-14: 219 Paradise Road Gas Station Rebrand
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,357 words

Source: the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting of October 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.