ZBA approves Home Depot's outdoor storage permit

Zoning Board of Appeals · Meeting of September 14, 2026

DANVERS — The Danvers Zoning Board of Appeals approved Home Depot's outdoor storage permit but continued Lowe's competing request for a third round of review. Store manager CJ Burke won unanimous approval for a special permit covering 47 parking spaces of outdoor storage and rental stalls at 235 Independence Way, with conditions requiring an eight-foot fence, arborvitae screening reaching 20 feet, and a May 2027 compliance check-in. Member John Boughner said, "What we approved in 2016 was good, but it didn't work." Lowe's, represented by corporate official Todd Bartok, sought 155 parking spaces for outdoor storage at 1-53 Andover Street without reducing its footprint as previously instructed; member Ken Scholes called the resubmission "quasi-arrogant," and the board continued the case to October 5, 2026, rather than deny it outright.

Planning Director Brian Szekely confirmed Lowe's faces separate, ongoing wetlands enforcement actions from the Conservation Commission.

In the full story:

• Board introductions and minutes
• 8 Fairview Street: variance withdrawn
• 170 Sylvan Street and 58 Burley Street: continuances
• 6th Sparrow Lane: pre-existing non-conforming finding
• 235 Independence Way: Home Depot outdoor storage special permit
• 1-53 Andover Street: Lowe's outdoor storage request continued
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,351 words

Source: the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting of September 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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