Zoning Board Modifies Affordable Housing Permit to Meet Fair Housing Rules
Danvers zoning board unanimously approved a modification to an affordable housing permit to comply with state fair housing regulations. The board changed a special permit condition at 154 and 170 Water Street for the New England Home for the Deaf project, replacing perpetual "Danvers resident
Zoning Board of Appeals · Meeting of June 8, 2026
Danvers zoning board unanimously approved a modification to an affordable housing permit to comply with state fair housing regulations. The board changed a special permit condition at 154 and 170 Water Street for the New England Home for the Deaf project, replacing perpetual "Danvers resident preference" language with preferences limited to the initial lease-up period, conforming with state fair housing guidelines. The modification came after the state's Equal Opportunity Housing and Community Lending agency flagged the perpetual preference as potentially discriminatory during the project's financing review.
Chair John Boughner and board members expressed frustration with the late state intervention but voted unanimously to avoid jeopardizing the project's viability.
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Source: the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting of June 8, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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