Council approves special permit to continue restaurant use at 117 Lynnfield St. with conditions

The Peabody City Council approved a special permit on June 25 allowing the continuation of a nonconforming restaurant use at 117 Lynnfield Street, subject to multiple conditions carried over from an earlier permit and new requirements the council read into the record.

Attorney Charles Martins, representing applicant Charles Holden and ETS Linfield Street LLC, said the applicant purchased the property last year and is seeking to transfer the existing special permit and replace the older structure with a smaller, modern building. "He's applying for a special permit," Martins said, adding the applicant met with abutters and department staff prior to the hearing.

Abutter Joel Brenner said neighbors had a meeting with the petitioner and supported the proposal so long as buffers and conservation constraints are respected. Councilor Welton outlined conditions before the council’s vote: submission of a revised site plan showing wetlands and buffers to the conservation commission, full site‑plan submission to the planning board, health‑department review of kitchen layout, transfer of all existing permit conditions to the new permit, requirement to reappear before the council if departments find conditions unmet, and mandatory vegetated buffer plantings (Arborvitae) along specified property lines.

Councilors also discussed prior conditions tied to a 2017 court order including seating limits, restricted event use (no birthday/wedding rooms), dumpster and grease‑trap placement, restrictions on deliveries, maintenance of perimeter trees and a fence, and payment language for personal‑property taxes; the council amended earlier numeric references to clarify personal property tax at $259.82 rather than a larger real‑estate number. On roll call the special permit passed 11–0.