DANVERS — The town is seeking public input on the future of Endicott Street and what improvements there could align with residents’ needs.
This visioning study is targeting Endicott Street and the section of Route 128 in that area. The town is working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council on the project and officially kicked off work on it this summer, with the project team analyzing the corridor’s current conditions.
Residents and stakeholders are asked to share their ideas and concerns for the corridor via a digital survey on the town’s website, which will be open through mid August.
Currently, most of the corridor is zoned as Commercial III, which permits most commercial use and prohibits residential properties, Danvers Planning Director Brian Szekely said.
The town does not have a specific vision for the corridor currently, but potential options for revitalization include expanding the types of commercial uses allowed there, adding residential use, improving pedestrian and vehicle safety, and adding more open space and walkable areas, Szekely said.
“The goal is not to just pump this area just full of housing,” he said. “The goal here is really to have an area that’s firing on so many more cylinders.”
During the project’s next phase this fall, the project team will develop possible land use scenarios based on community feedback and host an open house for community members.
Extending into the winter, the team will develop formal recommendations for the corridor and the community will be encouraged to attend a Planning Board meeting to provide feedback on these recommendations, according to the project’s website.
The team will draft zoning changes in the spring that would need to be approved by Town Meeting. Any proposed changes would come with further public input opportunities.
Szekely expects any zoning changes to go before Town Meeting for approval in February 2028, or about 18 months out from the start of the study.
The team also hopes to utilize funding from the state’s Complete Streets program to make road safety improvements to the area — a need that was identified by the town’s recent Transportation Community Needs Assessment.
Visit www.danversma.gov/1101/Endicott-Street-Visioning-Study to fill out the survey or learn more about the project.
Contact Caroline Enos at CEnos@northofboston.com.