GLOUCESTER — The following is a statement from the Gloucester City Council regarding the recent Massachusetts Land Court decision announced earlier this month:
“Last year, the City Council held two hearings about an application submitted by the Bevilacqua Company, requesting four special permits for relief under the Gloucester Zoning Ordinance to build two three-story townhouses with four units in each building on the site of the former Espresso’s restaurant on East Main St.
“The City Council held a hearing for the application filing on Aug. 27, 2019 and voted five against, three in favor and one absent to deny the permits and issued a decision on Oct. 10, 2019 indicating the same.
“Paul Bevilacqua, president of the Bevilacqua Company, and his attorney appealed that decision to the Massachusetts Land Court. The case went to trial before Judge Howard Speicher on Aug. 4 and 5, 2020. Judge Speicher issued his decision on Nov. 2 in which he ruled in favor of Bevilacqua and ordered the City Council to award the four permits to Bevilacqua within thirty days after the decision’s issuance.
“After speaking with legal counsel during a meeting in executive session on Nov. 17, the City voted on Tuesday, Nov. 24, pursuant to the Land Court order, to not appeal the court’s decision and to immediately issue the four permits to the Bevilacqua Company for 116 East Main Street.”
###