Board recommends three housing projects, adopts master plan

Planning Board · Meeting of October 28, 2026

CHELSEA — The Chelsea Planning Board recommended approval of three housing developments totaling 75 units and adopted the city's first comprehensive master plan in over 55 years. The board unanimously recommended special permits for a 15-unit building at 139-141-143 Essex Street, a 60-unit building at 320 Revere Beach Parkway, and a three-family conversion at 471 Washington Avenue, all headed to a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing November 10. District Councilor Giovanni Recupero told the board neighbors "don't agree" with the Essex Street project's size.

Staff also presented a proposal to eliminate minimum parking requirements for new residential development, citing data that 30 recent projects averaged just 0.62 parking spaces per unit against the city's 1.5-space requirement, with no vote taken. Member Mimi Rancatore pushed back, asking "how can we possibly make an intelligent decision" without first knowing how the city's on-street parking permit program will change. The amendment is expected to reach City Council in November, with a board public hearing likely in December.

In the full story:

• Roll Call and Minutes
• Chelsea Palante Onward Comprehensive Master Plan
• 121 Webster Avenue — Walmart Real Estate Business Trust
• 139-141-143 Essex Street — Special Permit for 15 Residential Units
• 320 Revere Beach Parkway — 60-Unit Special Permit and Major Site Plan Review
• 471 Washington Avenue — Phase Two Special Permit
• Discussion: Eliminating Minimum Parking Requirements
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,747 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of October 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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