11 Jackson Street Public Comment
March 17, 2024
To: Zoning Board of Appeals, City of Salem
98 Washington Street, 2nd Floor
Salem, MA 01970
From: Neil Dickson and Ana Morais
2 Jackson Terrace
Salem, MA 01970
Board Of Appeals,
We are writing this letter to the City of Salem, Zoning Board of Appeals to voice our
concerns to: Application ID: ZBA-25-5, Address: 11 Jackson Street, Zoning District: B1.
The current property owner, Sabina Guzman, is applying for a Special Permit to
construct a single-story 15’ x 29’ addition to the rear of the existing structure at 11
Jackson Street.
Points of Concern:
1. The extreme proposed addition at the rear of the Guzman house is a concern to
our existing property which abuts the Guzman property at their rear right-hand
corner. This is where our back door and patio is located. This is where we enjoy
the summers and eat our meals. Concerns about privacy and noise are important
too.
2. The proposed single-story addition (reference PLAN 2) will incorporate a
bedroom for the mother on the right side and a kitchen on the left side. The 14’ to
14’ 6” depth is excessive, a more reasonable depth would be 12’.
3. The summer temperatures are higher than in the past. The storms are more
severe, and winds are much stronger too. Fires spread more quickly in these
conditions. Narrowing the proximity of the houses will increase the temperature
(inside of each house) making it uncomfortable to live in it due to the reflection of
the sun and the proximity of each other’s walls.
4. Widening the space between the houses and creating better flow of air is too
often overlooked; unfortunately, this is thought about after a disaster occurs.
5. There has been a history of neglect for the yard at 11 Jackson Street. It has been
a regular yearly occurrence where the vegetation in the yard has grown to five to
six feet tall. This condition has led to a rat infestation where I have seen rats
running to and from their property. I have complained to the Board of Health who
have investigated the problem and taken appropriate action.
We pay our taxes and take care of our property. We do not want our property to be
devalued by the lack of care of adjacent properties. A house is an expensive
investment, and we expect to live in a comfortable, safe and clean environment.
We hope you take our points into consideration when ruling on the Zoning Board of
Appeals Application for a Special Permit to construct a single-story addition to the back
of the existing structure on 11 Jackson Street, Salem, MA. We do not oppose the
addition, we only oppose the proposed 10’ rear setback.
Regards, Neil Dickson and Ana Morais