Zoning Board of Adjustment — March 17, 2026
The meeting was a standard administrative session characterized by technical questioning rather than public conflict.
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On March 17, the Andover Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) approved a special exception application for 4 Mill Rd that will change the use of the property from wood storage to commercial hospitality.
The proposal by Brian Mackenzie involves doubling the size of an existing structure to host a brewery, bakery, and function hall. During the hearing, the board addressed specific technical concerns regarding the environmental and logistical impact of the new business, specifically focusing on wastewater management and traffic.
To address septic concerns, the applicant stated that solid waste from the brewing process would be regularly pumped out to ensure only liquid waste enters the system. Regarding traffic, board members noted the property's history of heavy truck usage. Despite these considerations, the board determined the application met all five required legal criteria and voted unanimously to approve the request.
The approval is not final until the applicant receives all necessary state permits. Residents living near the Mill Road area should keep an eye on these developments as the site transitions from storage to a commercial hospitality venue.
Public impact
Conversion of agricultural/storage land to commercial hospitality use.
The application was approved unanimously, conditional upon receiving required state permits.
The applicant must obtain all required state permits.
Topics discussed
A request to enclose and expand an existing wood storage structure to host commercial hospitality uses, including a brewery, bakery, and function hall.
The board determined the application met all five required criteria for a special exception and approved the application.
The approval is conditional upon the receipt of all required state permits.
The board reviewed and approved the amended minutes from the February 17, 2026, meeting.
The February 17, 2026, meeting minutes were accepted as amended.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
Brian Mackenzie Special Exception Application (4 Mill Rd)
Public comment
Decisions logged
Member positions
Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position. UNCLEAR means the vote was split but the record did not name how this member voted — it is not a “yes.”
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grok-4.3, gemma-4-26b, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-07.
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