I appreciate the fact that Mr. Baacke has responded to my concerns, but let me just say that Lowell has had parking, and driveway ordinances for decades, perhaps since Lowell was incorporated as a city.The storm water issue is relatively new, and as far as I know not enforced, or yet implemented.That is property owners , in Lowell are not yet taxed , for the number ,or size or impervious surfaces they have on their property. Likewise one does not need to be an engineer to realize that, in Lowell many people just ride over the curb, and park on their lawn, and call that a driveway, and it is this non-permitted action(s) that have a detrimental effect on the neighborhoods, and the people , who live in them. It appears that the city's parking, and driveway ordinances are enforced sporadically, only after someone complains about a problem. This is not a good way to do business. When you say you can't act retroactively, I say why not? If a residence has a non-permitted driveway, for instance, you could fine it, until it complies with the ordinance.The builders, or contractors, who modify these homes need to pull permits from various depts. at city hall, so I suggest that your dept. talk with these depts., share info , and check to see if the appropriate permits have been pulled before any work can be done. Likewise the city must let these contractors know, in no uncertain terms that if they flout the law that they will be punished. Unfortunately what is happening , in Upper Highlands, is also occurring on Nesmith St., in Belvedere. Old homes have been converted to multible apts., with no concern for parking, or the neighborhood, so the cars sit on asphalted lawns, and public sidewalks. And one last thing, I wager that the builders, or contractors for these houses do not live in Lowell. They trash Lowell, leave , and await a rent check elsewhere.

It looks as though a place will be made for a car, or two, on 477, and 479 Stevens St. - there is no asphalt yet, but I have my eye on that address, and I know that a driveway at that address does not fit the City's criteria for one.The City either has to enforce it"s ordinances, for driveways, or get rid of them all together. Also Ihope Mr. Baacke is keeping tabs , on a two family at 603, and 605 Stevens St.to make sure that it isn' t illegally converted to multiple apts., with no concern for the neighborhood, or for parking. There is also a house at 224 Parker St. which has been vacant for about three years;it's getting quite decrepit. What's going on there?

On Stevens St across from St. Margaret's School are houses that look like sh t, with no yards, no lawns, just asphalt with cars sitting on these non-permitted driveways.and around the corner on Wedge St.,one can find more of this ugly bizarre style of large two families converted into multiple apts., with cars parked right up to the porch, or else parked on the small space between the public sidewalk, and the property line. None of this crap is permitted in the city's driveway ordinance, or it's sustainable neighborhood plans, but nevertheless this continues to be done throughout the Highlands. Wilder St. across from the Morey School is a freaking mess, with cars everywhere where they shouldn't be and asphalt covering much of the properties. Forest St, off Chelmsford St, and Blodgett St. look like sh-t also. I wager that the builder converting Lowell into Sh-tville probably doesn't live in Lowell, and lastly the city officials who approved this builders' sh-t should be fired as their approval of these blight inducing plans contribute greatly to the destruction of the "unique quality and character of Lowell's neighborhoods."

The house on the corner of Stevens and Wedge Street is no longer a two family. I have complained and asked the city to check out the legality of changing it to a multi family. We have codes etc. that aren't being inforced. Trucks cars equipment is stored across the street...Please tell me what's to "love about this Lowell" that is turning into a slum. 59 Pine Street never puts it garbage out, isn't this a "gateway" street?

The City's Zoning Officer and Building Commissioner are addressing many of the issues noted in these allegations. Some are more complicated to research than may initially be apparent, but I can assure you that violation notices will be sent to any properties in the Stevens/Wedge Street area that are in violation of zoning. At least one property owner in this area has already been contacted regarding a confirmed violation.

Complicated?
The city's nimble legal dept. should be able to quickly determine whether, or not, a house has been legally converted, whether , or not, a resident can pave his lawn, and use it as a parking lot, whether , or not, one can ride over a curb, park on one's lawn and call it a driveway, and whether, or not, a resident , in a residential zone can engage in a commercial endeavor.These issues are easy to fix;I suggest sooner than later before Lowell becomes a congested urban canker.

378 Pine St. looks like it will be another yard converted to a non-permitted driveway, and parking lot. Shi-ville here we come.

There is no 378 Pine Street. 378 Parker Street is currently constructing a driveway but has obtained the necessary permits to do so and their plans were reviewed by the City Engineers and determined to be in compliance with zoning and the City's paving ordinance before the Engineers issued the permit.

Thanks for the correction, I did mean Parker St, but you can find similar violations on Pine, Wilder, Princeton Blvd., Chelmsford St., Inland St.in fact you'll find them all over the Upper Highlands.The house in question is a single family, so the driveway should be the width of one car, not two, three, or four.Also I hope the small patch of lawn , with the top soil scraped away is not a driveway. Unlike you, I have no faith in city engineers, it's because of their lack of involvement, and enforcement of these ordinances that Lowell is in this predicament., - a mess.

The issues in the Upper Highlands of Lowell, MA will remain alive and open in order to prevent the Upper Highlands from turning into a asphalt city. ie across from the Morey school on Wilder St., Lowell, MA.

I was riding through the beautiful Upper Highlands this morning and noticed a newly asphalted driveway right up to the front door of the house. How lovely it looked, now all a person has to do is walk right out the front door to their car. I think I will try to get that set-up because I could go right from my car and skip right into the front door!!! Beautiful !!! Only in Lowell!!!! Oh I hope the neighbors who live close to these houses that are totally asphalted backyard, side yard and front yard know that this can cause flash flooding and because the water cannot seep through the asphalt their is a good chance it will seep into their basement. I will be asphalting my yard the back, side and front since this is the way Lowell wants to look. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but
ugly is well just plain ugly. Thank You

Suzi-Q, read Lowell's Master/Sustainable Neighborhood Plan, in particular the chapter called Sustainable Neighborhoods, where the number one objective is "to preserve the unique quality, and character of each of Lowell's neighborhoods". After I read it I realized that there is an enormous disconnect between what the city promotes , for it's neighborhoods, and what it actually does to them,( degrades), Yeah asphalt is looking good to me now, it's the latest trend , in Lowell, and it doesn't require much maintenance, and if it causes the rain, and snowmelt to flow into my neighbor's basement, he can just call the DPW, and get it pumped out.

Driving down Midland St. at 100 Midland St. there is a huge commercial truck on cinder blocks. The last house on Inland St. toward Chelmsford St. has at least 12 cars parked right up to the doors and windows. I think maybe they are charging money and using it as a parking lot. They are parked there every day.

All of these issues have been reported (over the last few weeks) to various enforcement bodies

Alex, Office of the CM

378 Parker St.may have been issued a permit for a driveway, but it's more than a driveway it's a mini-parking lot.Most of the front is asphalted. Small but steady changes of removing lawns, and shrubbery, in the Upper Highlands, and elsewhere in the city is cause for alarm as these incremental changes change the character of the neighborhoods dramatically.These changes cause blight, and help drive property values downward.These mini-parking lots belong downtown ,or in commercial zones not in residential zones. Contrary to what we read Lowell is becoming less green, and I shudder to think what Lowell, particularly the Upper Highlands will look like in five years. It certainly is a place I don't want to live in, or even visit.

I do believe any of these issues will be looked into. I really cannot believe how ugly the upper highlands have become. It goes like this, someone buys a house immediately the whole yard and I stress the whole yard is paved front, back and sides. Not only is this practice ugly it is unhealthy and I do believe it is not legal. Streets in the upper highlands that used to look half decent look horrible. I know the City of Lowell is doing nothing about this issue because it continues and at a rapid rate. My goal now is to move out of the City of Lowell and move to a place where there still are yards full of grass and flowers.

These areas all look the same as when the complaints were made. What is the follow up ? Where do these stand ? The highlands and most of Lowell are becoming quite ugly ....

At Wedge St and Highland Ave. there appears to be a storage/parking lot for a paving business. There is also a boat stored on the property. Is this legal, especially when there is not a "business" there, just a place to park these vehicles.

@Guest

As is the case with many of the legitamate issues that have been raised on this string and others, enforcement action is well underway with respect to several violations at 320-322 Parker Street. However, property owners have a right to due process and sometimes that process results in significant delays before the issues are remedied.

There are several outstanding enforcement actions against the property at 320-322 Parker St. Starting in May of 2011 through August of 2012, the property owner was cited multiple times for having an unregistered Ford Mustang on the property. Though the property owner eventually removed the vehicle, the fines for that violation totaled $1,500, which has subsequently been paid.

In July of 2013, the property owner was cited for use of the property as a contractor’s garage, a use which is not allowed in the TMU zone without a special permit. At the same time, the owner was cited for parking his construction vehicles on the grass at the property. The total citations for these two violations currently stands at $1,800 ($900 each).

In August of 2013, the owner was cited for having an unregistered boat trailer on the property. That citation was for $300.

The property owner has appealed the zoning violation, the parking on a unpaved surface violation, and the unregistered boat trailer violation. The hearings on those appeals before the Municipal Hearing Officer have been scheduled, but not yet completed. Despite appealing the unregistered boat trailer violation, that citation has been paid.

During the pendency of the appeals, we have not continued to issue tickets for the outstanding violations. However, when and if the appeals are ruled upon in the City’s favor, as is anticipated, the City will renew enforcement efforts until compliance is achieved.

So, the neighbors have to put up with this decay of our neighborhood day after day while its dragged through the process? Will the neighborhood be informed when the appeals is ruled upon? Why is this only happening in the every neighborhood but Belvidere?

10 years later. Now 2024 and the discrace of a building department and complete incompetence of the engineering dept. First wont enforce a driveway stop work order issued by the building dept. Then the engineering department hands out a permit that doesn't meet any of the state codesor lowell ma city ordinances on driveways
20 mount grove st has been aloud to do what ever they want including blocking the sisewalk with cars so school children now have to walk in the street. Meanwhile the continued corruption on the third floor of lowells city hall continues. Time to get the ethics board and media involved with the continued distruction of private property caused by the failure of the cities illegal driveway quest. Theres not much to like about lowell in 2024