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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-04-15April 1~, 1981 Speci -~.1 Meet in~~ The BOARD OF APPEALS held a [3pecial I[eetin:~' on Wednesday evening, April 15, 1981 at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room. The following members were present and voting: Frsmk Serio, Jr., Chairman; Alfred E. Frizelle, Esq., Vice-Chairman; Richard J. Trepanier, Esq., Clerk; William J. Sullivan; and Augustine W. Nickerson. Associate Members Walter F. Soule; ~,'[aurice S. Foulds; and Raymond A. Vivenzio, Esq., were also present. PUBLIC HEARING North Andover Housing Authority - Corner of Waverl[ Road and Green_ e S~pp~ The North~mdover Housing Authority has applied for a Comprehensive Permit pursuant to Mass. General Laws, Chapter 4OB, Section 21-2~ to enable them to construct 60 units of elderly and handicapped housing at the corner of Waverly Road and Greene Street. The Board held a special meeting this evening to conduct the public hearing. The clerk read the legal notice. ~r. Louis Minicucci, Executive Director of the North Andover Housing Authority, said that he would represent the authority and introduced other members James McCabe and Joseph Morkeski, as well as their attorney, Donald Smith. ~lso present at the hearing tonight was Mr. James Noble of the North Andover Board of Public Works. Mr. Minicucci pre~ented several sketches of the proposal to the Board, showing the 60 units, 6 of which will be constructed to aocomodate handicapped persons. The project will be financed by HUD, with no direct costs to the town of North Andover, according to Mr. Minionoci. There currently exists an old farm house, known as the Hayes Farm, on the premises, which ~. Minicucci said will remain and be used for office purposes. The smaller building shown on the sketch will be used as a miantenance shed. Another sketch showed the individual apartments. Most will have ] rooms for single tenants, and others will be larger to accomodate couples. There is also a community room proposed in the larger building. Mr. Minicucci and the Board discussed the topography and the slope of the land. He told the Board that the e~ess is designed so that no individual will have to climb more than one set of stairs and that the parking lot is designed to protect the tenants from the wind. Another feature of the proposal is the fact that the complex has been designed to utilize solar energy, and the Authority has a $150,000 grant for this purpose. .No one in the audience spoke either in favor or opposition to the proposal. Letters were read and placed on file from the following: Board of Selectmen; Planning Board; Board of Public Works; Fire Chief; and one abutter. April 15, 1981 -P- Special !,~eetinf3 A discussion followed between the Board ~nd Mr. Minicucci about town and state codes for pipe and about the placement of a fire hydrant within the boundaries of the complex, as well as the ability of the Fire Department to gain access to the rear of the proposal. Mr. Minicucci said that the Authority would try to comply with all requests made by town boards and officials but added that HUD has a problem with construction outside of the boundaries. There is currently a hydrant across the street, but the Fire Chief requested that one be placed closer to the project. Mr. Noble stated that if the Authority could purchase the hydrant, the Board of Public Works could probably install it at no extra cost to the town. On the matter of access to the re~r, ~4r. Morkeski said that the plan would be revised to widen the road. He expressed surprise that the ro~d was so narrow on the plan and felt it might have been an error. Also discussed was what type of fire protection (smoke alarms) would be installed, because the Fire Department is having problems with the alarms at the most recent elderly project on Blemont Street. They are veA¥ sensitive and "going off" all the time! Mr. Morkeski said that all alarm systems today are sensitive, but they (the Authority) would NOT install them in both the bedrooms and living rooms this time. He further stated that they would welcome any recommendations from the Fire Chief. )~m. Minicucci told the Board that the Housing Authority held a public he~ring recently to address the concerns of the abutters, and that no opposition was expressed at that time. Member Frizelle asked if any drainage plans had been prepared and Mr. Minioucoi replied '~o." Member Frizelle then asked if they h~ contacted the Conservation Commission and Mr. Minicucci replied "Yes, we have filed a Notice of Intent." He also said that if they receive the Comprehensive Permit, they still have to apply with the Conservation Commission am well as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Affairs and the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission. These are HUD requirements. Also discussed was the number of parking spaces. The plan currently shows 27 spaces and Mr. Minicucci said they would like around 30 and told the Board he has no problem if they want to make this a condition. In response to a question from Member Niokerson as to whether there will be any problem with the drainage that will conflict wi~h HUD, Mr. Morkeski said that EUD will have to approve the design, but the Authority has always been consistent with good design. The contours are O.K. - it is pitched toward the river. They usually build their drainage systems into the lots themselves, according to Mr. Morkeski. Also discussed was the residency requirements. Mr. Minioucci said that North Andover residents will have priority, but the complex is not restricted to these residents only. If a new resident could show need~ they would have priority and non-residents can apply. The Board of Selectmen has prepared a plan which indicates the number of housing units needed for the town of North Andover, which states the total requirement for housing estimated North ~hudover for 781 units: 257 owners; 409 renters; ~5 anticipated to reside in town. April 15, 1981 -3- Dpecial iieetinc Member Frizelle asked about the time table for putting together the request. According to Mr. ~inicucci, the State wants all of the zoning issues, surveys, etc. by July 1, 1981. r~. Frizelle suggested continuing the hearing in case any more input arrives from town boards. Motion: by ~.~. Frizelle to continue the public hearing until April 22, 1981 Second: by ~. Trepanier Vote : Unanimous in favor of the motion. DECISION C.u.t.terL~ Dr: Laurence - Bridle Path Continued from April 8, 1981 (Sitting - Serio, Frizelle, ~ullivan, Nickerson, Vivenzio) Mr. Sullivan said that he viewed the site and feels that they are so far down in a hole, that granting the variance will not bother anyone. However, he also feels that they failed to show a hardship. Chairman Serio again spoke in favor of the request stating that the applicant should be able to add to his home. Motion: by Mr. Sullivan to DENY the variance. Second: by Mr. Frizelle ¥ote : In favor - 2 (Sullivan, Prizelle) Agsinst - 3 (Serio, Nickerson, Vivenzio) Notion fails Motion: by Mr. Serio to GRANT the variance Second: by Mr. Vivenzio Vote : In favor - 3 (Serio, Nickerson, Vivenzio) Against - 2 (Frizelle, Sullivan) Motion fails The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Frank Serio, Jr., Ch~rman Jean E. ~,~hite, Secretary