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May 12, 2026
Ms. Jean Enright, Planning Director
Planning Department
Town of North Andover
120 Main Street
North Andover, Massachusetts 01845
Re: Initial Stormwater Peer Review
520 Great Pond Road
North Andover, Massachusetts
Dear Ms. Enright and Board Members:
The Horsley Witten Group, Inc. (HW) is pleased to provide the North Andover Planning Board
with this report summarizing our initial review of the Watershed Special Permit Application for
the proposed improvements at 520 Great Pond Road in North Andover, MA. The plans were
prepared by Merrimack Engineering Services on behalf of the North Andover Country Club
(Applicant). The Applicant has noted on the site plan a parcel size of 18.88 acres. The project
proposes tree removal within the high-water limits of the lake onsite and parking lot reclamation
and rehabilitation within the same footprint of the existing lot. The proposed actions will not
change or increase the total impervious area onsite. The stormwater management for the
proposed improvements includes installation of permeable pavers at the downhill side of the
parking area and cleaning and clearing of an existing catch basin and an existing French drain
of debris. It appears that the total land disturbance is approximately 15,551 sf including erosion
controls around the site.
The lot is located within the Watershed Protection Overlay District and was incorporated in
1897, before October 24,1994. The lot is located within a rural area, and the area of disturbance
is less than 1 acre. A portion of the proposed work is within the 25-foot No Disturb Zone and the
50-foot No Build Zone from the edge of a bordering vegetated wetland (BVW) located to the
south and west of the existing building. Most of the project area is within the 100-foot Wetland
Buffer Zone and the 100-foot Non-Disturbance Buffer Zone. The proposed parking
improvements at the rear of the building are approximately 17.5 feet from the BVW. The closest
point of any construction activity to the BVW is the erosion control barrier placed approximately
15 feet from wetland flag 6A. The proposed limit of disturbance is less than 25 feet from the
wetland resource area. In accordance with §195-4.19 B.(2)(a) of the North Andover Zoning
Bylaws, any surface or subsurface discharge of stormwater within the Non-Discharge Buffer
Zone is allowed by special permit granted by the North Andover Planning Board.
The proposed project is also within the jurisdiction of the North Andover Conservation
Commission.
Town of North Andover
May 12, 2026
Page 2of3
The following documents and plans were reviewed by HW:
• Watershed Special Permit Application, 520 Great Pond Road, North Andover, MA, prepared
by Merrimack Engineering Services, dated April 29, 2026 (10 pages);
• Plan of Land to accompany a Notice of Intent for Tree Removal, 500 Great Pond Road,
North Andover, MA, prepared by Merrimack Engineering Services, dated March 12, 2025;
and
• Site Development Plan, Site Improvements in North Andover, MA, prepared by Merrimack
Engineering Services, dated April 29, 2026 (Sheets 1 and 2 of 2).
Stormwater Management Design Peer Review
In accordance with §195-4.19.B.(4)All construction in the Watershed Protection District shall
comply with best management practices for erosion, siltation, and stormwater control in order to
preserve the purity of the groundwater and the lake; to maintain the groundwater table; and to
maintain the filtration and purification functions of the land.
HW has the following comments and recommendations regarding the proposed stormwater
management design.
1. The Applicant has submitted Plans and an Application. It does not appear that the
application is complete. The Applicant has not provided all the documentation listed
under§195-4.20.0 of the Zoning Bylaw. HW recommends that the Applicant review the
Watershed Application instructions and provide the supporting memorandum addressing
the individual points.
2. The Applicant has included erosion controls on the site details sheet including a 12-inch
mulch sock and silt fence. The site plan calls for an erosion control barrier on the south
side of the parking area. It is unclear if these are the same item. HW recommends that
the Applicant review the plans and revise callouts or details as needed for clarity.
3. The Applicant has provided a Site Plan with erosion controls and a Tree Removal Plan.
It is unclear the extent of the disturbed area and where they are in relation to each other
on the property. HW recommends that the Applicant provides a limit of work line on the
site plan confirming the total area of disturbance and includes erosion controls around
the stockpile.
4. The Applicant has proposed tree removal onsite. It is unclear how the tree removal area
will be accessed or what the limit of disturbance will be. Furthermore, a temporary
construction access for the parking lot area is not shown for the improvements including
the proposed stone walls or the permeable pavers. HW recommends that the Applicant
provides a detail of the construction access and location where it will be used. HW
suggests that the Applicant considers construction matting or other measures to
Town of North Andover
May 12, 2026
Page 3of3
minimize the tracking of sediment onto the driveway and offsite per§250-25.E. (13) of
the North Andover Code.
5. The Applicant has proposed permeable pavers for the rehabilitation of the parking lot
area. HW recommends that the Applicant revise the detail shown on the plans to include
washed crushed stone for the bedding, intermediate, and base layers of the pavers.
6. The Applicant has noted the existing soil conditions as Hydrologic Soil Group (HSG) C
per the test pit completed onsite. HW recommends that the Applicant provide runoff
calculations to justify the size of the proposed permeable pavers and the runoff reduction
achieved onsite. HW further recommends that the Applicant include the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soil maps for the site.
7. HW notes that the Deep Test Results indicate 52 inches of fill material. HW recommends
that the Applicant call out removal of the fill beneath the permeable pavers as well as the
appropriate soil type to be placed under the permeable pavers to replace any fill
removed.
8. The Applicant has provided Erosion and Sedimentation Control elements on the Site
Plan. It does not appear there are any notes for stabilization on the plans or in the
supplementary information. HW recommends that the Applicant revise the plans as
needed to clarify how the site will be stabilized. HW further recommends that the
Applicant indicates how the landscaping will be restored at the end of construction.
9. HW notes that the Applicant has proposed a stone wall along the driveway. HW
recommends that the Applicant includes the top and bottom wall elevations. HW notes
that if the wall is greater than three feet in height it will require a structural engineer
stamp. HW recommends providing additional grades on the plans regarding the stone
walls. Furthermore, there is an adjacent power pole near the proposed walls. HW
recommends that the Applicant call out support of the pole during construction of the
proposed walls.
Conclusions
HW recommends that the Board requires the Applicant to provide a written response to address
these comments. We appreciate the opportunity to assist the Town of North Andover with this
project review. Please contact Janet Bernardo at 508-833-6600 or at
ibernardo(cD-horsleywitten.com if you have any questions regarding these comments.
Sincerely,
HORSLEY WITTEN GROUP, INC.
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Janet Carter Bernardo, PE
Principal