HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - 357 DALE STREET 6/20/2007 To:North Andover Planning Board RECEIVED
From: Frederick J. McCarthy JUN 2 2 2001
357 Dale St.N. Andover. NORTH ANDOVER
Subject: Proposed replacement of PLANNING DEPARTMENT
a single family residence.
Date: June 20. 2007
Mr. Chairman and members.
I live at 357 Dale St. I purchased this property 10 years ago. The home was built in 1949 by the
previous owner. The house is a ranch and is in need of repair. The foundation was constructed
with field stone and is deteriorating with time. The frequency of major weather events seem to
be increasing, causing flooding in the basement to the point of having to pump. The cellar is
filled with mold and mildew to the point where the odor finds its way upstairs through pipe
chases. I have mice and chipmunks constantly finding their way into the cellar through the mortar
j oints.
When I purchased this property my intention was to remodel. After careful consideration my
wife and I decided to look into replacing the structure outright. Six years ago I applied and
received a special permit to raze a five stall detached garage and replace this with a new 2 story 2
'/2 stall garage. My property is located within the watershed and next to a wetland. I went through
this board as well as conservation to obtain the necessary permitting. I wish I had the foresight to
include this project in the plan at that time. Well that was not the Gast and it is my understanding
that I basically have to go through the same process again. I am willing to go ahead with this
project if the cost of permitting is within my budget, if not my plan will be to remodel.
I am asking this board for help in determining the estimated cost for this proposal. I do have 1
condition I must meet to go forward. The new house must connect the garage, if this is not
possible I will withdraw my proposal. When I built the garage (32 X 24) in 2001 there were no
special conditions such as stone walls, drainage,water collection systems or other measures
including monitoring on a regular basis. I am quickly learning that things have changed from 6
years ago. I am hoping this board could look at the preliminary plan and give me an idea of
what you might be looking for so I could determine the estimated cost to make my decision.
I don't have a lot of wiggle room to place the new foundation. I plan on razing the existing
house after the new home is built. I also have to squeeze it between my septic tank and a
swimming pool at the same time being outside the 50 foot no build zone. The proposed foot print
is not that much bigger than the garage foot print. The new house will be a 2 story colonial to
resemble an older farm style house. The good news (I think)is that I would be reducing the
impervious area significantly by the removal of driveway and the fact that the new foot print is
less than half of the current foot print.
I will be building this house by myself. The estimated time of completion is 1 year. Once I
move in I will be dismantling the old structure one board at a time, I 4m looking at a time frame
of 6 months.
The following is a list of more specific questions and issues.
1) Would the board be willing to waive the review process by VHB and allow the town engineer
to perform this service?
2) Would the board be willing to waive the water collection system due to the fact that there will
be a significant reduction in impervious area?
3)Are there any requirements when the time comes to backfill the old foundation and grade the
area. My plan was to stock pile material from the new site away from the wetland area to be used
for filling the old cellar hole. My intention is to pile the material away from the wetland and
plant grass in order to reduce the number of inspections and reduce cost where this project will
take more time than most?
4) My pool is getting up there in age, at some time in the future I plan on removing it. I may
also decide to remove more driveway. Is there anything I should be thinking of doing in the
permitting process now,to avoid going through this process down the road?
To sum things up. If this board can give me an indication of what issues I may be facing in order
for me to estimate the cost of permitting and systems I will be able to make an informed decision
as to whether to rebuild or remodel.
I appreciate your concern and efforts in trying to help me through his process.
Sincerely,
Frederick J McCarthy