HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968-10-25Friday - October 25, 1968
Special Meeting & Hearing
The PLANNING BOARD held a special meeting on Friday evening, October 25, 1968
at 7:30 P.M. in the Town Office Building. The following members were present and
voting: William C~epulis, Chairman; James M. Barman, George B. Farley, William B.
Dully, Jr. and Robert J. Burke.
This special meeting was called to hold a hearing on an amendment to the apartment
section of the Zoning By-Law. There were 15 people present.
Mr. Chepulis read the legal notice which proposes to strike from the Zoning By-
Law all sections pertaining to apartment developments.
Atty. Donald F. Smith spoke in favor of the proposed amendment. He said there
should be a halt in apartment growth so the town could take a closer look at its
future and lay some guidelines for it. He said the present Zoning By-Law gives
little discretion to the Board of Appeals in granting permits for apartment
buildings if the required conditions are complied with, they can go up anywhere
in town. He is concerned about the impact of apartment dwellers on the school
system and said the Planning Board should start a deep, comprehensive study to
include school needs, recreation requirements, and other study topics. Perhaps
the town should be setting aside certain areas now for its future school building
needs and that the town has a moral obligation to those wanting to reside in it and
already living in it. He said he didn't want to see North Andover become an apart-
ment town and that out-of-town developers were choosing us for our tax rate. He
said he is in favor of development, but wants to see it done in a fashion that
would benefit the town.
Mrs. Barbara Baldwin, Foster St., spoke in favor of the amendment, saying she
wo, zld be willing to pay more taxes to provide whatever the town needs in order
to keep it a nice town.
Donald Keirstead, sponsor of the article, said his interest in halting the apart-
ment growth got its start several years ago when a proposed apartment building
woLGd have been built behind his home; it was then that he discovered that apart-
ments cottld be built just about anywhere in town with the proper approval. This
situation is very distressful to the citizens of the town. This particular section
of the Zoning By-Law is objectionable. Buildings are too close together and too
close to the lot lines. At present the best step is to strike the section from
the Zoning By-Law and then the Planning Board can study the problem and develop a
new apartment law.
Also speaking in favor of the amendment were: Leo Labhe, 92 Meadow Lane;
John Cushing, 30 Grey Street; Mrs. Angell and Douglas Wilson, Lisa Lane;
Norman Lentz, Bradford Street.
Mr. Wilson said apartments come to North Andover because the tax rate is favorable.
One apartment unit pays ~50 in taxes but the average single family home pays about
~00. He also suggested that the Building Code is not adequate
Speaking in opposition was Atty. Charles W. Trombly, stating that apartment developers
are the only developers in the town who provide all their own facilities, service
and street maintenance, and that industrial firms seek and get town money to aid
their plants. · He said statistics prove that apartments are not the drain on schools
as alleged and that school enrollment will steadily increase anyway. He said
abolishment of apartments at ~his point would be no solution. Also, bringing up
October 25, 1968 - cont.
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s~c~ an a~ticle at a special town meeting was bad and that it should bex voted
on at an annual town meeting instead.
Atty. John J. Willis said he was opoosed because the present by-law provisions were
adequate and ~ere operating quite well. This proposed amendment is the most
regressive piece of legislation this town has ever been faced with. He said apart-
ments are less of a financial burden on the town than industry is. Western Electric
pays some $471,OOOperyear in taxes while a proposed 588unit apartment complex
will give the town between $250,000 and$3OO,O00 a year. He urged the Plsnning
Board to vote against the proposed change, warning that its adoption would result
in a serious tax loss for the town.
Benjamfn Osgood, Old Village Lane, also spoke in opposition, sa~ng that although
the townts tax rate and size were now its great attractions, those factors wottld
change drastically in coming years. At present, the town is only about 1/3
developed. He said the town needs a balance of industry, apartments and single
homes in order to keep its taxes level.
Some of the previous speakers made several com~nents and there was further dis-
cussion.
Mr. Bannan made a motion to take the petition under advisement. Mr. Burke seconded
the motion and the vote was unanimous.
The spectators left and the Board continued with regular business.
They discussed having the Central Merrimack Valley Regional Planning District
Commission and the State help out and getting money if it is available to the
town. The Board w~ll meet on November 12th~ith a State representative and Richard
Young, Director of the CMVRPD.
The Board then proceeded to discuss the hearing held earlier in the evening.
Mr. Barman made a motion to ~ vote at the next meeting in November.
Mr. Duff~ made a motion to insert a time ~m~tation of two years.
Mr. Burke made a motion to strike out the article because the Planning Board will
sponsor an article at the Annnal! Town Meeting.
Mr. Chepulis suggested keeping what we have but putting some regulations on it.
The Board then voted to meet at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, Oct. 28th at the N. A. High
School, prior to the Special Town Meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 P.M.
WC Chairman
AD Clerk