A working group is poised to vote next week on its final recommendation to the planning board on how Andover should comply with state rules aimed at creating new housing near public transit stations.
The working group is leaning towards consolidating more than half of the housing that could be built under new MBTA housing rules in the vicinity of the Downtown train station, with some additional space for new housing near the Ballardvale train station and along the River Road corridor.
Under the requirements, Andover will need to change zoning rules to build up to 2,301 new housing units, with at least half within a half mile of its two commuter rail stations or risk losing Department of Housing and Community Development funding that amounted to $6.3 million for the town since 2015. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell warned communities “must comply” with the rules or face prosecution.
The planning board will consider the group’s recommendation and craft an article proposing zoning bylaw changes for consideration by annual town meeting in April. The town would fall out of compliance with the state rules if Andover’s legislative body fails to approve the article.
Each area presents a combination of advantages and challenges:
- Consolidating about half of the potential new homes Downtown in the area of the town yard redevelopment, as the working group is leaning towards recommending, would limit the impact the new rules would have on other areas of town and could create density to promote business growth. But the proposal has raised concerns about traffic, particularly near the Essex and Railroad Street intersection.
- There are already more than 500 homes near the Ballaradvale train station, which is located in the Town’s only historic district. That would limit the number of housing units that could be built in the neighborhood without changing the character and creating potential traffic problems.
- The River Road area is ripe for redevelopment and could bring long awaited commercial development to the north side of town, which is currently dominated by industrial properties. Some companies in that area of town have also expressed interest in more housing for employees who want to live closer to work. But the area does not currently meet guidelines under the rules in terms of walkability and bikeability.
“To consider introducing 500 new units of housing [in Ballardvale, for example] may not necessarily be appropriate, and I think the working group has a consensus on that,” Andover Director of Planning and Land Use Paul Materazzo told the planning board Tuesday. “Look, we’re not looking to dramatically change the character of Ballardvale by introducing double the density that’s within the half mile radius.”