The latest news from Andover Town Offices and around the community.
Town of Andover Newsletter
April 13, 2023 | No. 006

Select Board Brief

Select Board Elects New Chair, Receives Update on Policy for Removal and Replacement of Trees, and Considers Water Rates

ANDOVER, MA - The Andover Select Board met on Wednesday, April 12 in the Robb Senior Center’s Lifelong Learning Room. The meeting saw the Board conduct an annual reorganization, electing new officers for the new upcoming year. The Board held first readings on a proposed tree removal and replacement policy, and proposed adjustments to water rates for FY2024 through FY2029.

Town Seal Design Community Survey

Town Seal Review Committee Seeks Input on Subject of Alternative Town Seal Design

The Town Seal Review Committee is moving forward with the process of developing an alternative design for Andover's Town Seal for the community's consideration. Earlier this year, the Committee selected a professional design firm, Communications, Inc., to create the design proposal. Now, the Committee is seeking input from the community on what should be depicted in the alternative Town Seal. 

 

The survey asks participants to select an iconic building, a natural setting, or just text (similar to the original 1855 seal) as a preferred design subject. These options were identified by the Committee based on input gathered at a public forum, previous survey responses, and feedback received from the community through an online form and e-mail.

 

In addition to completing the survey, input can be shared with the Town Seal Review Committee by emailing townseal@andoverma.us.

Project Forefront
Town Meeting to Consider TIF Agreement with

Flagship Pioneering

Article 12 at this year’s Annual Town Meeting will ask voters to consider approving a tax increment financing (TIF) agreement with Flagship Pioneering, a large biotech firm, for 3000 Minuteman Road, the former Philips Healthcare campus. The incentive proposed through this article would enable the creation of a first-of-its-kind innovation manufacturing hub in Andover that would support long term growth of the Town’s commercial tax base, stimulate job growth, and promote private investment in Town infrastructure. 

2023 Annual Town Meeting Preview Event

Town to Host Pre-Town Meeting Article Discussion on

Tuesday, April 25 

The Town of Andover will host a Pre-Town Meeting Article Discussion on Tuesday, April 25 at 7:00 PM at the Public Safety Center Training Room, located at 32 N Main Street.

 

The event is intended to provide an opportunity for residents to learn more about warrant articles prior to Town Meeting. Town staff will provide presentations outlining the articles, and  participants will have an opportunity to ask questions following each overview.

 

Residents may participate remotely via Zoom using the link available on the Town's website. Event facilitators will accept questions from both remote and in-person participants. 

 

Annual Town Meeting begins on May 1, 2023 at 7:00 PM, and will be held at the Collins Center for the Performing Arts at Andover High School. More information and resources, including the full warrant and Finance Committee report, are available at the link below.

Solar Power Agreements

Previewing Annual Town Meeting Articles 30-33

The Town of Andover will be releasing a series of videos highlighting key warrant articles leading up to Annual Town Meeting on May 1. The first video looks at Articles 30-33, which authorize solar projects at Bancroft Elementary School and the new West Elementary/Shawsheen Preschool. Director Sustainability Joyce Losick-Yang and Director of Facilities Janet Nicosia provide an overview of the articles and the impact of the projects they would enable. 

 

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter through the links at the bottom of this e-mail for more content related to Annual Town Meeting over the coming weeks.

Shawsheen River Master Plan Draft Presented to Community 

The preliminary results of a year and a half long, community-driven process to establish a renewed vision for a vital natural resource in Andover were unveiled on Monday as the Town presented a preliminary draft of the Shawsheen River Master Plan.

 

The Shawsheen River flows over 7 miles through Andover and has played a defining role in the Town’s history, culture, and economy for centuries. Though secluded in many areas by the surrounding landscape, the Shawsheen remains an important recreational and educational asset to Andover residents. Recognizing the value of this resource, the Town of Andover initiated a master planning process last year that aims to establish a future vision for the Shawsheen as a more connected, accessible, and widely-recognized anchor of the Andover community.

 

The development of the Shawsheen River Master Plan began with a kickoff meeting held in January 2022. The vision reflected in the plan has been refined through a series of community workshops held over the past 16 months, culminating with the release of the draft plan at a community meeting held on Monday, April 10 at Memorial Hall Library.

2023 Paving Season

Paving Activity Underway Throughout Andover

Paving activity is in progress across Andover as the 2023 paving season gets underway. Daily construction begins in impacted areas at 7:00 AM and may continue as late as 7:00 PM, depending on the type of work being done. Full and partial road closures may be in place to facilitate construction activity.

 

View the street listing for a complete list of roadways that will be paved this season, and follow along on the Town's interactive paving status map to stay updated as the project progresses.

MBTA Community Working Group
Town Seeks Volunteers to Support Implementation of
MBTA Communities Zoning

The Town of Andover is seeking residents to help create Andover's MBTA Communities district. Participants will conduct outreach to the community to determine district location(s) and form, analyze feedback from the community and identify ways to achieve compliance with state regulations.

With community recommendations, the Working Group will suggest ways to incorporate recommendations from existing Plans into MBTA Communities zoning; assist in identifying ways to develop zoning regulations that will both be appropriate for Andover, and meet the requirements set forth by the State. Planning Staff will support the Working Group.

 

The Town will accept applicants through April, and intends to launch the Working Group next month.

Downtown Parking Improvement Project

Lot #2 Closed Through April as Downtown Parking

Improvement Project Continues 

Lot #2, the municipal parking lot at the corner of Bartlet Street and Park Street (adjacent to 63 Park Street) will be temporarily closed through the month of April as construction continues on the Downtown Parking Improvement Project

 

Additional handicapped parking spaces will be designated along Bartlet Street, along with a 15 minute loading zone, to allow for access to businesses in close proximity to the lot. Parking will remain available in Lot 1 (directly behind Old Town Hall), in the Main Street Lot at 89 Main Street, and on streets throughout Downtown Andover during the closure of Lot 2.

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36 Barlet Street, Andover, Massachusetts, 01810


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