Large Housing Project Pitched In Andover

ANDOVER, MA — A housing project with 40 units is being proposed in Andover. Ten of those units will be set aside as affordable housing, according to the town.

The Select Board reviewed a Local Initiative Program application at its Thursday, Nov. 6, meeting for a proposed housing development at 84–88 Andover St. The development is being dubbed Trailside Andover.

The state-sanctioned program "allows developers to build housing developments not otherwise permitted under local zoning, provided that a percentage of units serve households earning below 80% of the Area Median Income and that developer profits are capped at 20% of total costs," according to the town.

The 2.52-acre site for the project is near the intersection of Andover Street and Dascomb Road.

The development will not have an age restriction but could provide opportunities for older residents to downsize without leaving Andover, the town said.

The proposed development would include indoor and surface parking, outdoor gathering spaces, and sustainable design elements such as EV charging stations and native landscaping.

The Select Board will complete an initial review of the plan, then the application will be sent to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to determine project eligibility before it goes before the Zoning Board of Appleals.

The board reviewed the proposal but has not yet voted on it.

Several members expressed concerns about the project’s potential impact on traffic, particularly given its location near the intersection of Andover Street and Dascomb Road, according to the town.

The board is expected to vote on the application at a future meeting.