Select Board Okays 'Taking' Of Town Yard, Clearing Way For Sale

ANDOVER, MA — The Andover Select Board recently approved a "confirmatory taking" of the Town Yard by the town, paving the way for the sale of the town yard.

Town Counsel Tom Urbelis explained at the Feb. 8 meeting of the Board that the use of the eminent domain authority is meant to "clear up any title issues" and "give the potential purchaser a higher level of comfort."

While the town owns the land at 11 Lewis Street already, Urbelis said, "some of the deeds don't necessarily square off ... in describing the particular property."

Both the sale of the town yard and the taking of the property were authorized by town meeting voters in September. The land, formerly home to the Public Works Department, sits at the heart of the recently-created Historic Mill District zoning overlay district.

The Select Board approved the taking of the land unanimously.

The meeting video is available here from AndoverTV.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.