Proposed Mary Lou Lane Home Continues to Next Step

In a vote of 4-1, the Andover Select Board approved to support the application for Andover Community Trust’s development of a permanently affordable home on Mary Lou Lane. More than 50 people reached out to the Select Board, an equal number in favor of the project as opposed. Select Board Chair, Melissa Danisch, acknowledged that there were very heartfelt concerns on what this project means for the neighborhood and for affordable housing.

The Select Board does not hold the authority to establish or waive zoning requirements in Andover. The role of the Select Board is to determine if the town needs affordable housing, and if so, will this project contribute to the affordable housing in town. The application now goes to the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), and if approved there, goes to the Andover Zoning Board of Appeals.

“This is a rare occurrence, and this is an opportunity that we need to take advantage of.”

Select Board members asked what the demand is for a home like this in Andover. Denise Johnson shared that the ACT Haverhill Street home, the most recent single family home that ACT has built, received 27 eligible applications. In addition, there were 30 applications received last year for the resale of a two-bedroom affordable condo unit. Of those 30 applicants, one-third worked for the Town of Andover. She also clarified that the calculation of Andover’s SHI percentage is an inflated metric if you’re looking for how many affordable units the town has, since the SHI percentage includes both market rate and affordable rental units produced by 40B projects. Andover’s actual affordable unit percentage is 7.2% with less than 2% being ownership homes. 

Linda O’Connell, Chair of the Andover Affordable Housing Trust Fund, spoke in favor of the application saying, “This is a rare occurrence, and this is an opportunity that we need to take advantage of. We need to embrace it, not be afraid of it. What are we fearful of? This is a perfect opportunity and I urge you to please support this project.”

Four individuals from the Mary Lou Lane neighborhood spoke in opposition to the application expressing concerns related to zoning issues–the water table, reduced sight-lines due to the positioning of the proposed home, traffic and roadway safety, and impact to the character of the neighborhood due to the nonconformity of the lot.

One neighbor said that this house is a want not a need. He stated that he supports “the creation of more affordable housing. This house is not the right place. Building on the lot would be detrimental to the neighborhood, the neighbors and even those who might live there.”

Select Board member Annie Gilbert, shared “it’s not a surprise that many people beyond just this neighborhood wrote to us because I think we are all part of one community. We all have thoughts of the direction we go and the importance of having economic, racial diversity, … I think we are all listening to all of the people who have written to us as elected officials.”

Before the vote, Select Board member Chris Huntress related how his own neighborhood worked with a developer of a 40B project and encouraged folks to continue to work with ACT and to attend the Zoning Board of Appeals meetings.