• Select Board Signs Land Disposition Agreement with Minco Development for Old Town Yard Site at 11 Lewis Street;
• Votes to Approve “Campus 2 with Auditorium” Design Option for Andover High School Project recommend by School Building Committee; and
• Reviews Status of Select Board and Town Manager Goals and Objectives for 2022-2023

ANDOVER, MA – The Andover Select Board met on Monday, June 12 in the School Committee Conference Room at the Andover Public Schools Administrative Offices. Formalizing a milestone in the long-anticipated development of the Old Town Yard site, the Board voted unanimously to sign a land disposition agreement with Minco Development Corporation for 11 Lewis Street. The Board also voted 3-2 to accept the building option for the Andover High School project recommended by the School Building Committee, while acknowledging that significant work remains in assessing the financial impact of the proposed project.

Town Manager Andrew Flanagan provided an update on the Town’s progress in implementing strategic goals set by the Select Board at the beginning of the current fiscal year both to assess recent progress and to develop new goals for the year ahead. Other actions included the Board’s review of an initiative petition for construction of an affordable home on Mary Lou Lane, the approval of end-of-year transfers, and the appointment of members to the newly-established MBTA Communities Working Group.

Old Town Yard Land Disposition Agreement

Reviewing the disposition in a second reading, the Select Board voted unanimously to approve a land disposition agreement (LDA) with Minco Development Corporation for 11 Lewis Street, also known as the Old Town Yard. The board also approved a Conceptual Program and Plan (CPP) outlining the development plan – this revised CPP reflected a larger and more attractive development made possible by Minco’s acquisition of several privately-owned properties that abut the Old Town Yard. 

The vote represents a significant milestone in advancing Minco’s proposed development of the site, which is anticipated to include 163 residential units, community amenities, and retail space.  

The agreement establishes a timeline by which Minco must pursue permit applications, begin construction, and complete the project. It also establishes a requirement for Minco to obtain financing for the project, places restrictions on the transfer of the project and use of the property, and imposes perpetual requirements to maintain affordable housing and open space at the site.  

The terms of the LDA and the latest version of plans for Minco’s development were previously reviewed by the Select Board during its June 5 meeting. During that discussion, members of the Board raised questions about the creation of retail space as part of the development – a component of Minco’s initial proposal. 

Based on this input, Minco revisited plans with Town officials to ensure that the retail space included in the updated design plan is consistent with the original proposal for the site that was presented to the Board during the selection process. Providing an update on the outcome of these conversations on Monday, Lou Minicucci, President of Minco, explained that the plans have been further modified and now include a gym, café, and co-working space – producing a total square footage of retail space that is equal to the amount reflected in the original plan. The revised plans also provided for more outdoor community space than had been proposed in 2021.

Under the timeline established in the LDA, the outside closing date for the sale of the property is June 2026 and may be significantly sooner depending on the pace of multi-agency permitting. Minco will be required to begin construction within 60 days of the closing, and to complete the project by August 2029.

Andover High School Project Building Option Recommendation 

Following the Board’s discussion on the financial impacts of the proposed Andover High School project during its June 5 meeting, the Board considered the building option recommended by the Andover High School Building Committee (SBC).

During the Andover High School project’s feasibility phase, eleven site options were developed, including several new construction and addition/renovation options. The committee narrowed the options to three final designs for which preliminary costs estimates were produced. On April 6, the SBC voted unanimously to recommend the “Campus 2 with Auditorium” design option, the new construction option that includes the replacement of the Collins Center for the Performing Arts. 

The design was selected based on its relative cost effectiveness, limited impact to students, and shorter construction timeline compared to other options, according to comments made by Committee members. The estimated cost of the project is $480,847,000 based on the preliminary cost analysis.

Under the process agreed to when the SBC was established in 2022, the design option selected by the Committee requires approval from the School Committee and Select Board to advance to schematic design. 

On Monday, the Board voted 3-2 to accept the recommended building option. Members who voted against moving forward with the option expressed concerns related to the Town’s ability to fund the project due to its high cost and its potential impact to taxpayers. Members who voted to accept the design option agreed that there are significant financial challenges that will need to be confronted as the process continues, but felt it important to have a preferred concept to work towards given the comprehensive process led by the SBC to date.

Town Manager Andrew Flanagan confirmed that he intends to engage members of relevant boards and committees around additional financial modeling that would be valuable as the project is considered and he suggested that a larger meeting be convened this summer for a focused discussion of the project’s financial impact.

An additional $1.3 million in funding is needed to complete the schematic design process for the selected building option. SBC Chair Mark Johnson previously stated that the Committee would seek an appropriation for this amount at a special town meeting later this year, provided that state legislation is adopted that would allow borrowing for the project to be exempt from the Town’s debt limit – a measure that is required to create an avenue to fund construction of the project. 

Strategic Goals and Objectives 

Town Manager Andrew Flanagan presented an update on the status of the Select Board and Town Manager strategic goals and objectives for 2022 -2023. This set of priorities was developed during a workshop held last year at the beginning of the fiscal year and establishes objectives in the areas of administration and finance; citizen response management and engagement; capital improvements; Downtown Andover, the Historic Mill District, and economic development; river and open space access; energy and sustainability; and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Flanagan reported that 76 percent of the strategic goals and objectives have been completed, while 24 percent are nearing completion or ongoing. 

The full presentation, which indicates the status of each goal, can be viewed online. 

The update provided a foundation for the development of strategic goals and objectives for the next fiscal year, which will be considered in greater detail during a workshop held in July, according to Flanagan. Some goals that remain ongoing will be carried forward, while others that have been achieved will be retired. 

Other Actions

• The Board considered a proposal from Andover Community Trust (ACT) for the development of one single-family affordable home at 13 Mary Lou Lane. The project would be built through the state’s 40B Local Initiative Program, and therefore requires approval from the Select Board. According to Denise Johnson, Executive Director of ACT, the proposed home would be approximately 1,400 square feet, and would be constructed between 2023-2025. Several property owners on Mary Lou Lane spoke in opposition to the proposal, citing concerns related to its impact on pedestrian safety and flooding. The Board decided to revisit the proposal at its next meeting to allow time for members to view the site in person. 
• The Board approved a transfer from the Town’s compensation fund to cover costs associated with the settlement of labor agreements with Fire and Police personnel. These funds were appropriated to the Compensation Fund by Town Meeting in 2022 and can be used to supplement other salary line items. An additional end of year transfer was approved to increase Fire and Police operating expense lines to cover medical costs for personnel injured in the line of duty.
• The expenditure limit of the Town’s Recreation Revolving fund was increased to $1,750,000 from $1,000,000. This increase was necessary due to increased revenue collected through the fund due to expanded Recreation programming over the past year. 
• The Board approved appointments of members to the Town’s new MBTA Communities Working Group, which will be responsible for conducting public outreach and identifying ways for the Town to achieve compliance with the MBTA Communities Zoning law. 

The full meeting can be streamed online through AndoverTV. The Select Board is scheduled to meet next on Tuesday, July 11.