North Andover (MA) Planning Board - October 20, 2026

The North Andover Planning Board meeting on October 20, 2026, addressed several development and zoning matters; no procurement awards, contracts, or budget allocations were identified. The Board accepted withdrawal without prejudice of the limited site plan review application for 291 Massachusetts Avenue. It continued the Berry Street application to November 10 while remaining stormwater questions are resolved; the eventual decision is expected to specify maintenance responsibilities, and the town is to apply for a MassDOT permit through the project contractor. The Board approved the watershed special permit for 61 Country Club Circle, amending the decision to remove an inaccurate statement about the porch and patio being entirely within the existing patio footprint.

The Board also continued a modification request for a previously approved mixed-use project, which would increase the residential units from 38 to 50, designate seven units as affordable rather than five, and reduce retail area; the applicant was asked to provide corrected square-footage information before the November 10 hearing. Staff reviewed proposed zoning amendments for small clean-energy infrastructure, including a state-required consolidated permitting process and revisions to solar and wind rules. The Board also discussed whether to develop a temporary data-center moratorium to allow further study of impacts such as water use, noise, and energy demand; no moratorium was adopted. The state’s proposed mitigation-fee framework includes a $50,000 placeholder base amount for certain high-impact projects, subject to change.