North Andover (MA) Zoning Board of Appeals - August 18, 2026

The North Andover (MA) Zoning Board of Appeals held a meeting on August 18, 2026, primarily focused on zoning law changes and multiple variance and special permit applications. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a detailed presentation by Carolyn Murray from KP Law regarding recent legislative amendments to Chapter 48 of the zoning act, including changes to notice requirements, nonconformity protections, abandonment timelines, zoning freezes, and a complete rewrite of the variance statute. These changes notably affect how variances are granted, emphasizing practical difficulty over previous standards and limiting use variances to residential uses only. The board then reviewed and voted on several variance and special permit requests for residential property modifications and new constructions, including a multi-lot affordable housing project by Centro de Poo Familia. Discussions included concerns about setbacks, parking, road access, emergency vehicle access, and neighborhood impact. The board approved most requests with some members abstaining or voting no, and conditions such as adherence to dark sky lighting standards were imposed. The meeting concluded with procedural clarifications on recording decisions and issuing building permits.