Developer Proposes Large, Mixed-Use Facility In North Andover

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — A developer has proposed a large, mixed-use industrial facility at a North Andover site. Plans call for razing all existing structures on the property at 0 Turnpike Street (Route 114) and constructing a 167,933-square-foot building.

The property straddles the line between North Andover and Middleton. About seven acres are in North Andover and nearly five acres are in Middleton.

A 14,303-square-foot storage facility and a new access drive will both be located in Middleton.

Middleton Farms, LLC has proposed uses for the property including office, warehouse, research and development, and storage, according to North Andover Planning Director Jean Enright.

An attorney for the developer, Jill Mann, said that "the owner is unsure of the ultimate mix of occupants."

Enright said the property was formerly used by various contractors, landscapers, service companies, and other industrial businesses with commercial vehicles. A fuel supply company currently using the property will continue to lease space.

The project was on the Planning Board's agenda for Tuesday night. The project also needs to be approved by the Conservation Commission.

The project would have a positive impact on the town through property tax revenue generated through the redevelopment. Building improvements are anticipated to create revenues of up to $300,000 annually, according to Planning Board minutes from last year.

Initially, there were concerns from an adjacent residential development about proper screening. Additional landscaping and an 8-foot-high fence were added to the site plan, according to Enright.

Residents of nearby Oakridge Village had also voiced concerns about traffic.

"This is already a dangerous area of Route 114," one resident told the board in a meeting last year. "Adding more traffic to the area will have a serious impact on safety."

Mann, the developer's attorney, responded to those concerns: "The project will not generate significant traffic or otherwise negatively impact the current traffic issues in the area. The project and its access will be reviewed by MassDOT and will be required to comply with all measures required by MassDOT."

Adding a traffic light at the intersection of Route 114, Sharpners Pond Road, and Saddlewood Road was discussed at a Planning Board meeting in July. The developer "acknowledges traffic will contribute to this project and recognizes they may need to contribute to the cost of that signal," according to the meeting minutes.

It's expected the project will begin in 2024.