Intersection, Senior Center On North Andover Town Meeting Warrant

NORTH ANDOVER, MA -- An alternative to the state's proposal to address safety concerns at the Massachusetts Avenue and Chickering Road intersection is just one of 29 articles North Andover Town Meeting will consider when it meets on May 15. The deadline for residents to register to vote in town meeting is April 25. The town clerk's office will be open until 8 pm that day to accommodate last-minute registrants.

While most of the items on the warrant deal with annual spending measure, there are a few key issues. The following is a preview of some of the bigger items on the warrant.

Article 22: Chickering Road-Mass Avenue Intersection

MassDOT is close to finalizing a plan for improvements of one of North Andover's most notorious intersections, but many residents have voiced concerns that the state's plan only addresses congestion problems and does not address the speed of vehicles traveling through the intersection. Resident Karen Lauro has petitioned for an article that would expand the school zone at the intersection and call for the construction of a raised and marked pedestrian crosswalk, as well as a stop sign or stop light on Massachusetts Avenue at Adams Road.

MassDOT has said those solutions are not feasible. At its meeting Monday night, selectmen recommended that town meeting reject the proposal.

Article 28: Cell Towers

Selectmen recommended approval of this article, which would changes the town's zoning laws to require notification of any property owner within 500 feet of a proposed cell tower. The current law only requires notification of abutters.

Article 29: Solar Panels

North Andover currently does not have zoning laws that regulate solar panels. Selectmen have held off on making a recommendation on this article, which would establish such a bylaw, until the planning board finishes its review of proposed rules.

Articles 8, 10, 23 and 24: Senior Center

All four articles are related to a proposal to build a new seniors center and abandon a prior plan to renovate the existing senior center. Article 8 is to accept a donation of land to build the senior center, and article 10 would appropriate about $6 million for the senior center's construction. Articles 23 and 24 rezone the parcel on Sutton Street to clear the way for the senior center's construction.

Selectmen recommended that town meeting pass all four articles.

Articles 9, 11 and 12: Recreation Complex

The articles, if passed, would clear the way for the construction of a recreation complex that would include walking and jogging trails, ballfields, playgrounds and an amphitheater near the North Andover Middle School and the Early Childhood Center. Article 9 transfers the land from the school district to the town, while articles 11 and 12 would appropriate about $7.5 million to fund the project.

Selectmen recommended approval of the articles.

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Photo by MassDOT.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).