North Andover Town Meeting OKs Amazon, Rejects Stevens Plan

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Town Meeting approved changes to North Andover zoning laws Tuesday night that will allow Amazon to move forward with a plan to build a massive distribution facility on the Osgood Landing site. While that initiative received almost unanimous support from town meeting, the body ultimately rejected a separate plan for the town-owned Stevens Estate. Under that plan, North Andover would have given most of the land to the Conservation Commission while leasing out the mansion to an outside events company.

The estate has been losing money as an events space for several years under the management of the town, which purchased it in the mid-1990s to preserve nearby conservation land. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, needs extensive renovations. Opponents of the proposal said the estate's board should be given time to come up with a plan before the town gives up control of the estate.

With approval of the Amazon articles, Hillwood Inc. will now begin the process of buying 110 of the Osgood Landing site's 168 acres for the retail giant. Since the Amazon deal was announced last month, town officials have voiced support for it and the 1,500 promised jobs, as well as increased property tax revenue. Amazon plans to demolish existing building on the site to build the facility, meaning it's unlikely the first package will be shipped from it until 2022.

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