Open Space and Recreation Plan - Town of North Andover

T O W N O F N O R T H A N D O V E R
O P E N S P A C E A N D R E C R E A T I O N P L A N 2 0 0 6
2 0 1 0 U P D A T E
This residential housing growth can be seen in Table 3.41 for the years 1988 to 2004.
Table 3.41
New One & Two Family Residential Dwellings Statistics
1988 - 2004
180
160
159 160 164
150
139
140
120
100
80
60
80
52
62 62
87
72 79 95 98 73
54
71
40
20
0
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
While North Andover is fortunate to host part of Harold Parker State Forest, land owned by the Essex
County Greenbelt Association and The Trustees of Reservations, only 30% of land in the Lake
Cochichewick Watershed District is protected. Acquiring and protecting land within the Lake
Cochichewick watershed is the Open Space Committee's highest priority. With the partnership of the
Community Preservation Committee, the town has purchased over 100 acres within the watershed district
since 2001: Carter Hill, Half Mile Hill and Summit parcels. In February 2006, the town purchased the 12-
acre Cullen property at 605 Osgood Street with Community Preservation funds and with assistance from
the Trust for Public Land (TPL). This property is flanked by Osgood Hill, Half Mile Hill and Summit, and
Weir Hill. With acquisition of these key properties, the focus has shifted towards effective care and
management of all watershed properties both public and private for the long-term preservation of a high
quality watershed. There are still significant parcels of land abutting the lake, which have no protection and
are vulnerable to development. These include North Andover Country Club, Rolling Ridge Conference
Center, Brooks School and other fairly large private parcels.
Forested land has decreased because of many new developments, and the new Title V regulations have had
the unintended consequences of clear-cutting whole parcels for septic systems for the new developments.
18