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
sculptures, fountains, swimming pools, atriums, outdoor recreational facilities and similar objects shall not be
considered obstructions. The developer owns PRD open space parcels until the street is accepted at a Town
Meeting. The ownership is then transferred to the Town, Homeowners Association, or Private Land Trust.
Some of the main reasons for PRD's are listed below.
To promote the more efficient use of land in harmony with its natural features;
To encourage the preservation of open space;
To protect water bodies and supplies, wetlands, flood plains, hillsides, agricultural lands, wild life,
and other natural resources;
To permit greater flexibility and more attractive, efficient and economical design of residential
developments.
To facilitate economical and efficient provision of utilities;
And to meet the Town’s needs by promoting a diversity of housing types.
For subdivision PRD's the minimum usable open space requirements shall be 35% of the total parcel area; and no
more than 25% of the total amount of required usable open space shall be wetlands. For site planned PRD's the
minimum usable open space requirements shall be 50% of the total parcel area; and no more than 25% of the
total amount of required usable open space shall be wetlands. For all PRD's the usable open space shall be
owned in common by and readily accessible to owners of all units in the PRD or by any of the following
groups:
A non-profit organization or trust whose members are all the owners and occupants of the units.
Private organizations including, but not limited to, The Trustees OF Reservations or Essex County
Greenbelt Association, whose primary function is preservation of open space.
The Town of North Andover.
Any group as indicated by the Planning board, which exists or is created for the purpose of preserving
open space for the owners of the units located in the PRD Project.
Furthermore, restrictions shall provide that the usable open space shall be retained in perpetuity for one or
more of the following uses: conservation, agriculture, or recreation (M.G.L. Chapter 184, Section 31). An
example of this is Carter Fields, developed by Tom Zahoruiko. During the 2000 Town Meeting, Mr.
Zahoruiko petitioned the General Court to change the boundary line between the Towns of Boxford and North
Andover along Bradford Street. The boundary change allowed Mr. Zahoruiko to permit his 17-lot subdivision
in North Andover and not Boxford. Regardless of what town the subdivision was constructed in, North
Andover would ultimately experience the greatest development impacts. The entire development was
proposed within the watershed district of Lake Cochichewick and the subdivision entrance was proposed off
Bradford Street, North Andover. Additionally, sewer and water lines were readily available on Bradford Street,
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