to view the Affordable Housing Plan - Town of North Andover

As recommended in North Andover’s EO 418 Community Development Plan, the Town should
adopt a mandatory open space cluster bylaw utilizing open space residential design techniques that
offers more flexibility and applies more broadly than the sections described above. Open Space
Residential Design (OSRD) is a method of planning residential development that conserves open
space in a new subdivision by concentrating, or clustering, the housing units in a more densely
developed portion of the project while conserving larger contiguous natural areas. The same number
of homes that would be permissible in a conventionally zoned subdivision is allowed using OSRD
and the difference is that the units would be located in a manner that respects overall site
characteristics and natural features. See http://www.greenneighborhoods.org for more information.
Affordable units would be provided if the Town enacts an Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw, which they
may want to consider adopting in connection with an OSRD bylaw. Additional affordable units
could be built with a density bonus as part of a special permit process for OSRD.
VII J - FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES
Among the options for providing financial assistance to improve homeownership opportunities
include:
• The Town can establish a “buy down” program in which the town would help to subsidize
the price difference between the market and affordable units. This could be done with the
money made available by CPA funds.
• The Town can provide assistance with down payments and direct mortgage subsidies
beyond the First Time Homebuyers Program mentioned above.
• The Town could make a down payment on a unit in a 40B project. The Housing Authority
would buy and secure the purchase and sales and mortgage documentation for dwelling units
and then rent the units to qualified affordable buyers, many of which may already be on
Housing Authority waiting lists. The Housing Authority would take the rent payment and
pay the monthly mortgage payment. The maximum rent charged should cover the
mortgage payment and related condo fees, etc. The Town could agree to waive the
property taxes as well so as to eliminate any additional costs.
VII K - CONSIDER UPGRADING SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE IT DOES
NOT EXIST IN AREAS OF TOWN MOST SUITABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT
North Andover has the public water capacity to allow further new residential development in the
however, the lack of sewer lines in some areas may provide a barrier. Approximately 70% of the
community is connected to the town sewer lines and system. The Community Development Office
should continue to work with the Department of Public Works and developers to identify areas in
North Andover that might be good areas to add sewer connections for future residential
development projects should money be available in the future to do so.
North Andover Affordable Housing Plan
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