North Andover Sites Deemed 'Priority' for Development

Gov. Deval Patrick has announced the completion of the Merrimack Valley Region Plan to boost sustainable growth in the area as well as protect natural resources, and North Andover has made the list.

The plan sets more than a dozen areas in the Merrimack Valley capable of handling more development -- with strong infrastructure and no environmental constrains -- as priority projects for state and federal funding.
In North Andover, areas set as priorities for development are Osgood Landing and Machine Shop Village.

"The Merrimack Valley is a great place to work and live, with potential for future housing and economic development opportunities that can add significant benefit to the region if well-managed," Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki said in a statement announcing the plan. "This plan offers an outline to the region’s future, creating economic opportunity for everyone while also maintaining the region’s position as a great place to live."

The plan also identifies a dozen preservation areas that need "special protection." In North Andover, that includes hundreds of acres on eight different lots and more than $9,300 acres -- shared with surrounding communities -- along what's called "Park River Headquarters."

“I look forward to the implementation of this plan as a working example of regional collaboration among the cities and towns in the Merrimack Valley,” State Sen. Kathleen O’Connor Ives said. "Local input from the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, municipal boards and residents will be key to successfully targeting Priority Development Areas close to transportation, employers and pre-existing infrastructure, as well as Priority Preservation Areas critical to maintaining water quality, agriculture and recreation spaces necessary for quality of life in the region."

You can read the entire plan here.