Should the town lease some of its space for solar farm construction? Will we build a new Town Yard or buy land to replace the aging Ballardvale Fire Station?
These questions make up just three of the 51 warrant articles that Andover residents will vote during Annual Town Meeting starting April 30. The warrant also includes two private warrant articles: one asking residents to give selectmen the option of paying town employees and contractors in silver coins, and one to create a new industrial zoning district on Dascomb Road.
Some articles that will ask for money — such as the more than $140 million operating budget — do not yet have a dollar figure on them. Of those that do — 19 articles — up to $12.8 million is requested.
Here are some of the significant articles on the warrant:
Town Yard work: Three articles all identify the need to buy land for the construction of a new Town Yard, which would replace the existing facility on Lewis Street. Two of the articles seek to purchase land and design a building at 5 Campanelli Drive, while one of the two also seek to build the new Town Yard. A third article seeks to purchase land at 65 River Road, which abutts Campanelli Drive.
In previous meetings, members of the Town Yard Task Force have identified the need to buy a portion of land neighboring 5 Campanelli Drive to build a facility that would meet the town's needs.
Ballardvale Fire Station prep work: Two articles come from the town's Ballardvale Fire Station Subcommittee. One seeks to purchase a homeowner's property at 270 Andover St., located across the street playing fields at South Elementary School, while the other seeks to raise money for planning, engineering and designing the station.
In previous meetings, members of the committee have indicated that the warrant articles would be submitted as placeholders, and that there is a chance the issue of building the station would be withdrawn, and come before a future Town Meeting.
Zoning changes: Three articles, including a private article petitioned by resident Mark Johnson, aim to modify the town's zoning bylaws.
Johnson's private article seeks to create a new zoning district called "Industrial D2" in the area of Dascomb Road at Interstate 93, which borders Tewksbury. The article also creates a new special permit that can be issued by the Planning Board. In the article's language, the permit would require that the "proposed development must not adversely impact the existing retail environment in the General Business Districts, specifically downtown Andover."
A public article submitted by the buildings inspector seeks to amend the bylaws to require sit-down restaurants that offer take-out service to do so only during hours in which sit-down service is available. Another public article seeks to modify the town's Flood Hazard Overlay District bylaws.
Solar farms on town land: Two articles offer town land — 100 Lovejoy Road and 126 Tewksbury St. — to be used for building solar panel farms and allow the selectmen to enter into lease agreements of the land for up to 20 years.
New technology spending: Two articles ask for a combined total of $2.5 million in technology spending. Paul Puzzanghera, the town's new chief information officer, seeks $1.1 million to pay for employee personal computers, laptops, printers and other hardware. He asks for another $1.4 million to invest in the town's wireless and network infrastructure.
Lowell Junction land buy: An article submitted by Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski and the Conservation Commission seeks to appropriate $800,000 for the Reichhold property, at 77 Lowell Junction Road. The $800,000, if approved, would join $1.2 million in money already appropriated by past votes for purchasing this property, and it is being requested only to offer negotiating flexibility, according to Stapczynski. This land was also contaminated at one point, causing the town to refuse to buy it, but is now reportedly clean and ready for purchase, Stapczynski said.
