Andover Planning Director Paul Materazzo said the ball is typically in the developer's court when it comes to the details of most redevelopment projects.
But as the town looks to redevelop 24 downtown acres in and around the Lewis Street town yard, he said the rules of the game have been written by Andover residents.
"This is kind of a role reversal," said Materazzo. "The town is saying, 'This is what we want to see.'"
After soliciting public input at several "community conversations" he considered well attended, Materazzo said Andover planners have written a 20-page town yard redevelopment document detailing everything from zoning guidelines to building architecture and streetscape design requirements.
Voters will be asked to approve this Smart Growth Overlay District at Town Meeting this spring. A two-third majority is required.
Materazzo said the document will serve as a master plan for contractors as they work with the town to redevelop the area located within Railroad, Pearson Essex and North Main Streets.
Plans to relocate the 2.5-acre Lewis Street town yard - where road sand, salt and other materials are stored and vehicles and equipment are repaired - have been ongoing for several years.
Town Meeting voters will also be asked to buy at least seven acres of land elsewhere in town to relocate the town yard. The estimated cost of relocating the town yard and designing a new facility is expecting to be between $10 and $20 million, according to Town Yard Task Force Chairman Hooks Johnston.
The location of a new town yard is expected to be either 5 Campanelli Drive or 146 Dascomb Road.
The current town yard is considered inadequate. The town plans to sell it for development into a mix of residential, commercial and office space.
Details of the overlay district adhere to the state's Chapter 40R zoning program. The town will be eligible for various monetary incentives by redeveloping the town yard area under 40R guidelines.
According to the town's Web site, the proposed overlay district "promotes compact design, preservation of open space, and a variety of transportation options."
More specifically, the overlay district will promote use of the nearby Andover Commuter Rail station by providing both residential and retail development in the area.
Under the current overlay district proposal, the redevelopment project will include 219 housing units over 13.5 developable acres. A total of 10 percent of those units will be considered affordable housing, and 10 percent of those affordable units will be handicap-accessible. The overlay district will also feature 350,000 square-feet of retail and office space.
For more information on the town yard redevelopment project, and to view the 20-page document detailing the overlay district, go to http://andoverma.gov/planning/townyard/
