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North Andover Affordable Housing Plan
In February of 2005, through the Community Development office, a request was made to the Community Preservation Committee for $40,000 for funding an Affordable Housing Plan. This request was approved and authorized through Town Meeting vote. Proposals were accepted and in October 2005 the contract was awarded to the company of McGregor & Associates. A kick-off meeting was held on December 6th with Community Development staff, McGregor Associates, and the North Andover Housing Partnership Committee. On January 26th, a public meeting was held to answer questions from the public and determine the next steps in this process.
During 2006, the Community Development Office, McGregor Associates and Housing Partnership Committee worked together to produce the Affordable Housing Plan. At the Board of Selectmen meeting on October 10, 2006, the Plan was accepted. It was then submitted to the State for approval as a Planned Production Plan.
Planned Production Plans
Town’s with approved Planned Production Plans have increased flexibility in dealing with 40B applications. Without an approved PPP, a town has very little leverage when considering a proposed 40B project unless at least 10% of its housing is affordable. With an approved PPP, if a town increases its affordable housing stock by ¾ of 1% of the year-round housing units in a calendar year, a town may reject 40B applications for a one year period. If the affordable housing stock is increased by 1.5% of the year-round units in a calendar year, a town may reject 40B applications for a two year period.
In North Andover’s situation, this translates to the following. North Andover has very nearly 10,000 year round housing units. (The actual number is 9,986.) Three-quarters of 1% is 75. If 75 affordable units are developed in a calendar year, then North Andover can reject 40B applications for one year. If 150 affordable units are developed in a calendar year, then North Andover can reject 40B applications for a two year period. This flexibility is granted only to towns with approved Planned Production Plans.
More information on planned production is available on the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) web site.
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