Select Board Candidate Finn Calls For Pause On Apartment Building

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — North Andover Select Board candidate Joe Finn is calling for a two-year moratorium on new apartment construction.

Finn, who is running in the March 30 town election, plans to submit a warrant article for 2021 town meeting that would bar the town from issuing new building permits for new buildings with three or more units, for two years.

The warrant article also mandates the town study the impact of construction on issues including schools, traffic and the environment.

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“I am concerned about the rapid growth of our town," Finn said in a news release. "It’s time for the town to take a step back and catch its breath”.

Finn pointed to recent large complexes such as Berry Pond on Route 114, Avalon Bay on High Street, Knights of Columbus on Sutton Street, East Mill on High Street and Princeton Properties on 125, which total over 700 units.

"Now, there is a proposal for Royal Crest to replace the existing 588 units with 1,391, in addition to dorm facilities, expansive tracts of retail and office space, and even a hotel,” he said.

Finn cited resident concerns about traffic, school capacity and loss of open space expressed in the Master Plan process. He noted that other towns, most recently Framingham, have put in place similar moratoriums.

“It is time for the citizens of North Andover to take action through Town Meeting. I would encourage anyone who wishes to join me in co-sponsoring this article to contact me at jfinn.na2021@gmail.com,” Finn said.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.