USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Andover > Town annual report of Andover 1955-1959 > Part 22
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We deeply appreciate the efforts of all veteran organiza- tions for their continued support of our program and it is only through their cooperation that the proper observance of any of these holidays is possible.
JOSEPH L. MONAN, Commander, Post No. 2127 V. F. W. RAYMOND PELLERIN, Commander, Chapter No. 18 DAV DOUGLAS W. HUTCHESON, Commander, Post No. 8 A. L. EILEEN PARENT, Commander, All Women's Post No. 427 A. L.
FRANCIS P. MARKEY, Veterans' Service Agent
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Eighth Annual Report of the Andover Housing Authority
Nineteen hundred and fifty-six was the sixth full year of occupancy of the Andover Housing Project 200-1.
The maintenance work of the Project this year was to repair and repaint as many apartments as possible. New trees were purchased to replace ones that had died. Grounds and shrubs were trimmed and many other small repairs to all buildings were made. Refrigerator units have been repplaced in three apartments plus a great number of switches and servcie units on stoves. It is hoped that this next year we can have two apartments fixed that have been overheating because of a chimney going through them.
Notice has been received from the State Housing Board that elderly persons and non-veterans can be admitted into the Project when all veterans of low income have been taken care of.
There was a turn-over of only three apartments this year with approximately 132 children in the 56 apartments of the Project.
This year the term of Mr. Garrett Burke, State Housing Board's member of the Authority, expired and Mr. Edward Johnston was named by the State Housing Board as their member for five years.
The payment to the Town of Andover in lieu of taxes for the year 1956 was $1,876.00.
The members and staff of the Andover Housing Authori- ty as of December 31, 1956 are as follows :
George Noury, Vice-Chairman
Thomas Wallace, Treasurer
Roy A. Russell, Ass't Treasurer
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Thomas Eldred, Ass't Secretary
Edward Johnston, Member
Ernest N. Hall, Executive Director and Project Secretary James E. Manning, Manager
A balance sheet and statement of operations for the period ending December 31 is attached.
Respectfully submitted, ERNEST N. HALL, Executive Director
BALANCE SHEET DECEMBER 31, 1956
ASSETS
Cash-Andover Savings Bank 234 % 7,292.72
Essex Savings Bank 234% 3,129.31
Administration Fund 16,940.68
Security Deposit Fund 830.00
$ 28,192.71 191.00
Accounts Receivable - Tenants
Debt Service
Fund - 2nd Bk. - State St. Tr. Co. 9,274.01
Debt Service Trust Fund 2nd Bk. - St. St. Tr. Co. 737.90
1,011.91
Investment -
Debt Service Trust Fund - 2nd Bank - State
1,000.00
Prepaid Insurance
1,783.09
Development Costs 626,000.00
Less : Devel. Cost Liquidation 42,000.00
584,000.00
Total Assets
$625,178.71
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LIABILITIES, RESERVES, & SURPLUS
Liabilities
Income Tax Withholdings $ 43.67
Pension Fund Deductions
17.00
Accrued PILOT 280.00
Matured Interest & Principal
11,349.58
$11,690.25
Tenants' Security Deposits
830.00
Tenants' Prepaid Rents
239.50
Bonds Authorized
626,000.00
Less: Bonds Retired
42,000.00
584,000.00
Reserves
Debt Service Reserve 9,457.01
Unamorized Bond Prem.
1,737.90
Reduction of Annual Contribution 266.82
Operating Reserve
(See Schedule #2)
11,386.86
22,848.59
619,608.34
Surplus - Current Year
5,570.37
Total Liabilities, Reserves, & Surplus
$625,178.71
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Board of Appeals Report
To the Board of Selectmen:
The Board of Appeals under the Zoning By-Law of the Town of Andover has the following members: James S. Eastham, chairman, term expiring May 1, 1958; Hugh Bul- lock, Secretary, term expiring May 1, 1959; Edward P. Hall, term expiring May 1, 1957; and three associate mem- bers, Leon A. Field, Alfred W. Fuller and Walter C. Tom- linson, all of whose terms expire May 1, 1957.
During the year 1956, the twenty-first year of the Zoning By-Law, the Board decided thirty-seven cases as follows :
Petition of John M. Birdsall, Jr. and Dorothy R. Birdsall, decided on January 16, for a variance to permit the leasing of rooms on the ground floor of an apartment house at 115 Main Street for the carrying on of a real estate business.
Denied
Petition of Ulisse DeRosa and Anna DeRosa, decided on January 16, for a variance to permit a garage addition at 15 Lowell Street. Granted
Petition of Louis Spector and Mildred C. Spector, decided on January 16, for a variance to permit a subdivision of land at 26 Washington Avenue. Denied
Petition of Arthur G. Chamberlain, decided on January 16, for permission to remove for sale sand and gravel from land on the northwest side of River Road. Granted
Petition of George Stevens decided on January 16, for a permit to remove for sale excess materials consisting of sand and gravel from land being developed in an area bet- ween Lowell Junction and the Tewksbury and Wilmington town lines. Granted
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Petition of Acme Concrete, Inc., decided on January 23, to permit the carrying on of an industry for mixing con- crete and making concrete castings on property at the foot of Fletcher Street. Denied (2 to1)
Petition of Amelia M. Paparella, decided on February 8, for a variance to permit an undertaking parlor at 68 Elm Street. Denied
Petition of Charles J. Lundergan, decided on February 27, for a permit to convert a single residence at 40 High Street into a two-apartment house. Granted
Petition of Emile Sigouin and Lucinda Sigouin, decided on February 27, for a permit to convert a single residence at 165 Argilla Road into a two-apartment house. Granted
Petition of Douglas M. Dunbar, decided on February 27, for a variance to permit a dentist's office at 11 Locke Street. Denied
Petition of William L. Rich, decided on February 27, for permission to remove for sale sand and gravel from land at Pole Hill, Ballardvale off Tewksbury Street. Denied
Petition of Richard D. Lindsay, decided on March 12, for permission to maintain an animal hospital on the northi side of Lowell Street near Cutler Road. Granted
Petition of Mason F. Arnold, decided on March 12, for a permit to operate an automobile repair shop and service station at 15 Post Office Avenue. Granted
Petition of Trustees of Phillips Academy, decided on March 26, for permission to change into two apartments the second and third floors of a building at 16 School Street. Granted
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Petition of Frederick E. Allen, decided on May 15, for a variance to permit a funeral home at 109 Main Street.
Denied
Petition of John Breen, decided on May 15, for a variance to permit a funeral home at 3 Punchard Avenue. Denied
Petition of Coleman Brothers Corporation, decided on May 15, for permission to remove sand and gravel from land on the north side of River Road. Granted
Petition of Gerard C. Proulx, decided on May 21, for a permit to erect a cement block building for an indoor riding hall at 74 Salem Street. Denied (2 to 1)
Petition of Barnard Associates, decided on May 21, for a permit to subdivide property at 89-91 North Main Street. Granted
Petition of Raytheon Manufacturing Company, decided on May 21, to permit the carrying on of an industry for the manufacture, storage, sale and repair of electronic tubes and equipment in the Shawsheen Mill. Granted
Petition of Frederick O. Davideit, decided on June 18, for a permit to remodel and enlarge a gasoline service sta- tion at 15 Union Street. Denied
Petition of William L. McDonald, decided on June 18, for a permit to convert a single residence into a two-apartment house at 6 Wolcott Avenue. Denied
Petition of Robert B. Sawyer, decided on July 9, to permit a lodging house at 4 Locke Street. Granted
Petition of John T. Andrew, Jr. and Alma G. Andrew, decided on July 20, for a variance to permit a subdivision of land at 72 Clark Road. Denied
Petition of David L. Darling and Beverly M. Darling, de- cided on July 20, for a permit to convert a barn and shed at 134 Main Street into a single family dwelling. Denied
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Petition of Alvin C. Pariseau and Dorothy F. Pariseau, decided on August 3, for a variance to permit the main- tenance of a garage at 36 Chandler Road. Granted
Petition of Essex Sand & Gravel Company, decided on August 3, for a permit to remove for sale sand and gravel from property north of Andover Street and west of Woburn Street. (on appeal to the Superior Court this decision was reversed.) Denied (2 to 1)
Petition of Nicola Lombardi and Mary R. Lombardi, de- cided on September 14, for permission to maintain a rest home on the north side of Vine Street. Granted
Petition of William I. Gray and Marie E. Gray, decided on September 21, for a variance to permit the erection of a dwelling on land on the west side of Sherbourne Street.
Granted
Petition of George F. Jones, decided on September 21, for a variance to permit the building of a residence nearer than 40 feet to the street line on a lot on the north side of Salem Street. Denied
Petition of Roy R. Farr, decided on September 21, for a vvariance to permit the maintenance of a residence nearer than 50 feet to the street line on a lot on the easterly side of Gould Road. Granted
Petition of Kenneth B. Edmunds and Barbara S. Ed- munds, decided on September 21, for a variance to permit a subdivision of land at 99 North Street. Denied
Petition of Frederic J. Bourque and Blanche C. Bourque, decided on September 21, for a permit to convert a 4-apart- ment house at 9 Red Spring Road into a 6-apartment house. Granted
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Petition of Mary Holohan, decided on November 6, for a variance to permit the maintenance of a residence nearer than 40 feet to the street line on property on the northerly side of Vine Street. Granted
Petition of Fred E. Cheever, decided on November 6, for a permit to convert a single residence at 3 Punchard Avenue into a 5-apartment house. Granted
Petition of Jeremiah Dyer, decided on November 30, for a variance to permit a subdivision on the east side of Green- wood Road in the triangular area bounded by Greenwood and Chandler Roads and North Street. Granted
Petition of James Bateson, Jr., decided on December 10, for a permit to remvoe for sale sand and gravel from land owned by St. Augustine's Church on the south side of St. Augustine's Cemetery west of the railroad tracks off Lupine Road. Granted
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES S. EASTHAM, Chairman HUGH BULLOCK, Secretary EDWARD P. HALL
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Planning Board Report
The Planning Board operated on a budget figure of $8,265 - $5500.00 of which was for the continuation of the Master Plan Study.
During 1956, the Planning Board considered a total of 22 subdivision plans; preliminary plans showed a total of 460 house lots considered at this stage.
Definitive subdivision plans numbered 18 and showed a total of 396 house lots.
Out of the 18 definitive plans presented, the Planning Board approved 14 with a total of 254 house lots. The house lots are broken down by precinct as follows :
Precinct 1 9
Precinct 2 31
Precinct 3 9
Precinct 4 156
Precinct 5
000
Precinct 6
49
Total 254
Four definitive plans were rejected by the Board as follows :
No. of Lots R. Leathers, Alderbrook Est. - Undersized Lots 41 W. D'Annolfo, Rocky Hill Rd. - Undersized Lots 8 Realty Const., Elm Street - Undersized Lots & Water Problem 66 H. Axelrod, Westwind Road - Undersized Lots & Water Problem 17
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Two plans reached only the preliminary stages; Spata, North Main Street and another Plan of H. Axelrod, West- wind Road.
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The following plans are now before the Board :
No. of Lots Roy Farr, Wildwood Road - Preliminary Plan 11/28 /56 38 H. Rines, Chestnut Street - Public Hearing 1/30/57 5 F. Cheever, off Summer Street - Preliminary Plan 1/2/57 8
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Action is still pending on all three plans.
Developers, of all subdivisions approved this year, have had to post bond for the completion of all utilities or agree to restrictions upon sale of lots pending such completion to the satisfaction of the Board as provided in the Subdivision Control Law.
Only two plans for subdivision in the C Zone appeared before the Board of 1956 and have not gone beyond the pre- liminary stage. (Spata, North Street and Farr, Wildwood. Road.)
The Planning Board has signed 64 plans "believed not to require the approval of the Planning Board" i. e. plans of lots on accepted streets or changes in existing lots. The to- tal number of lots involved is 177.
By precinct as follows :
Precinct 1 7
Precinct 2
6
Precinct 3
1
Precinct 4 115
Precinct 5
11
Precinct 6
37
Total 177
The total number of new lots for building purposes ap- proved by the Planning Board, including lots on accepted streets and subdivisions for the year 1956 is 431.
The Planning Board, in 1956, held a total of 28 public hearings ; 21 for subdivisions, 5 for zoning changes and 2 upon the requests of private citizens.
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On January 13 and 29, hearings were held for re-zoning of residential land to Restricted Industrial Districts in West Andover and Lowell Junction. These districts were proposed by the Industrial Committee and unanimously approved by the Planning Board. The March 10 and 12 Town Meeting passed both proposals.
On January 23, a hearing was held to change a strip of land owned by S. P. White along the Boston & Maine Rail- road, next to Andover Street, from residential B Zone to Industrial. After unanimous approval by the Planning Board, the Town Meeting of March 10 and 12 voted to ac- cept the change.
On September 19, the Planning Board held a public hear- ing, as required by statute, to amend its Rules and Regu- lations, following almost a year of study and revision. Adop- tion was unanimously voted the same day.
Public hearing on a change from Single Residence, Zone B to Single Residence, Zone C of a large portion of West Andover, upon the petition of Marian Laaff and others, was also held on September 19, with a number of interest- ed persons in attendance and a lively discussion. The Board split three in favor and two against the proposal in its re- port to the Town. At the Special Town Meeting held Octo- ber 22nd, 1956, the Town rejected the proposal 230 to 192.
On October 17, the Board held a public hearing upon pe- tition of Herbert Rines for a change from Single Residence, Zone B to Single Residence, Zone A of the presently unde- veloped land between Shawsheen Road, Lincoln Street, Lo- well Street and North Main Street. Upon unanimous dis- approval by the Planning Board, the Town voted at the Special Town Meeting of October 22nd, to reject the change 162 to 46.
On December 27, the Board held a public hearing at the request of the Selectmen, acting in behalf of Sylvania-Corn- ing, to change the zoning regulations for the Restricted In-
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dustrial Districts to transfer the power of approval of in- dustrial uses from the Board of Selectmen to the Board of Appeals. The Planning Board unanimously approved the change, which was subsequently adopted by the Special Town Meeting by unanimous vote on January 5, 1957.
The Planning Board has sponsored and/or participated in numerous other public hearings and joint meetings with other Town Boards.
The Board members also met at various times of the day to view subdivisions about which questions had arisen, such as Realty Construction Company's Glen Meadows Estates and Fred Doyle's Argilla Road subdivisions.
The Planning Board has worked with the School Commit- tee, particularly with regard to future population trends and to selection of future school sites.
The Board freely extended invitations to the different Town Departments to present their problems and ideas to the Planning & Renewal Associates.
At the invitation of the Andover Planning Board, a joint meeting of the Lawrence and Andover Planning Boards and the Industrial Committees of the two communities was held and agreed in principle upon relocation of proposed Route 110 to serve better the new industrial areas of both com- munities, as recommended by the Planning & Renewal As- sociates, consultants to the Andover Planning Board.
The close cooperation between the Board of Public Works and the Board of Health with the Planning Board, as esta- blished in 1955 for the handling of plans, still continues with the Boards giving valuable suggestions that aid in the final approval of the proposed subdivisions.
The Planning Board works along with other departments in following through on the building permits, checking care- fully all statistics that fall under its jurisdiction. This checking helps to eliminate future errors that may prove expensive not only to the builder but to the town as well.
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A Comprehensive survey of off-Street Parking possibili- ties for the central part of the town was submitted to the Board in June by Goodwin and Davis.
Partly as a result of work done in early 1956 by the Plan- ning Board, a committee, appointed by the Moderator, has been working on a Capital Expenditures Program for An- dover. The appointees are as follows :
Mr. S. White, Board of Selectmen Mrs. V. Hammond & D. Thompson, Planning Board Mr. Hugh Bullock, Board of Appeals
Mr. A. Wilson, Taxpayers Assoc. Mr. R. Zecchini, Finance Committee
Mr. A. Flye, Board of Public Works Mr. J. McCarthy, Taxpayers Assoc.
Five hundred small maps, prepared from the base map completed by Goodwin and Davis in 1955, have been orderedl from the New England Map Company. They will be sold at thirty-five cents apiece and the money turned over to the town.
MASTER PLAN
In a letter from the Department of Commerce, dated April 12, 1956, the Planning Board was notified that its re- quest for an Urban Renewal Grant was accepted. The amount of $5,500.00 was allocated to Andover to match the appropriation granted the Board by the town for 1956. The Planning Board immediately arranged to meet with Mr. Alan McClennen, Director of State Division of Planning on Wednesday, May 2nd, 1956. Mr. Young, his assistant, also attended the meeting. At Mr. McClennen's suggestion, the Planning Board interviewed prospective consultants. (J. T. Blackwell & Planning and Renewal Associates) .
After careful consideration of all the facts and figures, the Planning Board voted, unanimously, to engage the ser- vices of Mr. William Goodman and his associates known
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professionally as the Planning & Renewal Associates.
On July 1, 1956, a contract was signed with the Depart- ment of Commerce and work was begun.
Mr. Goodman presented his scope of services as follows:
A. Recommendations for the desirable future growth of Andover, consisting of a Land Use Plan based on analysis of Land Use Inventory previously prepared and brought up to date by the Planning & Renewal Associates.
B. Analysis and projection of population, including fu- ture capacity and probable distribution.
C. Plan of major thoroughfare, delineating primary and secondary highways and principal generators of traffic.
D. Recommendations for re-zoning of areas in accord- ance with the proposed Land Use Plan, to be included in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting of March, 1957. Study of district changes will include residential, commer- cial land and industrial districts, with consideration to pro- visions regulating agricultural and educational activities.
E. Report on facilities in the general vicinity that affect the growth of Andover, such as new industrial development, highways and service facilities.
F. Publication of 100 copies of a booklet describing the comprehensive plan and the major element thereof.
G. The Contractor will provide advisory services, if re- quired by the Planning Board in regard to the following items as they relate to the over-all plan of development for the Town :
1. Proposals for Capital Improvement.
2. Selection of sites for community facilities.
3. Change in existing subdivisions regulations to conform with the comprehensive plan.
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4. Off-street parking proposals, previously prepared
Much of this work has already been completed as shown by the following tabulation :
Services rendered August 1-31
1. Memorandum prepared on anticipated changes in po- pulation and trends in new home construction.
2. Memorandum prepared on anticipated physical chang- es in Andover and area presenting problems and oppor- tunities.
3. Map prepared showing desirable stages of residential development preliminary to Land Use Plan.
4. Kodachrome slides prepared showing characteristic buildings and landscape features in Andover.
5. Above material presented to meeting of Andover Plan- ning Board of August 22, 1956.
6. Preliminary studies on vicinity factors affecting Andover.
7. Preliminary studies started on Circulation Plan.
Services rendered September 1-30
1. Map and memorandum prepared on open land uses, including public, semi-public, agricultural and Bay Circuit uses.
2. Map and memorandum prepared on circulation and traffic generators.
3. Maps prepared on residential densities and population distribution.
4. Based on above maps, proposed land use sketches are in preparation.
5. Two memorandums prepared for Planning Board on proposed zoning changes to be acted upon at special town meeting.
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Services rendered October 1-31
1. Land Use proposals, maps and memorandum, present- ed to Planning Board (October 10th). Decision of Board expected Nov. 21, 1956
2. Town agencies and committees interviewed in prepar- ation for summarizing findings for presentation to special town committee on Capital Improvements and to the Plan- ing Board.
3. Writing of sections of final report begun.
Services rendered November 1-30
1. Capital Improvements memorandum presented to Planning Board.
2. Meeting with Planning Board to further review of Land Use Proposals. Final decisions to be made at next meeting.
3. Joint meeting with Andover and Lawrence Planning Boards to review proposals for industrial areas in West Andover and for alignment of Route 110 to best serve the area.
4. Additional work on final report.
Services rendered December 1-31
1. Additional on final report.
2. Meeting with Planning Board, School Committee and other town officials to discuss long-range inmplications of plan recommendations for school sites, fire stations, etc.
3. Study of business zone at Lowell Street and new Route 28 with recommendations for both map and by-law changes to be presented at March Town Meeting.
The Master Plan studies should be completed by summer, 1957. Implementation of some of the proposals by changes in the zoning by-law is to be expected during 1957.
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Mr. Lee E. Noyes was elected Chairman of the Board.
Mr. Frederic O'Brien was elected to the Planning Board in March, 1956 to fill out the unexpired term of Mr. E. Ber- nardin which will terminate March, 1958.
Mr. Robert MacMackin, in a letter dated August 10, 1956, resigned from the Board due to personal reasons. The Se- lectmen appointed Mr. Edward Hall to fill out his unexpired term.
Mr. Preble still serves the Board with his engineering skill and knowledge of the Town's problems.
Respectfully submitted,
LEE E. NOYES VIRGINIA H. HAMMOND DONALD S. THOMPSON FREDERIC S. O'BRIEN EDWARD P. HALL
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Report of Recreation Committee
PLAYGROUNDS
This year our committee maintained five playgrounds ; Central, Ballardvale, Indian Ridge, North District and Shawsheen. West Center playground was closed due to the new addition to the West Elementary School which took in the site of our play area. We hope to have a much improved playground some place on the grounds of the new high school and will then close Indian Ridge and West Center. The usual program of inter-playground activities was car- ried on with emphasis on handicraft work and competitive tournaments in checkers, ping pong and baseball. The acti- vities are now of a very diversified nature and any group of youngsters may form a class (if the number is sufficient) in any hobby they desire. This year for the first time a class of baton twirling was inaugurated and was well attended and successful. The Annual Picnic at Canobie Lake and the Annual Inter-Playground Field Day at Central were enjoy- able days of the past season. Due to the vigilance of our per- sonnel there was not one accident or serious injury during the season. The attendance on all playgrounds was higher than the previous year and we expect even greater numbers to participate in our program this season, since the birth rate has been high and still continues to soar and the influx of new families increases.
POMPS POND
This area in the not too remote future will be an out- standing feature of the Andover Recreational Program. At the special town meeting held in March the $2,900.00 pre- viously voted at two town meetings for improvements to the Central Playground was transferred to the develop- ment at Pomps Pond. Bull dozers quickly changed the topo- graphy of the area and after digging down about ten feet
201
behind the bath house and pushing the soil into the large gully in the rear, we are able to park three or four times as many cars as was possible in the past. After going down four feet, fine sand was struck and this was pushed onto the beach to improve the water front and enlarge it for sun bathing. The very hazardous condition of unloading the bus on Abbot Street will now be eliminated and the bus will drive right to the beach. A two way traffic road is planned and we hope to complete it for the coming season. The beach has been enlarged and the new area will be dredged. The guard house has been moved up next to the bath house and all the brush to the right has been removed, giving the bathers a full and unobstructed view of the entire beach. This development will continue through the year of 1957. Two new fireplaces and four heavy picnic tables have been donated to us by the Andover Village Improvement Society and their generosity has improved our picnic facilities to a great extent. We are now in the process of trying to buy more land adjacent to the beach for future development which will include play areas, possibly a soft ball diamond etc. Steadily increasing attendance at the beach and the ci- tizens' demand for parking space were the reasons for our extensive development program this year. On one Sun- day last summer there were, by a police count, approximate- ly 2500 persons at Pomps Pond.
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