to view the Affordable Housing Plan - Town of North Andover

VII. SHORT AND LONG TERM RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations should be given further consideration for implementation in the
Town of North Andover as soon as possible.
VII A - ZONING ISSUES
Smart Growth
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is strongly encouraging communities to implement smart
growth measures as they seek to amend their zoning codes. The American Planning Association, in
its Policy Guide on Smart Growth, defines smart growth as:
Smart growth means using comprehensive planning to guide, design, develop, revitalize and build
communities for all that:
• have a unique sense of community and place;
• preserve and enhance valuable natural and cultural resources;
• equitably distribute the costs and benefits of development;
• expand the range of transportation, employment and housing choices in a fiscally
responsible manner;
• value long-range, regional considerations of sustainability over short term incremental
geographically isolated actions; and
• promotes public health and healthy communities.
Compact, transit accessible, pedestrian-oriented, mixed use development patterns and land reuse
epitomize the application of the principles of smart growth. 14
The Massachusetts Office of Commonwealth Development established a list of Sustainable
Development Principles that include:
• REDEVELOP FIRST. Support the revitalization of community centers and
neighborhoods. Encourage reuse and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure rather than
the construction of new infrastructure in undeveloped areas. Give preference to
redevelopment of brownfields, preservation and reuse of historic structures and
rehabilitation of existing housing and schools.
• CONCENTRATE DEVELOPMENT. Support development that is compact,
conserves land, integrates uses, and fosters a sense of place. Create walkable districts
mixing commercial, civic, cultural, educational and recreational activities with open space
and housing for diverse communities.
• EXPAND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. Support the construction and
rehabilitation of housing to meet the needs of people of all abilities, income levels and
household types. Coordinate the provision of housing with the location of jobs, transit
14 http://www.planning.org/policyguides/smartgrowth.htm
North Andover Affordable Housing Plan
Page 37 of 49