to view the Affordable Housing Plan - Town of North Andover

and town houses only by right in the R5 district and by special permit in the B2.
Opportunities to expand housing other than single family should be expanded by allowing
more options as a matter of right. The goal is to create alternative housing choices such as
triplexes, duplexes, town houses, condos, apartments, multi-family dwellings, etc. and
housing developments for specific needs (i.e. senior housing and for disabled individuals).
This will help to increase housing choice for middle-income residents.
• The Town should consider density bonuses for providing affordable housing in mixed use
developments (this would be above what may be required if the town adopts inclusionary
zoning). Three market units for every additional affordable unit is consistent with what is
required under 40B and could be used as a starting point.
• Develop comprehensive design requirements for residential development. Design criteria
should be established that maintain or improve architectural integrity, address signage issues,
improve pedestrian and bicycle amenities, require landscaping, require small setbacks,
encourage parking to the rear of the buildings, etc. Design is important when considering
higher density because it helps ensure that neighborhood or community characteristics will
be adhered to and maintained. This assists in community acceptance of the higher density as
well.
VII B - ADOPT AN INCLUSIONARY ZONING BYLAW
Inclusionary zoning is a technique in which developers are asked to provide a certain number of
affordable dwelling units when they are creating market rate units. A growing number of
communities in Massachusetts have turned to this zoning tool as a way to increase the affordable
housing stock. Examples include Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Dennis, Duxbury, Haverhill,
Peabody, Rockport, and Tewksbury. Inclusionary zoning would work well as a complement to
adopting an Open Space Cluster Bylaw.
Under inclusionary housing, a minimum percentage of affordable units are to be provided when
development proposals exceed an established threshold. These affordable units can be targeted for
those individuals earning less than 120% of the median household income, and would be deed
restricted to ensure long-term affordability. Progress toward meeting affordable housing goals can
be maintained through such a zoning provision only if the affordable units are provided for those
households earning 80% of median household income or less.
This could be one of the most effective and direct means for creating affordable housing units in
North Andover. At a minimum, it will prevent the town from losing ground in the production of
affordable units as new market rate ones are built. Moreover, as discussed in detail below, it could
create additional units to assist the Town in meeting the 10% 40B goal. Such a bylaw is fair if
written properly and applied across the board, and since it is initiated by North Andover, it places
more control in the town’s hands as opposed to the developer’s. Finally, if the Town adopts
inclusionary zoning, it will have more of a competitive edge for discretionary state grant programs
scored under the Commonwealth Capital program.
Several important policy decisions need to be considered including the percentage of units that
should be required to be affordable; what threshold should be established to invoke the requirement
North Andover Affordable Housing Plan
Page 39 of 49