Thursday, April 27, 2000 Older Editions

Article 29: Plan to buy town yard-area land on ice

By Rebecca Lipchitz

Town Meeting voters Tuesday rejected the town's request for $1.1 million to buy property adjacent to the town yard behind the public safety center.

Finance Committee members argued against Article 29, saying it was too much money for such a small amount of property.

Committee chairman Donald Schroeder said the deal would mean the town pays $51 per square foot for the property.

He also argued that plans for the town yard were not finalized enough to warrant the purchase.

"That created a problem for us," said Schroeder.

Plant and Facilities Director Joe Piantedosi showed slides of the plan to expand the town yard downtown into the properties on Lewis Street and Buxton Court, which the town would have acquired if Article 29 had passed.

The town is also considering four other sites for the town yard.

Town Manager Buzz Stapczynski argued that the town should buy the land regardless of whether it is definitely slated for a town yard .

Leo Doherty, owner of one of the properties included in the article, told Town Meeting voters he wanted to sell his property to the town, since he, and the other two owners involved, plan to sell their properties to someone this year.

"I hope you (voters) won't be asked to acquire these properties next year from new owners," Doherty said.

He expects that homes such as his would appeal to families with young children.

Resident Alan French disagreed with the Finance Committee's argument that the plan for the town yard was not finalized enough to warrant approval of the purchase.

"If we had not had the foresight to acquire land, such as the Cross Street site of the new schools, we would be in a far worse position now as the town is growing," French said.

Preservation Commission Chairman Karen Herman spoke against the article, since it would lead to demolition of 19th-century homes.

"This changes the look of downtown. The town has a history in ownership of property (of) turning it into asphalt," she said.

Christopher Haynes of the Andover Affordable Housing Committee recommended disapproval of the article to preserve, as affordable housing in town, the houses that would be razed as a result of this project.

He added that he believes the town could save money by spreading town yard operations in different areas throughout town.