ANDOVER — Some Ballardvale residents fear a proposed 32-unit development off River Street will destroy a rustic section of their neighborhood and make traffic problems in the south of town even worse.
The proposed development, named Taylor Cove, has skirted certain local zoning guidelines under state law Chapter 40B, which governs affordable housing projects.
"It's pretty shocking," said Frances Wheeler of nearby 4 Hillcrest Road. "It will basically be 10 acres of devastation that's only being considered because it's a 40B."
Local builder and Acorn Drive resident Todd Wacome referred to his Taylor Cove proposal as low-density housing designed to blend with homes in Ballardvale.
Proposed as a cul-de-sac off 86 River St., Taylor Cove would consist of 32 three-bedroom townhouses built on 12 acres. Eight of the townhouses would be affordable under 40B guidelines.
In all, 10 multi-unit buildings would be constructed. Each unit would have a garage.
Wacome said he's willing to work with abutters and the Andover Zoning Board of Appeals to scale down the project and develop a proper buffer between the proposed and existing developments.
Discussions with the zoning board on Taylor Cove picked up in the fall. On Tuesday, the board extended a public hearing on the proposal to a tentative date in mid-February.
"That's been sort of the nature of the last two months," said Wacome. "We've been going over different ways to reduce the footprint and increase the buffer between Hillcrest Road and the project."
Wacome said the townhouses would be built away from adjacent wetlands.
Wheeler said the proposed multi-unit construction clashes greatly with the surrounding area. She said Hillcrest Road is a dirt road lined with small homes.
Wheeler said thousands of cars already use River Street each day during commuter hours.
The Andover Zoning Board of Appeals initially denied Wacome's proposal for Taylor Cove in January 2009. The denial stemmed from a 2.6-acre parcel included in the plans that had already been approved for a single-family home in the 1980s, but was not developed.
Wacome appealed the zoning board vote and won, prompting renewed discussions in the fall.
Multiple attempts to reach zoning board Chairman Stephen Anderson were unsuccessful.
