North Andover Planning Board Approves Solar Carport Permit at 203 Turnpike Street

NORTH ANDOVER — April 28, 2026 — North Andover Planning Board approves solar carport permit and backs two conservation land purchases ahead of town meeting. The board voted 4-0 at its April 28 session to grant a special permit modification allowing Andrew Keller of AC Development to install approximately 10,000 square feet of photovoltaic panels atop a new carport structure in the parking lot of 203 Turnpike Street, contingent on the town planner receiving a final written sign-off from the project's stormwater peer reviewer. Consultant John Ralphs of Novus Group confirmed the site's new operations and maintenance plan, deep-sump catch basins, and street sweeping schedule represent improvements over conditions that predate current stormwater regulations. The board also voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on all Community Preservation Act proposals under Article 12 for the May 12 Annual Town Meeting, including a $560,000 acquisition of Zero Great Pond Road for watershed protection and a $500,000 North Andover contribution toward a $3 million purchase of the 34-acre Barker Farm conservation parcel — both well within the town's roughly $12 million to $13 million in available CPA funds.