North Andover Planning Board Rejects Two Insubstantial Change Requests, Backs Town Meeting Zoning Articles

NORTH ANDOVER — March 17, 2026 — North Andover Planning Board rejected two insubstantial-change bids and advanced clean energy permitting reforms at its March 17 meeting. The board voted unanimously against a request by Peter Termini, representing property owner Barbara Adams, to eliminate a conditioned $150,000 waterline extension at Stone Cleave Estates in favor of sprinkler systems, finding the change would leave an approved plan without any potable water source — though members signaled they are open to the swap if a new developer returns with a formal modification. The board also unanimously declared a bid by winery owner Brig Leland to nearly double approved parking at his Graypon Road property — from 35 to 68 spaces — a substantial change requiring full public notice and a new hearing. Andrew Shapiro, Director of Community and Economic Development, briefed the board on the state's 2024 Climate Act, which imposes a 12-month decision clock on local clean energy permits starting in October 2026, with projects not decided in time deemed constructively approved; Shapiro said the town will need a designated permitting coordinator and an updated zoning bylaw to address battery energy storage systems before that deadline. The board voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on two zoning bylaw amendments — an ADU bylaw housekeeping update and a site plan review revision — heading to annual town meeting, and continued public hearings on both to April 7.