WILMINGTON, MA — At the recent 2023 Annual Town Meeting, Wilmington voters authorized the Select Board to acquire by gift, purchase, eminent domain, or otherwise all or a portion of property located at 333 Andover Street for municipal purposes including — but not limited to — the location of a fire/police substation and various active and passive recreational uses.
The measure — Article 40 — passed overwhelmingly, by a 148-to-3 margin, authorizing the Select Board to spend up to $3.79 million from the town’s available funds account, commonly referred to as “free cash.”
“I believe this is a unique opportunity for our community in our long pursuit of a North Wilmington fire/police station,” said Selectman Greg Bendel, the maker of the motion. He noted the Select Board and Finance Committee back the plan.
“The town has had its eye on this property for quite some time, since really the mid-90’s,” added Town Manager Jeff Hull, who indicated the town is stepping up its efforts to acquire the land after learning the property may be under some sort of potential agreement with a development firm. “We believe the time is now to pursue this property.”
Hull would later cite a proposal the Select Board was briefed on back in December in which a private developer wished to build approximately 650 apartment units, in 6-story or 7-story buildings, for the site. In more recent conversations, the proponent has preliminary downsized his plans from 650 units to approximately 300 units. It is this plan, in part, that has gotten the town to more aggressively pursue acquiring the property.
Hull noted that the town has purchased land for municipal use in the recent past, citing the land next to St. Dorothy’s, which will soon become the town’s new Senior Center, and the Yentile property, which was transformed into a recreational facility.
“This property at 333 Andover Street has been a farmland for many years. There’s a number of potential uses envisioned for this. One being fire substation,” said Hull, also noting it offers the opportunity for additional athletic fields and trails. “This is probably the largest property undeveloped that remains in the town.”
Former Selectwoman Suzanne Sullivan spoke in favor of the article.
“I served on the Open Space Committee for many years. This property was always #1 on the list to acquire for the town,” began Sullivan. “We don’t have any more land in this town. With all the developments, and so-called ‘improvements,’ and changes, I personally think we have an obligation to make sure our townspeople have what they need. There’s been studied done about how important it is for people to get out in open space — take a walk in the woods, take a walk in nature. This property can hook up to the extensive AVIS trail system in Andover and the Bay Circuit Trail System. It’s really, really important for us to do the right thing for the future. We’ve been really good in this town about supporting active recreation, the time has come to support some passive recreation in town.”
“I’d rather have a fire substation there than 350 units,” she added.
Former Selectman Michael McCoy also publicly supported the measure.
“I’m all for it. It’s a wonderful thing for us to take this property,” McCoy said. “My message to the Select Board is stand tall, take it by eminent domain as we gave this property tax breaks for many years, and let’s take it under our control. It’s the last great parcel in this community. Town could use it for multiple uses…. Do the right thing. Get the whole thing.”
Selectman Gary DePalma let his support for the measure be known.
“One thing I’ve been concerned about is a public safety building up in that area. We can build it there and leave the rest of the property alone. If we don’t need the rest of the property right now, we don’t need it,” said DePalma. “In the long run, we’re talking an ice skating rink, a rec center, a new DPW barn. If we need it, we have it, it’s there for us. And, if not, generations ahead of us, will have the opportunity to determine what they want to do with it.”
Other town officials also signaled their support.
“For years, we’ve been talking about a fire substation. This is our chance. This is the piece of land we need to make that happen,” concurred Finance Committee member Marianne Gallezzo.
“This property is going to be developed for some person at some point. It’s going to be much to our liking and to the benefit of the Town of Wilmington if we control what that purpose is going to be,” summarized School Committee member David Ragsdale.
While one neighbor spoke out against the town purchasing the property, another spoke in favor.
“I would support a fire and police substation. To have them be across the street, instead of 10 minutes away, so they can do their jobs to help us and keep us safe. It sounds like it’s just a matter of time. Would I rather have a developer, or would I rather have the town, fire, police, recreational facilities? For me, it’s a no brainer,” said Suzanne Krull. “Let’s support the town. Let’s support the police, fire and EMTs. And let’s have possibilities for recreation in the future.”
The greyed out area with the yellow outline is the property in question:
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