North Andover's Conservation Commission voted to issue an order of conditions for a proposed third fire station at the corner of Berry and Turnpike streets, the Andover Townsman reported Nov. 2.
The commission acted on a notice of intent for the project during its Wednesday meeting, according to the Townsman. The order is the commission's permit under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (WPA). It can approve work subject to protections for wetlands and related public interests, according to Hoodline.
The decision marks an environmental milestone but does not end the wetlands process. State rules allow certain applicants, abutters and other eligible parties to seek review by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection within 10 business days, Hoodline reported.
The proposed station would be North Andover's third. The town's two existing stations house four engines, one ladder truck, one brush truck and four ambulances, staffed by 61 full-time members who are also trained as EMTs, according to the Fire Department's website.
Why a third station
The project grew out of a shift in the town's facilities plan. The earlier approach called for renovating and expanding Station 2 on Johnson Street, including adding an apparatus bay and upgrading living quarters that had been essentially the same since the station was built in 1970, according to the town's project page. An internal assessment found that plan would not fix long response times, lacked room for future growth and would add traffic to the already congested Old Center.
Building a new station at Berry Street, the town says, addresses all of those shortcomings at the same budgeted cost.
North Andover covers more than 27 square miles, and the Fire Department says its population has roughly doubled since Station 2 opened. The Route 114 corridor is one of the town's busiest areas for emergency calls, according to the project page. Turnpike Street's share of department calls climbed from 12.7% in 2023 to 13.6% in 2024 and 15.7% in 2025. Those figures do not include side streets and complexes off Turnpike Street that the Berry Street station would also cover.
The town limited its site search to town-owned parcels. Multiple locations were investigated, but space, environmental constraints and residential impact made Berry Street the best available option, the project page states.
Stormwater and access questions
Stormwater management drew scrutiny during the commission's review. A third peer review by Horsley Witten Group raised concerns about the initial design, Hoodline reported. Commission chair John Mason described site walks and design changes meant to direct pond discharges toward the wetland and away from a neighbor's backyard, according to Hoodline. Plans also identify areas for stockpiling and erosion control, Hoodline reported, citing the Eagle-Tribune.
Access remains an open question. One option discussed was a narrow gravel lane between a vernal pool and the Department of Public Works to connect the station site to nearby athletic fields on Berry Street. That route would involve tree removal, road construction near the pool and wetland fill, Hoodline reported. The discussion identified a possible route, not a final access plan.
Cost and staffing
The town says the Station 3 budget is not planned to exceed the funds already allocated for the original Station 2 renovation. Design funding was approved at the 2024 Town Meeting, according to Hoodline. Initial staffing for three stations would be handled with the department's current personnel, the town says.
North Andover News reported that the Town Meeting warrant listed Fire Station 3 under Article 9, Capital Improvements, for the May 12 Town Meeting, Hoodline noted.
