I’m writing to highlight recent activity, initiated by our neighbor, that may be of interest to the broader Andover community. The owner of the Highland Lake Inn, Andover Select Board member Pecco Beaufays, has proposed building a six-unit condominium housing complex, to be sited in the hayfield adjacent to the Inn. As he explained it to us and several neighborhood residents, he has partnered with the Peabody Home in Franklin to focus his project on senior housing and, possibly, assisted living.

The proposal lies within the Village District encompassing the Channel Road/Maple Street/Tucker Mountain Road area. First, we admit that this is literally in our backyard at 28 Tucker Mountain Road, so we can be labeled guilty of NIMBY-ism (Not in my Backyard). We do, however, have concerns beyond the personal loss of our viewscape, the inherent light and noise pollution, and road proximity to our property line.

This proposal seems antithetical to the nature of the Village here and the Highland Lake community in general. Our Andover Master Plan, recently updated, speaks of the desire to preserve open space and encourages maintaining Andover’s deep-rooted rural nature. The loss of native wildlife, local agriculture, and overall bucolic ambience will be significant.

This condo development, seemingly allowed within the zoning district, risks worsening the traffic problem that already exists at the intersection of Maple Street and Tucker Mountain Road. The increase of impervious surface area on this lot (parking areas, roofs, access driveway(s), septic field), as well as the loss of a small wet area, will have potential runoff impacts for both Sucker Brook and Tucker Mountain Road. The large septic system this complex will require, should it fail, is being sited close enough to Sucker Brook that while the effects may not be immediately evident, any damage from seepage will have to be mitigated.

The proposal has yet to go before the Planning Board for a Site Plan Review, but Select Board member Beaufays has been working closely with Planning Board Chair Ken Wells to ensure that all required criteria are addressed ahead of this review. As these two Town officials have also met with the New Hampshire Board of Tourism to encourage promoting Andover as a destination spot (meeting at Highland Lake Inn, September 25), it seems to us there is a defined effort to change the nature of the Andover community by bringing in outsiders, beginning with this proposal and the Peabody Home, plus the revamping of the purpose of the Highland Lake Inn (but that’s a topic for another time).

Perhaps the self-justifications that will surely come will change our minds, but we remain to be convinced. The optics alone are unpleasant at best, while the proposal itself leaves much to be desired.

Les Fenton, with Laurie Zimmerman
East Andover