As part of the FY27 Capital Improvement Plan, the Town Manager is recommending $7,500,000 be allocated for the construction of a new fire station on Berry Street.  Preliminary plans have been completed and final design is in progress with funding that was approved at the 2024 Town Meeting. 

Plans for the renovation of Fire Station 2 located on Johnson Street are currently being drafted.  Much of this renovation will be funded with remaining ARPA funds and donations provided by Merrimack College.  

FAQs for Fire Station 3

1. Why do we need a third fire station?

The Town of North Andover is geographically over 27 square miles.  The town built Station 2 in the Old Center in 1970 and since then the population has roughly doubled, mostly “out country”.  This results in a very long response time and a strain on our ability to provide the level of service the town has come to expect from the NAFD.

2. Why this location? 

The Route 114 corridor is one of our busiest sections of town for emergency calls.  Fire leadership, Town officials, and consultants began a search for suitable locations in this area where we could locate a station.  With the goal of being fiscally responsible to North Andover taxpayers, the site search was limited to Town owned property that would satisfy the Fire Department's needs.  The Berry Street site reduces response times to the busy area as well as strategically places assets closer to the area of town that is not protected by a fire hydrant system.

3. Why are we proposing station 3 instead of the original plan to renovate station 2?

Originally, Facilities Master Plan II called for needed renovation and expansion of NAFD Station 2 (Johnson and Salem Streets).  The study designs planned for an additional apparatus bay (garage) as well as needed upgrades to the living quarters that had been essentially the same since 1970.  An internal needs assessment was completed and the following shortcomings were identified:

• Insufficient garage space for existing vehicles (spare ambulance, command vehicles, brush truck, rescue boat)

• Increased traffic volume in the already congested Old Center

• No improvement in long response times to emergencies

• No room for future growth of the Department 

The current plan of building a Station 3 (with the same budgeted costs) would address all of these items and would better position the Department to meet the changing needs of the town.

4. What is the plan for the lost parking lot on Berry Street?

The North Andover Fields committee submitted a request for funds to the Community Preservation Committee to address relocation of the parking lot which would create a more suitable parking area allowing the field to be used for games and not just practices.

5. Is this going to require a tax override?

No, the planned Station 3 budget is not planned to exceed the funds currently allocated for the original Station 2 renovation/rebuild.

6. What about the deficiencies identified with the current Station 2?

As part of the Department’s long range planning and working with the Saccoccio and Associates Architects, a phased approach to renovations of the current Station 2 have been designed.  Working with the North Andover Facilities Department, much of this work will be completed with donated funds from Merrimack College and ARPA funding.

7. Is this new station going to increase the need for additional staff?

Initial staffing for the three stations will be handled with the current complement of Fire Fighting personnel.   The plan will provide strategic space in all three buildings to meet the increasing demands of providing emergency services such as additional ambulance coverage and training needs in the future.

8. What percentage of calls does the Fire Department receive along the 114 corridor?

The percentage of calls on Turnpike Street for the last 3 years was as follows:

2023- 12.7%

2024- 13.6%

2025- 15.7%

These percentages do not include the streets and complexes off Turnpike Street that would be covered by the proposed Berry Street station.