How Will the 40B Affect Schools in the Proposed Plan at Rolling Green?
This week's You Ask...Patch Answers addresses the potential impact of a 224-unit apartment complex at the Rolling Green golf course.
How Will the 40B Affect Schools in the Proposed Plan at Rolling Green?
The developer proposing the 40B project at the Rolling Green Golf course has recently changed the project from what was originally proposed last year. It now includes 224 rental units between two buildings, varying between one, two and three bedroom apartments.
A total of 25 percent of the units will be deemed affordable and will cost less based on 80 percent of the annual median income of the area.
Using rough figures from existing condo and apartment complexes, a consultant with the project estimated that this will eventually add 45 new students to the Andover Public Schools system. The overall increase in educational costs for the town was estimated at $515,000 per year.
Overall, the project consultants estimate that the project will begin at a loss of $77,000 per year for the town; i.e. annual revenue generated from the development's property taxes versus the how much the town will spend annually on public services for the development.
However, consultants also said that they feel the town will eventually end up breaking even on a year-to-year basis in terms of the project's impact on public services versus the revenue it provides to the town.
The development itself will include many amenities for residents including a pool, a clubhouse and others.
The plan includes building on the grounds of the Rolling Green Golf Course, which will shut down as a result of the project.
Check back with Andover Patch later this week for an update on the project's current status with the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Mark Merritt
6:54 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
How was this cost impact ($515,000) estimated? If it was based on the "average cost per student" then I suggest the number if far too high. 45 students is the equivalent of approximately 2 aditional classrooms, hence adding the cost of about 2 additional teachers. Including benefits, that cost would be closer to $120,000, and would liekly be less if these students spanned a range of grades. There may be NO additional costs, if these students can be fit into existing classes.
Brendan Lewis
1:15 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
They used a conservative estimate that included not just salaries and benefits, but administrative and maintenance costs as well as others that can be associated with the addition of new students. They came at a cost of $12,700 per student, then subtracted the average amount each child receives from state education aid, which is $1,250, and finally came at $11,450 per pupil cost annually.
Kathleen
7:35 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
How about mentioning where this development is located. It would be helpful to know what school district it is located in, so we know what elementary and middle schools will be affected.
Brendan Lewis
1:10 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Hi Kathleen, in the article, I mentioned it will sit on the grounds of the current Rolling Green Golf Course. But I did not mention the exact address; 311 Lowell Street. For those that don't know where that is, that is located directly across from the IRS building on Route 133. See the map attached.
Frank Puopolo
9:49 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
In Georgetown we were told by the "experts" to expect an additional 12 students from a 184 unit rental complex very similar to this one. We ended up with over 50.
The experts hired by developers on are very rarely impartial or honest. Most are hired to encourage development and put the best possible face on the development being proposed.