MILLS CORP. STUDY COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

08/06/03

ATTENDEES

Committee Members:

James Carter

Steve Deackoff

Peter Guglietta, Jr.

John Mackey

Tom Ryan

Douglas Sears

Ray Shaw

David Silva

Steve Sadwick, Community Development Director

Guests:

Atty. Rick O’Neill, Representative Perkins Family Trust

David Wahr, Representative Mills Corp.

Several Residents

Doug Sears stated that at the direction of the Board of Selectman, he would be Chairman. Mr. Sears opened the meeting at 7:10 PM.

Mr. Sears called for nominations for Vice-Chairman and Clerk. Ray Shaw nominated himself. Mr. Sears seconded; the vote was unanimous in favor. Mr. Shaw nominated David Silva for Clerk. Mr. Deackoff seconded; the vote was unanimous in favor.

Chairman Sears stated the Mission of the Mills Corp. Study Committee was to study the proposed Mills Corp. development on the Perkins property and make a report to the Board of the Selectmen.

Steve Sadwick stated the goal of the committee is to study/review the Mills Corp. proposal and understands all aspects of its impact on the Town of Tewksbury. Mr. Sadwick also stated that all meetings would be advertised in newspapers, on cable TV, and on the official Town of Tewksbury website.

Rick O’Neill made a brief statement on the preliminary plans to develop the Perkins property. Mr. O’Neill stated that a proposal is in place to add an exit ramp on the East Side of I-93 to alleviate traffic concerns in the Wyeth/Gillette area of Andover. He also stated that Mills Corp. was interested in having an exit ramp on the West Side of I-93 to provide access to their proposed mall. Mr. O’Neill said there would be no access to South St from the mall with the exception of emergency access for Police, Fire, and in the case of severe flooding in the South St area.

David Wahr spoke on Mills Corp’s preliminary plan to construct an approx. 750,000 square foot mall in the area of the Perkins property. Mr. Wahr also spoke of a possible plan of constructing residential buildings along with the proposed mall. He stated that there would not be direct access to the mall from South St. Mr. Wahr also spoke of the possibility of creating a “T” train station in Andover near the proposed mall site to allow for easier access to the mall. A shuttle would be utilized to move people between the train station and the proposed mall. Mr. Wahr and Mr. O’Neill both stated that approval and construction of a new access ramp on I-93 is needed to move their proposal forward. In addition, Mr. O’Neill noted that the Perkins family are tentatively looking to a February 2004 Special Town Meeting to ask that their property be re-zoned from Residential to Residential/Commercial (Mixed Use).

Mr. Sears made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded; the vote was unanimous in favor.

Meeting adjourned at 8:35PM

No further action was taken.

The next Mills Corp. Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 18, 2003, at 7:00 PM, in the Community Room, First Floor, at Police Headquarters.