A possible all-affordable housing project on Ayer Road is close enough to the Ayer town line to hook into Ayer’s water and sewer lines. But whether Ayer would allow such a connection is another matter entirely.
The proposed “friendly 40B” would be located on a 14-acre parcel of land at 361Ayer Road. In November, East Bare Hill Road resident Leo Blair told the selectmen that he had signed a purchase and sale agreement for the site and would be willing to transfer the land to the town, should the town choose to build its own affordable housing. Blair suggested that more than 90 units could be built on the site, which would go a long way toward fulfilling the goal that 10 percent of Harvard’s housing stock be affordable.
At last week’s Board of Selectmen meeting Town Administrator Tim Bragan reported that he and DPW Director Rich Nota met with Ayer Superintendent of Public Works Michael Madigan about the possibility of tapping into Ayer’s water supply and sewer system for the project. Madigan confirmed that the proposed building site on Ayer Road is, in fact, close enough to access Ayer’s water and sewer. However, he warned that, in Bragan’s words, “Ayer is protective of their water supply.” Further, Madigan indicated that he was not sure about the flow capacities for the sewage system in that area.
Bragan said that he and Selectman Tim Clark are planning to meet with Ayer Town Administrator Shaun Suhoski and Ayer’s selectmen chairman Gary Luca to discuss a possible municipal agreement and the potential costs involved.
