Merrimack College is awaiting final approval from the Conservation Commission before it can begin construction on a new lecture hall. The college intends to build a two-story, 19,205-square-foot lecture hall on its campus at 315 Turnpike St., a key project as it works toward becoming accredited as a top research institution within the next five to ten years.

The Andover Conservation Commission must approve the college’s stormwater management plan and Operations and Maintenance Plan, a condition set by the North Andover Planning Board. While the commission closed the public hearing on the project Tuesday night, they decided to delay making a decision due to a last-minute update sent to them before the meeting. A peer review of the stormwater management plan had also been requested.

A delayed approval could create complications for the college's construction schedule. Mark Johnson, the college's attorney, emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, “We are on a very tight construction schedule. It’s important to the college that construction starts before your next meeting.”

A preconstruction meeting had been scheduled for next week, but the commission's next meeting is not until Dec. 17. Anthony Preston, Associate Vice President of Government, External Affairs & Institutional Projects, stated that Merrimack College aims to open the lecture hall by January 2026 for the second semester of the next school year. “If we can’t open it by then, it would render the lecture hall useless for another six months,” he explained, adding, “It really puts us in a really big financial problem with the project.”

Janet Bernardo of the Horsley Witten Group, which conducted the peer review, suggested conditions, including the creation of a campus-wide Operation and Maintenance Plan to ensure regular inspection and cleaning of the drainage basins. She noted that the applicant is willing to comply with the request.

Commissioner Jon Honea inquired about the impact of rainfall runoff from the property on nearby areas. Jeff Koeteritz, a VHB civil engineer, clarified, “If anything, the projects are pulling more water out of the neighborhoods and to one of the detention basins.”

Commission members agreed to take additional time to review the order of conditions. Chair Donald Cooper assured that the college would be notified if any issues arise during the review process.