The Lawyer Amended the Filing. We Updated the Petition. The Opposition Stands.
Thank you to the 400+ of you who have signed. We have important developments to share.
On September 24, the applicant's attorney filed an amended application for 675 Andover Street. We've reviewed it side-by-side against the original. Here's what you need to know.
What changed:
One thing. Geodon Developers, Inc. — the development corporation originally named as the applicant — has been removed from the filing. That's it. The project is now filed under Kevin & Debbie Fernandes only. This happened after our petition gained over 250 signatures calling it a "developer-driven speculative project."
Removing a company name from a form does not change who is behind this project or what is being built.
What didn't change — and should have:
- The 40-foot flag lot — still the narrowest on Andover Street
- The driveway — the Lowell Fire Department's staff review has already stated it "DOES NOT MEET the minimum width of the fire department access road" and "rejects the plans as built"
- Zero supporting studies — still no traffic study, no stormwater plan, no drainage calculations, no tree inventory, no lighting analysis
- The project cost — still $550,000
- The applicants still do not reside at the subject property
What's conspicuously missing from the amended application:
The Historic Board review box is NOT checked — even though the city's own staff confirmed a Major Historic Permit is required, and the applicant asked for a continuance specifically to obtain Historic Board approval.
The ZBA Variance box is NOT checked — even though city staff identified in their September 17 review that a Variance for lot width is required. Three separate boards need to approve this project, but the applicant's amended form acknowledges only one.
The Fire Department's concerns have not been addressed — no revised driveway plan, no fire access analysis.
What this tells us:
The amended filing changes only the applicant's name — removing Geodon Developers, Inc. from the record. Every other field is identical to the original. Notably, although the city's September 17 staff review identified both Historic Board approval and a ZBA Variance as required, the applicant chose not to check either box on the amended form. When given the opportunity to correct the application, the applicant corrected only the optics.
What we've done:
We've updated the petition title and body to reflect the amended filing. We've removed references to Geodon as the current applicant and added the amended filing details. We've also added a link to the City of Lowell's document center where all public filings — original and amended — are available for anyone to review: lowellma.gov/DocumentCenter/Index/3947
Our opposition stands — stronger than ever, with 400+ signatures, the Fire Department on the record, and formal opposition letters from multiple abutters.
What you can do right now:
Share this petition — every share reaches someone new. Our goal is 500 by the hearing.
Email the Planning Board — every email becomes part of the permanent record:
Contact the Historic Board:
Attend the hearing: Monday, November 2, 2026 at 6:30 PM — Lowell City Hall, 375 Merrimack Street
The neighborhood has spoken. 400+ of us have said no. Removing a developer's name from a form doesn't change that.
A final note: this petition has never been, and will never be, a campaign that attacks individuals in our community. The applicants are our neighbors, and they will be our neighbors regardless of the outcome. We oppose this project because the facts support that position — not out of animosity toward anyone. We believe in constructive communication, community involvement, and letting the proper boards make informed decisions. That's why we show up, that's why we sign, and that's why we'll be at City Hall on November 2nd.