Steven Sadwick, Tewksbury's community development director tells GlobeSt.com that the committee was formed because of the size of the project. "This is the first time I've ever seen this done," he says. At the meeting Mills presented the results of its phone survey in which it demonstrated that 60% of respondents favor the shopping complex.

The zoning change involves a new designation for the property from single family residential to commercial use. But Sadwick points out that the change--and the mall--is contingent upon the development of a ramp off Route 93. The ramp will require federal as well as state approval. This is further complicated by the fact that the ramp impacts two other towns--Andover and Wilmington--and that each of the three towns is part of a different regional planning agency.

Sadwick adds that the town decided to include a 12-acre lot on the other side of Route 93 directly across from Mill's proposed mall in the zoning change. He calls it an "orphan" lot that was created when the highway came through that area, but he notes that it has development potential.