downtown lynn team of advisors meeting 2 presentation, february 12, 2013
DESCRIPTION
Presentation includes an initial review of downtown zoning and questions for participant discussion. See meeting materials and other project information at www.mapc.org/downtownlynn.TRANSCRIPT
Build on the Vision for Downtown Lynn
Team of Advisors Meeting 2
8:00-10:00am, Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Grand Army of the Republic Hall and Museum Building
56-60 Andrew Street, Lynn, Massachusetts 01901
Agenda 8:00-8:10: Introductions and updates
8:10-8:35: Review of downtown zoning
8:35-8:55: What will spur equitable downtown development?
8:55-9:15: Reaching out
9:15-9:30: Open discussion and next steps
Downtown Zoning Overview Preliminary Analysis
• Recent planning efforts • Market Street Vision Plan 2009
• Washington Street Gateway District Plan, 2008
• Waterfront Master Plan, 2007
• Downtown Workshop, 2004
• Key Recommendations • Live/Work/Play environment
• Mixed-use and residential
• Improved retail environment
• Improved public realm
• Transit oriented
• Recommendations for zoning mentioned, but not specific
Recent planning for Downtown
• Zone ordinance is old
• Many amendments
• Little design criteria
• Very restrictive, particularly downtown
• Many uses require a special permit
• Impediment to business and development?
• Ordinance is difficult to follow
• Many footnotes, poor organization
• Use categories are too broad
• Use definitions can be contradictory
The Lynn Zone Ordinance
Downtown Zoning Districts
• Four Base Districts
• Central Business District (CBD)
• Business (B)
• Light Industrial (LI)
• High Rise Residential (R5)
• Three Overlay Districts
• Residential Reuse Overlay District
• Sagamore Hill Corridor Overlay District
• Washington Street Overlay District
Lynn
Zoning Downtown
Study Area
Central Business District (CBD) • Allows for many typical
downtown uses as of right • Office, retail, institutional, parks
• Special Permit required for other common downtown uses • Residential (except reuse)
• Food Service of any kind
• Hotels
• Recent improvements a step in right direction • Removed industrial and auto
related uses in CBD
• More changes needed • Residential is a key component to
live/work/ play environments
Residential Reuse Overlay District
• Only as of right residential
within CBD
• Parcels within 1,500 feet of
MBTA station
• Successful
• Over 200 new residential units
created
• Few opportunities left
Light Industrial District
• Remnant from industrial past
• Not compatible with CBD
• Further isolates downtown from
waterfront
• Rezone to maximize potential
• Connection to waterfront and
CBD
• MBTA Commuter Rail
R5 District and Overlays
• R5 residential as of right • Single family to high rise
• Overlays allow for mixed-use • Most progressive zoning in study
area • Pedestrian oriented
• Washington Overlay = Downtown Gateway • Promotes multifamily
• No single family
• Improved use allowances
• Sagamore Hill = Residential Transition • All residential types
• Limited retail
Next steps in review of zoning…
• Explore strategies to allow residential in the CBD as of right
• Review uses in each district
• Expand or revise what is and is not allowed
• Example: More than one food service establishment type
• Affordability strategies
• Inclusionary zoning
• 40R district
• Density bonuses
• Create Zone District Summary Sheets
What will spur equitable
downtown development? See handout for sample questions to ask community members
Reaching out See handout for proposed outreach strategies
Open discussion and next steps