Here’s a link to the Article as it will appear on the Ballot:
Click here to see what the Zoning Ordinance would look like if this Article passes:
Here’s a link to the Zoning Ordinance that is the topic of Article 6
What it means: The referenced ordinance relates to new construction (or expansion) of residential units in the Town Center District. If passed the Article would allow for exemptions from off-site parking requirements. It would allow developers to make alternate parking arrangements for the eventual buyers of the residential units. These arrangements would need to be approved by the Planning Board via a conditional permit. The Article would delete the distance requirement of parking to be a maximum of 500 feet from the proposed use.
Those in favor say: This is a “tweaking” of an Article that was passed last year. It is part of an attempt to create a “village” feel in the center of town, which was overwhelmingly supported by the Voters in 2014.
Those against say: People who buy residential units in town will need to park their cars overnight and it shouldn’t be in what are now “public” lots. By ordinance, the lots in the center of town have a limited number of hours that a car can remain. What happens when the business that has leased space for resident’s parking changes ownership? These questions were not answered at Deliberative Session.