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July 19. 2012 11:18PM
Claremont to host meeting on proposed zoning changes
CLAREMONT — A design charrette planned for Saturday aims to help the City Center Steering Committee zero in on zoning changes to promote downtown growth.
The Zoning Workshop is scheduled for Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at Claremont Middle School, 107 South St.
The project was started 16 months ago by the City Center Steering Committee and is nearing its end to reshape the heart of the city by revamping its outdated zoning regulations.
City Planning and Development Department Director Nancy Merrill said the workshop is about finding the consensus on the zoning issues raised so far.
Though the committee is still taking input, it’s time to find out which ideas are backed by the majority, she said.
“Is this one person’s idea or is this something 50 people really like? What is the broad agreement? Where’s the consensus now?” she asked.
The results of the design charrette, as well as input from past public hearings and the next two committee meetings are to be handed over to the planning and urban design firm The Cecil Group, which was hired by the city — funded by a HUD Sustainable Communities grant — to draft the proposed zoning changes.
The eventual changes should be presented to the Planning Board and City Council this October and November, said committee chairman David Putnam.
Putnam said the aim of the rezoning is to revitalized downtown and promote economic growth as well as simplify zoning laws for home and business owners.
The zoning laws were adopted over 30 years ago, Merrill said.
“Life is a little bit different now than the mid-70’s in terms of business and in terms of what people are looking for in housing. It was a good time for us to update the city center,” she said.
Merrill said many of the zoning regulations adopted originally contradict the cityscape, enacting setbacks in neighborhoods which have houses and businesses right up against the sidewalks with the yards and parking lots behind them.
“It was a new suburban age, people were thinking about bigger lots, more space,” Merrill said.
Today, if a home owner wants to tear down and rebuild an old garage located in a setback but within its existing footprint, they have to go to the zoning board for approval. Want to add a wheelchair ramp to your home or business? You have to go to the zoning board, Merrill said.
The committee is also aiming to make the zoning regulations more user-friendly.
“We’re looking for something that can tell residents what they can do as opposed to what they can’t do,” Merrill said. “We’re really trying to make it just work better for the people that live here and own a business in this area.”
The potential zoning changes to the city center would impact housing for more than 50 percent of the city population and businesses throughout.
Because of the project’s potential impact the committee has strived to engage the public and is hoping for a big turnout Saturday, Putnam said.
“We’ve really taken the time to let the community write this,” Merrill said.
Meghan Pierce may be reached at mpierce@newstote.com.
The Zoning Workshop is scheduled for Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at Claremont Middle School, 107 South St.
The project was started 16 months ago by the City Center Steering Committee and is nearing its end to reshape the heart of the city by revamping its outdated zoning regulations.
City Planning and Development Department Director Nancy Merrill said the workshop is about finding the consensus on the zoning issues raised so far.
Though the committee is still taking input, it’s time to find out which ideas are backed by the majority, she said.
“Is this one person’s idea or is this something 50 people really like? What is the broad agreement? Where’s the consensus now?” she asked.
The results of the design charrette, as well as input from past public hearings and the next two committee meetings are to be handed over to the planning and urban design firm The Cecil Group, which was hired by the city — funded by a HUD Sustainable Communities grant — to draft the proposed zoning changes.
The eventual changes should be presented to the Planning Board and City Council this October and November, said committee chairman David Putnam.
Putnam said the aim of the rezoning is to revitalized downtown and promote economic growth as well as simplify zoning laws for home and business owners.
The zoning laws were adopted over 30 years ago, Merrill said.
“Life is a little bit different now than the mid-70’s in terms of business and in terms of what people are looking for in housing. It was a good time for us to update the city center,” she said.
Merrill said many of the zoning regulations adopted originally contradict the cityscape, enacting setbacks in neighborhoods which have houses and businesses right up against the sidewalks with the yards and parking lots behind them.
“It was a new suburban age, people were thinking about bigger lots, more space,” Merrill said.
Today, if a home owner wants to tear down and rebuild an old garage located in a setback but within its existing footprint, they have to go to the zoning board for approval. Want to add a wheelchair ramp to your home or business? You have to go to the zoning board, Merrill said.
The committee is also aiming to make the zoning regulations more user-friendly.
“We’re looking for something that can tell residents what they can do as opposed to what they can’t do,” Merrill said. “We’re really trying to make it just work better for the people that live here and own a business in this area.”
The potential zoning changes to the city center would impact housing for more than 50 percent of the city population and businesses throughout.
Because of the project’s potential impact the committee has strived to engage the public and is hoping for a big turnout Saturday, Putnam said.
“We’ve really taken the time to let the community write this,” Merrill said.
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Meghan Pierce may be reached at mpierce@newstote.com.