Examples of Village Center Zoning in Massachusetts
Acton
The Town of Acton has use and dimensional regulations that preserve and enhance the historic development patterns of its villages by allowing shallow setbacks that preserve density and by permitting mixed uses consistent with the evolution of each village. Special Provisions for East Acton Village and Kelly’s Corner Business District add regulations to preserve historic development patterns, and disincentives for demolition of an historic structure in the redevelopment of a site. The zoning encourages residential use in the village districts.
Andover
The Town of Andover has village center zoning for its three villages. These General Business District bylaws allow mixed uses and have dimensional requirements that lead to village-like development and redevelopment. Special provisions in these districts encourage smaller lot sizes and pedestrian-friendly standards. Zero lot lines allow buildings to meet the street in a manner consistent with commercial and residential development in a nineteenth or early twentieth century village.
Amherst
Amherst has adopted Village Center zoning to encourage village residential and village business uses. In the Village Center District, front yard set backs can be reduced to zero in order to preserve the streetscape in National Register districts and parking requirements can also be reduced. In North Amherst, the Federal style J. Cowles House was no longer viable as a residence and had stood vacant for some time. Using Village Center zoning, a new owner rehabilitated the dwelling, with its large rear ell, as the Black Walnut Inn. The barn was also rehabilitated and now serves as meeting space. The barn’s historic associations date to the Massachusetts Agricultural School and early scientific farming.
Bourne
Bourne adopted Village Center zoning in the downtown area to relieve land area requirements for residential uses in commercial buildings; previously there had to be sufficient land area for both commercial and residential uses in a building. Village center zoning has allowed apartments to be added to second stories of commercial buildings over seventy-five years old. In addition to dimensional and use changes, the Village Center bylaw also allows curb parking to count toward the parking requirements and institutes additional sign requirements for a special permit for any business over 1600 square feet.
Carver
Carver amended its zoning bylaw in 2006 to allow residential uses as an accessory use on the second floor of commercial buildings in their General Business and Village Districts with reduced density requirements. Approval is granted through a special permit process by the planning board and the review criteria include design guidelines to ensure the compatibility of new additions to existing buildings. A project which utilized this bylaw was recently completed in South Carver. A former nineteenth century blacksmith shop that had been converted to a commercial use connected with the Cranebrook Tea Room Restaurant was renovated to include two accessory dwelling units on the second floor.
Dennis
The Town of Dennis has adopted two Downtown Revitalization zones, in Dennisport and West Dennis. The zoning seeks to restore the historic ambiance of the two villages by promoting mixed use developments catering to the unique conditions of each village.
Norfolk
The Town of Norfolk created a new zoning district to encourage the development of a traditional New England village center based on recommendations in its master plan. The bylaw considers pedestrian access, building scale and architectural features and shared parking facilities. In 2006, the town constructed a new library in this zone that successfully integrated the design and location of a 24,000 square foot building into the village center.
Oak Bluffs
The Town of Oak Bluffs, pursuant to a process of identifying Districts of Critical Planning Concern governed by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, adopted the Copeland Plan District to protect Victorian architecture and its setting in the center of town. In the Copeland Plan District no “change to an exterior architectural feature shall radically alter the exterior appearance of the building or structure in such a way as to damage the visual integrity of the surrounding viewscape.” The Copeland Plan District also has the power to review and prohibit demolition. The review process is conducted by the Copeland Plan District Commission, which consists of one member or designee of the Park Commission, Planning Board, Board of Selectmen, a Building Department representative and the Cottage City Historic District Commission and property owners from the section of the district that is being reviewed.
Orleans
Within the Orleans Village Center District, which was adopted in 1985, prohibited uses include drive-thru windows, auto service stations and side yard parking. The maximum setback for buildings is twenty-five feet, and the front yards can only be used for landscaping or pedestrian areas. The Orleans bylaw encourages compact development and small scale buildings. An interesting feature of this bylaw is that facade transparency is required along major pedestrian ways.
Weymouth
The Town of Weymouth has a Neighborhood Center District which is designed to preserve the mixed use area and to provide nearby services for residents. The purpose of the Neighborhood Center District is to preserve the neighborhood core that has historically developed with a composite of residential, commercial, governmental and religious uses. To protect the buildings and their historically mixed uses, the District provides special regulations for density, dimensional requirements, signage and parking to maintain the neighborhood scale and to ensure compatibility among uses.
Yarmouth
The Town of Yarmouth adopted the Revitalization Overlay Architectural District (ROAD) bylaw to promote use and reuse of commercial buildings in certain business zones while also preserving and enhancing historic character. The bylaw includes development incentives such as different parking requirements, adjusted lot dimensional requirements and mixed uses. The standards in the ROAD bylaw were derived in part from the Cape Cod Commission’s Designing the Future to Honor the Past: Design Guidelines for Cape Cod.
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