Joint Planning Board, Planning & Development Committee, and Committee of the Whole Meeting

Continuation of public hearing from 8/16/17

1.  Amend the Newburyport Zoning Ordinance Section V-E, entitled “List of allowable uses”, to further regulate “short-term residential rental units”; to alter the description for uses # 105 (“Hotel/inn”), # 106 (“Lodging house”) and # 110 (“Bed and breakfast”); and to amend Section V-D, entitled “Table of use regulations,” such that the following changes are made regarding use # 110 (“Bed and breakfast”):

•   Within the R1 & R2 Zoning Districts: From “Not Permitted” (“NP”) to “Special Permit” (“SP”).
•   Within the R3 & B1 Zoning Districts: From “Special Permit” (“SP”) to “Permitted” (“P”).
•   Within the WMD Zoning District: From “Special Permit” (“SP”) to “Permitted” (“P”).

2.  Amend the Zoning Map referenced in the Newburyport Zoning Ordinance pursuant to Section III-D “Changes to Zoning Map”  such that all parcels located within the following two areas of the City have their designation changed from the Residential Three (R-3) District to the Residential Two (R-2) District:

a)  The entire area bounded northwesterly by Ashland Street, northeasterly by Merrimac Street, southeasterly by the Clipper City Rail Trail, and southwesterly by High Street; and

b)  The entire area bounded northwesterly by Federal Street, northwesterly by Water Street, southeasterly by Marlboro Street*, and southwesterly by High Street.

(* Note: Due to a scrivener’s error the original zoning amendment  submitted to the Council referring to “Bromfield Street” has been corrected to read “Marlboro Street,” thereby enlarging the boundaries of the proposed zoning map change.)

And further, to amend the Newburyport  Zoning Ordinance Section VI-A, “Table of Dimensional Requirements”, such that the following changes are made for uses # 101 (Single-family) and # 102 (Two- family), respectively, within the R-2 (two-family) District:

Use 101 (Single-family):

• Minimum Lot Area (“Lot Area”): From “10,000” square feet to “8,000” square feet.
• Minimum Lot Frontage (“Street Frontage”): From “90” feet to “80” feet.
• Maximum Lot Coverage (“% Lot Cov.”): From “25%” to “30%”.
• Minimum Open Space (“Open Space”): From “40%” to “35%”.
• Minimum Setback “Yard Requirement” (Front): From 25 feet to 20 feet.
• Minimum Setback “Yard Requirement” (Rear): From 25 feet to 20 feet.

Use 102 (Two-family):

• Minimum Lot Area (“Lot Area”): From “15,000” square feet to “12,000” square feet.
• Minimum Lot Frontage (“Street Frontage”): From “120” feet to “100” feet.
• Maximum Lot Coverage (“% Lot Cov.”): From “25%” to “30%”.
• Minimum Open Space (“Open Space”): From “40%” to “35%”.
• Minimum Setback “Yard Requirement” (Front): From 25 feet to 20 feet.
• Minimum Setback “Yard Requirement” (Rear): From 25 feet to 20 feet.

3.  Amend the Newburyport Zoning Ordinance Sections V-H(6), entitled “Variances,” X-H(7), entitled “Special Permits,”  and XV-H, entitled “Development and performance standards”  and/or  adopt  an entirely new Section XXX, entitled “Inclusionary Affordable Housing,” to require that development projects consisting of ten (10) or more units, or six (6) or more units, respectively, must provide no less than 10-12% of all dwelling units as “affordable  housing units,” subject to a deeded affordable  housing restriction and meeting minimum standards for affordable housing units, including but not limited to eligibility for listing on the Massachusetts Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) and compliance with related statutes and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) and/or  the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (“DHCD”).
 

Please visit https://www.cityofnewburyport.com/planning-development/pages/proposed-zo... for full text.