2019-11-12-SPRD-STM1-rpt - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Executive Summary: The Committee studied our current Special Permit Residential Development (SPRD) Zoning bylaw and the housing production which has occurred under it,reviewed alternative zoning bylaws, and heard from state and local housing and building experts, residents and stakeholders. The Committee finds that change is warranted in order to produce more of the type of housing we want,as defined by the Town's Value Statement. The Committee has not reached a final conclusion as to whether those changes would be best achieved by alterations to one or more of the Zoning By-law,the Regulations or their administration. As its next step, the Committee expects to retain a zoning expert to draft alternatives based upon the Value Statement and upon a review of zoning practices and by-laws for residential development in other communities. Recommendations are expected to take the form of specific amendment options to the By-law and/or the Regulations and their administration. The Committee will review the recommendations, evaluating them against the desired results described and in alignment with the Town's values. Input will be sought through public listening sessions and meetings or communications with the other stakeholders, elected boards and staff. A) Definitions and Background Section 135.6.9 of the Lexington Zoning By law is the current governing provision for Special Permit Residential Developments (SPRDs). (See appendix for text of existing by-law) Previously referred to as cluster zoning, SPRDs are an alternative to by-right conventional subdivisions and are available via a special permit from the Planning Board. Conventional Subdivisions are a "by right" form of development, meaning that they are not subject to requirements from the Planning Board beyond the explicit dimensional and other limits in the Zoning By-law. Conventional subdivisions tend to create a single housing type (large single family homes). They create large impervious surface areas and are often indifferent to historical or geographical context. Lexington's SPRD By-law offers an alternative to conventional subdivisions, to address the desire for increased diversity of housing type and preservation of buildings or features of historic, architectural or natural significance. While modifications were adopted at the Annual Town Meetings (ATM) of 2014 and 2016, the Planning Board has discussed additional changes to Section 6.9 for the last several years. At the 2017 ATM both a Planning Board and a citizens'Article were brought to revise Section 6.9. Both Articles were indefinitely postponed by Town Meeting. At the 2018 ATM another citizens'Article was filed. That Article was referred to the Board of Selectmen and from that referral,this Committee was created. 1