[MassHistPres] Village Center Zoning-Description and Case Studies

[Chris Skelly]

VILLAGE CENTER ZONING - FOR UPDATE OF PRESERVATION THROUGH BYLAWS AND
ORDINANCES GUIDEBOOK
I would appreciate your review and comments on the one page definition
we have prepared.  In addition, I am looking for case studies to include
in our guidebook where village center zoning helped to protect a
significant historic resource.  Thanks for your assistance.  Chris.
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What is Village Center Zoning?
Village Center Zoning is the creation of a special zoning district for
the unique needs of small scale mixed-use commercial areas.  This type
of zoning allows a set of uses and dimensional requirements that are
more consistent with 19th and early 20th century village centers than is
allowed by conventional zoning.  In the second half of the 20th century,
most zoning bylaws for towns and villages created a suburbanized setting
by requiring large parking lots and deeper setbacks than one would find
in an historic village center.  A Village Center District seeks to
preserve the existing historic buildings, allow for mixed uses, and
encourage new construction that is compatible with the setbacks and
scale of existing structures, thereby maintaining historic development
patterns.  

How is it adopted?
A Village Center Zoning Bylaw requires a 2/3 affirmative vote of Town
Meeting or the City Council, after a public hearing has been held and
report has been issued by the Planning Board.  These bylaws are
typically drafted by the Planning Board.  In some cases a local village
center committee of residents and business owners may draft a bylaw, but
Planning Board involvement is essential, as noted above, in the hearing
process and the report required for Town Meeting.    

How does it work?
Village Center Zoning carefully considers how new development would
impact the existing historic buildings, setting, orientation and
character of a village center.  Typically, village center zoning
requires that new construction have minimal front setbacks so that all
the buildings are at the sidewalk edge.  Towns may want to consider
minimal side and rear setbacks as well.  On-site parking requirements
can often destroy the character of a village center, especially when the
parking is in front of the building.  In a village center zoning
district, parking is not allowed in the front of the building and on
site parking may be waived altogether when a municipal parking lot is
nearby.  Village Center Zoning Districts encourage mixed development
such as retail, residential and office space.  By providing flexibility
from setbacks, allowing off-site parking and encouraging mixed uses,
historic buildings in the village center can remain a vital part of the
community and new construction in the village center can enhance the
character and economic activity of the area.     
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PRESERVATION THROUGH BYLAWS AND ORDINANCES
The Massachusetts Historical Commission is updating our guidebook
entitled "Preservation through Bylaws and Ordinances - Tools and
Techniques for Historic Preservation Used by Municipalities in
Massachusetts."  This guidebook contains descriptions on the variety of
local bylaws and ordinances currently in use in Massachusetts for
protecting historic resources and community character.  The guidebook
describes how each bylaw functions, includes a list of municipalities
that have passed each bylaw and summarizes success stories from around
the state.  Originally prepared in 1998, the guidebook has been
incrementally revised since then.  The current version of the guidebook
can be viewed online at http://commpres.env.state.ma.us/content/ptbo.asp

With assistance from a consultant team, the guidebook is undergoing
substantial revisions.  These include revising the bylaw descriptions,
researching new case study success stories and updating the list of
cities and towns with each bylaw.  

Each bylaw will have the following:
The first page will be a bylaw description summary that can fit on one
page.  The next two pages will include case study success stories with
text and photographs.  The fourth and last page will be the list of
municipalities with each bylaw.  

The draft list of bylaws to include in the guidebook is below:  
Accessory Apartment Use
Affirmative Maintenance Bylaws
Archaeological Protection
Cluster Development
Community Preservation Act
Demolition Delay
Design Review
Down Zoning
Downtown Revitalization
Flexible Zoning
Local Historic Districts
Neighborhood Architectural Conservation Districts
Phased Growth
Planned Unit Development
Right-to-Farm
Scenic Overlay
Scenic Roads
Site Plan Review
Transfer of Development Rights
Transportation Corridor Overlay
Upper Elevation Protection
Up Zoning
Village Center Zoning

Christopher C. Skelly
Director of Local Government Programs
Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125
Ph: (617) 727-8470 / Fax: (617) 727-5128
Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm
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