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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand Use_Draft Policies & StrategiesResidential & Rural Areas Policy: Development in these areas should be limited, and what development does occur must be sensitive to environmental constraints. Strategies: • To preserve open lands, agricultural lands, and cultural, historic, and scenic landscapes, ex- plore locations for a 5-acre minimum lot size district in areas with insufficient infrastructure. • Consider incentives or requirements for using open space residential development in key areas, such as near mixed-use zoning districts and where the protected open space can help conserve and connect important natural resources. • Analyze current standards for lot coverage and building massing in the Residential Areas. Consider creating or decreasing maximum lot coverage limitations and/or establishing floor to area ratio (FAR) limits to contain the spread of impervious surfaces in these areas. Con- sider adopting these limits, at a minimum, in areas targeted for future public sewer service. • Conduct a study of Residential Areas within a walkable distance of mixed-use and com- mercial zoning districts in relation to the Town’s CWMP. Where future sewer capacity ex- ists, nitrogen sensitive embayments will not be negatively impacted, and the required park- ing per unit can be accommodated on site, consider allowing and adopting design standards for: • Two- or three-family dwellings (new construction or conversions) so long as the un- derlying dimensional standards and massing for a single-family home are maintained. • Clusters of small-scale single-family or two-family “cottages” designed around com- mon open space on a single lot. • Townhouse communities integrated into neighborhood and providing attainable hous- ing opportunities for families. Regional Economic Center Policy: Development in the Regional Economic Center area should focus on placemaking and connectivity, creating whole neighborhoods that are liv- able, safely walkable, and integrated with regional shopping and office uses. Heavier commercial and industrial uses will continue to play a vital role in the local and regional economy in the Industrial & Service Trade Area. Strategies: • Develop and adopt standards for residential uses in the Regional Economic Center area to ensure they are part of whole neighborhoods. • Require developments above (12) units to set aside space for usable open space. • Require developments above (50) units to set aside space for ground floor, locally serving retail. • Require connectivity between new residential development and nearby parks, schools, shopping, and services, whether through sidewalks, bike paths, transit or other such means. • Develop and adopt standards, including design standards or guidelines, for additional hous- ing types at a scale between two-family dwellings and multi-family dwellings. This could in- clude 3- and 4-family dwellings, townhouses, small apartments of up to 6 dwelling units de- signed to look like large houses, or small-scale apartment buildings of up to 12 units. Such housing typologies may be most beneficial as a transition from the Economic Center to neighboring residential areas. Smaller multi-family options may also be easier for local devel- opers to design and build, with less competition from larger national firms. Downtown Hyannis Policy: Development in this area should continue to focus on placemaking and connectivity, creating livable, walkable neighborhoods. Strategies: • Continue to refine the Downtown Hyannis Unified Design Guidelines and Regulations, creating a clear, consistent path forward for applicants and regulators to foster and champion the historic and maritime character of downtown Hyannis with the opportunity to redevelop and define the built environment of Hyannis with quality, character, and charm. • Conduct an analysis, at least once every two years, of development and redevelopment in the GIZ, compared with the planned vision and stated purposes of the Downtown zoning. Identify any development/redevelopment outcomes that are inconsistent with the vision/ purposes and explore options for regulatory amendments to address them. • While this area is expected to absorb a significant percentage of future growth, large- ly through mixed-use infill and redevelopment, adequate open space must be ensured. The Town should seek opportunities to integrate high-quality open space and recreational oppor- tunities on a neighborhood scale into the GIZ. Village Centers Policy: Development in these areas should continue to focus on walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods in an historic context. Strategies: • Conduct an analysis, at least once every two years, of development and redevelopment in each of the Village Centers, compared with the planned vision for each village and the stated purposes of any village zoning districts. Identify any development/redevelopment outcomes that are inconsistent with the vision/purposes and explore options for regulatory amend- ments to address them. In particular, explore a prohibition on use variances for Village Cen- ters where this is not already in place. • Adopt design guidelines for residential, non-residential and mixed-use development and redevelopment for each Village Center lacking them. Include development guidelines for ar- chitecture and site design as well as suggested infill and redevelopment strategies. • Create consistency with the historic and/or maritime character of the area. • Create livable neighborhoods for year-round residents. • Preserve views and public access to fresh and coastal waters. • Enhance pedestrian and bicycle access and public spaces. Commercial Nodes Policy: Allow these areas to evolve into smaller, walkable, mixed-use centers providing important neighborhood services supported by denser residen- tial housing within and around the nodes. Strategies: • Adopt design guidelines for non-residential and mixed-use development and redevelop- ment for West Main Street, the Route 28 Corridor, the Route 6 Interchange, and the Yar- mouth Road Triangle. Include development guidelines for architecture and site design as well as suggested infill and redevelopment strategies. • Create livable neighborhoods for year-round residents. • Enhance pedestrian and bicycle access from surrounding neighborhoods. • Provide for public and accessible open spaces. • Develop and adopt standards for additional housing types at a scale between two-family dwellings and multi-family dwellings that can be allowed in the Commercial Nodes. Most of these housing types could accommodate mixed-use with ground floor commercial. Smaller multi-family options may be easier for local developers to design and build, with less compe- tition from larger national firms. Consider prohibiting multi-family development of greater than 12 units along West Main Street and the Route 28 Corridor. • Conduct an analysis of all non-conforming non-residential uses in the Town. • Determine whether zoning changes would be appropriate for any of these uses; revise the standards for the expansion or alteration of non-conforming non-residential uses; manage existing development to be more compatible with surrounding residential uses, improve streetscape and overall appearance of the area, and analyze whether zoning changes are desired to protect some of these non-residential uses into the future. Maritime Areas Policy: Preserve and protect working waterfronts and harbors. Strategies: • Protect and strengthen the existing working harbor activities and character, maintain water views and improve public access. • Harbor and marine uses shall provide a public edge to the water where feasible, and provide views, access and vistas while protecting water dependent activities. • Amend the Zoning Ordinance to ensure that existing water views are protected or enhanced.