Springfield Zoning Ordinance Revision Project

1. Springfield Zoning Ordinance Revision Project Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame April 25, 2006 Planning and Economic Development Office Sponsored by a grant from the Office of Commonwealth Development

2. Agenda – April 25, 2006 • Presentation • Purpose of project • Zoning 101 • Issues being considered in revision • Residential • Commercial • Street and Parking • Signs • Main objective tonight - your input on the project • Comments, Question and Answer period

3. City of Springfield Planning and Economic Development Office Building Department Legal Department Consulting Team Chris EatonEaton Planning Joel RussellJoel Russell Associates Rick TaintorTaintor & Associates, Inc. Tim Heron Project Team

4. Clarity Make the zoning ordinance and subdivision regulation easier to understand and use for: residents businesses officials Focus on the process and a better expression of community goals Purpose of Project

5. Modernize the Zoning Ordinance Simplify and clarify zoning districts Address frequently raised conflicting use issues (for example, regulation of auto uses) Make improvements that enhance economic development opportunities Purpose of Project

6. Springfield’s Strengths • Cohesive Neighborhoods • Wide variety of housing styles • Open spaces preserved over time • Good examples of mixed uses • Local redevelopment and infill projects that fit into context of neighborhoods

7. Traditional neighborhood design Efficient use of land in the city that avoids sprawl Design that considers the view from the “public realm” instead of from the individual “lot” Mixture of uses and housing styles Provide for different types of Transportation Regulations that are easy to understand and follow How to maintain Springfield’s character?

8. Create Successful Places

9. Project Tasks We are here • March – April – Project kickoff, and public outreach • June 2006 – Audit Zoning Ordinances • July to November 2006 – work through draft of new Zoning Ordinance with Advisory Committee • December 2006 – present new Zoning Ordinance at public meeting • 2007 – public review, comment and adoption process to be determined

10. How does Zoning Work? Establishes Districts Considers uses, impacts and scale Height, density, and intensity Establish relation to public streets and adjacent buildings Setbacks, lot size, landscaping, location of parking Design and construction of buildings Building codes, historic architectural features, signage Zoning 101

11. Springfield’s Zoning Districts Residential Commercial Industrial Riverfront West Columbus Special (flood, design overlay) Review of Springfield’s Existing Conditions and Ordinances

12. Springfield’s Vulnerabilities – related to Zoning • Zoning uses and districts may not provide direction to development community • Lack of certainty about land use and permit process may inhibit investment • Commercial districts have little design consideration to match existing qualities • Little design guidance for “infill” redevelopment

13. Existing Residential

14. Existing Residential

15. Residential Infill

16. Existing Commercial Districts • Current Zoning Districts: • Business A – General Business • Business B – Service Business • Business C – Central Business (Downtown) • Commercial A – Neighborhood Commercial • Commercial P – Parking Lot • Mixture of uses allowed based on “cumulative” zoning

17. Existing Commercial Districts • Hierarchy of Commercial not captured in districts • Corner Store • Neighborhood Center (X District) • Community Center/Urban Corridors (State Street/Indian Orchard Main Street) • City Center (Downtown) • Regional Shopping Mall (East Springfield Mall)

18. Neighborhood Commercial Example

19. Neighborhood Commercial Example

20. Typical Commercial Development • Long building with multiple tenants • Depends on number of stores, but frequently 7,500-10,000 square feet • Typically 2-5 tenants along a continuous facade • Fronted by a single bay of parking with additional parking in the rear in some cases

21. Commercial Streets and Parking

23. Commercial Streets and Parking

24. Consider design and location requirements Are parking rules too strict or too flexible? Are parking rules requiring too many spaces? Is shared parking encouraged/allowed? What about parking for bikes? Commercial Streets and Parking

25. Commercial Streets and Parking

26. Sign Regulations • We will be looking at the Sign provisions in the ordinance and revising and updating this important section

27. Next Steps • June 2006 – Audit Zoning Ordinances • July to November 2006 – work through draft of new Zoning Ordinance with Advisory Committee • December 2006 – present new Zoning Ordinance at public meeting • 2007 – public review, comment and adoption process to be determined Public Meeting

28. Contact the City For more information: Philip Dromey, Deputy Director Springfield Planning & Economic Development 70 Tapley Street Springfield, MA 01104 Telephone: (413) 787-6020

29. Your input is important • Fill out survey form and leave at Welcome Table • Watch the Planning and Economic Office Website for updates: http://www.cityofspringfieldmass.com/COS/planning/