| Agenda: | Town of Norfolk
B-1 Zoning District Working Committee
March 15, 2021 Agenda
7:00 PM-Meeting
In accordance with the Governor’s Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G. L. c. 30A, § 20, relating to the 2020 novel Coronavirus outbreak emergency, the March 15, 2021 7:00 pm public meeting of the Norfolk B-1 Zoning Working Committee shall be physically closed to the public to avoid group congregation.
Alternative public access to this meeting shall be utilizing the Zoom virtual meeting software https://zoom.us for remote access. This software will allow users to view the meeting and send a comment or question to the Chair via the Chat function. Submitted text comments will be read into the record at the appropriate points in the meeting. The Meeting will be recorded for future rebroadcast by Norfolk Community Television. For more information on getting connected and using the video conference features, please visit http://www.norfolk.ma.us/assets/files/news/resident-zoom-guide.pdf
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Call the meeting to Order
7:00pm- B-1 Presentation preparation, recording and distribution with MAPC and Town Planner
Committee Mission Statement:
The B1 District, as referenced by the Town Zoning by-laws, is commonly referred to as “downtown” Norfolk. The B1 District Zoning Committee (B1 Committee) was created to review the existing zoning by laws, for the district, and recommend potential changes to these by laws. The Committee was formed to address resident and property owner concerns that the existing zoning by laws are too stringent to invite responsible development in the Town center; as well as to plan for future population growth that is forecast to be 10-20% (1000-2400 people) over 10-30 years.
The B1 Committee is reviewing options to facilitate a financially viable and diverse town center. To achieve this goal the Committee has focused on the principals behind mixed use development. This development would be amenity based, include pedestrian friendly elements, be accessible to the full age range of the population as well as capitalize on and enhance the existing Town center character. A mixed-use town center would improve civic ties and commercial viability, be more attractive to small business owners, and provide housing options that are underrepresented in town today as well as increase the property value and the tax revenue generated by the B1 District.
An appropriately scaled small town, live, work, shop and play environment would add diversity and stability to the town center. Many of the goals and items identified here are the direct result of various town studies, resident polls, community meetings and conversations since the current master plan was delivered, in 2007. In addition, these mixed-use principals may discourage the unregulated, maximum density, 40b projects that are being proposed and built throughout our community; such as the one in construction on Cleveland St (Lakeland Farms), the one in planning at Lawrence St (Abbyville) and one in review at 144 Seekonk Street (Lakeland Hills) |