Information for Meeting of Planning Board
Monday October 05, 2020 7:00 PM EDT

In conjunction with the B-1 Zoning Working Committee Meeting:

Town of Norfolk
B-1 Zoning District Working Committee
October 5, 2020 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 October 5, 2020 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

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/9266999773

Call-In: 1-929-205-6099 (Meeting id. 9266999773)

7:00pm Call the Meeting to Order- 
•	Discuss potential 40R Districts and B-1 direction with the Planning Board
•	Overview Mission B-1 Committee Overview of the process up-to last fall town meeting  
Overview of the previous recommendations last fall town meeting 
•	Overview of the concerns and feedback 
Process since last fall town meeting
•	Committee has explored every zoning characteristic and recommendation to try to identify a set of consensus recommendations
o	MAPC provided additional financial feasibility analysis and revisited the build-out analysis
•	Summary of current direction  
o	Short term 
o	Long term 
•	Discuss the most effective way to implement short term and long-term directions are specifically who should detail a small 40R district 
•	In summary - we are looking for a catalyst for the Town Center to enable investment, commercial development, and improved walkability 
Reaction to all of this? 

•	Public Comment
•	Next Meeting TBD

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)