Zoning ordinance parking flexibility

At a glance

Based on auto-generated captions; names and numbers may be misheard.

What: amendment to zoning article 28-7 (access, circulation, parking and loading) replacing most parking variances with Planning Board conditional use permits and site plan waivers.
Where it stands: approved by voice vote on October 13, 2026 (item 26B / 28).
Next: takes effect with the Planning Board's matching site plan regulations adopted in September.

Caps residential parking at one space per unit, as state law now requires; otherwise focuses on administrative flexibility. Cuts expected Zoning Board workload by 20 to 50 cases a year, per Tim Thompson.
Neighbor notice is the same (certified mail to direct abutters).
Accessible parking rules now point to federal requirements.
A resident said one space per unit is too low and wanted incentives or conditions for higher-priced housing, and conditions on longer cul-de-sacs.

About 10 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-13 - City Council	10