Peterborough Planning Board members agreed Monday night to hold a public hearing on rezoning all Family District lots and lots with portions zoned as Family District to General Residence zoning before voting whether to make the proposed change a warrant article for Town Meeting in May, but not without some disagreement.

General Residence zoning would allow property owners to develop lots and build multifamily housing, including low- and moderate-income housing, while Family zoning allows for workforce but not low- to moderate-income housing

Town Planner Danica Malone pulled up a map of Evans Road on the projector, saying,“It’s one of the neighborhoods that could benefit from changing from Family to General Residence.”

Planning Board member Sarah Steinberg Heller said she is offended by the concept of Family District zoning, which was created in the 1970s, and believes rezoning to General Residence is the right thing to do. 

“Our zoning is archaic and extremely exclusionary, and we have the opportunity to bring General Residence to where Family is now,” she said. “This is about creating inclusionary zoning. I would like to see this on the ballot.”

Planning Board Chair Stephanie Hurley was one of two members who voted against bringing the discussion to a public hearing.

“I think, No. 1, I’m concerned about our zoning code not being clear,” Hurley said. “It affects a lot more than just changing the whole thing.”

Hurley said she would like to see some kind of requirement for affordable housing if the amendment goes to Town Meeting and is also concerned about putting too much in front of voters and consequentially having them vote down everything the Planning Board is proposing. 

“I don’t know that the change is really all that dramatic,” Select Board liaison Bill Taylor responded. “What I’ve learned from being on the Select Board is if you don’t do something that’s a meaningful, positive change because of fear of backlash, you don’t have any business being on that board.”

Planning Board member Carl Staley said he thinks the change would make things simpler, not only for developers, but people living there.

“General Residence is for families just as much as Family District is for families,” he said. “I don’t see [the proposed zoning change] being a burden or detrimental to anyone in the Family District,” he said.

Alternate Gary Gorski agreed that people are still willing to buy properties next to multifamily buildings, and rezoning the areas could allow for nicer buildings.

The final vote approved the motion 5-2, which will bring the discussion to a public hearing on Monday, March 13. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and the discussion on the proposed warrant article is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Malone also said she has started researching the process of applying for a Housing Opportunity Planning (HOP) grant, a state grant meant to help municipalities work with consultants to make plans for creating housing, and plans to make a proposal to the town  administrator and Select Board.

“I think personally that we qualify for the highest tier,” said Malone, which could be up to $100,000.

]]>