Planning Board Proposes Redrawing, Renaming, Redefining Zoning Districts
As the Planning Board continues its works on Phase II, the implementation proposals for the Comprehensive Master Plan approved by voters at Town Meeting, one result, as the Planning Board sees it, is the need for entirely new zoning maps to identify the areas that fall into the renamed existing business districts that are being planned.
The next step for the Board will to be to determine the actual permitted uses in each of these existing districts and to decide whether there will be only three districts, or up to five or six.
Although the state requires the town to have their Comprehensive Master Plan updated every 10 years, there is no legal obligation to make any changes. If the Planning Board decides to propose any changes, adoption of these changes must be approved by voters at Town Meeting.
According to Land Use Director Michelle Collette, the landowners that are already in these districts will be advised of any renaming and possible uses in the districts. They will be sent an invitation - prior to finalizing of the districts and before the Public Hearing, to meet with the Planning Board so they have a chance to review the zones into which their property will fall, and provide input.
The following new names for existing districts have been defined following a Planning Board work session. Planner Russ Burke prepared a description of the new districts, noting that most communities do not have such descriptions. He modeled his input on the Town of Amherst that does have such bylaws.
NEW DISTRICTS
VCB Village Center Business - the purpose of the VCB District is to provide areas within Village Centers of Groton that allow for a mix of uses including retail, commercial, office, services and residential of appropriate and walkable scale which contribute to the village's sense of space.
NB Neighborhood Business - the purpose of the NB District is to provide for areas of mixed use to serve as small centers providing goods and services within or near residential neighborhoods or as a transitional zone between business areas and residential neighborhoods.
General Business - the purpose of the GB District is to provide for a range of retail uses and services and commercial activities in appropriate locations along arterial or primary roads. The Planning Board identified 17 business zoning areas throughout town.
GB District - Townsend Road, and area near North Middlesex High School that involves 5 lots in Groton
Business District - Hollingsworth & Vose lots that were rezoned as B! in addition to the H&V operations and manufacturing (M13.
VCB District - West Groton Village including Clover Farm, Rivercourt, Adult Daycare, doctor's offices, Carvers Guild, Blood Farm. In addition there is a gravel pit in this area that is zoned as "M1" manufacturing.
NB District - West Main Street - Rte. #225 includes the Mortuary business.
GB district - North Main Street - including Deluxe, Anytime Fitness, Mill Run Plaza, and the unused former restaurant (Bridle and Spur)
RB district - Gilson Herb Lyceum, greenhouses and restaurant,
VCBD - Champney and Main Streets, includes the Groton Exchange, Workers Credit Union, Luth Karate, Dr. Breen,
RB District - Main Street/Legion/ School Street - Matisse Gallery, Professional offices
VCB District - Route #119 - includes Donelan's Market, Groton Market, Filhos, Dry Cleaners, Piper's Automotive
VCB District - Hollis/Willowdale to Main Street - Auto Supply, shops, Murphy Insurance, Bruno's Pizza. Halsey Platt's business on Adams Ave stays as RB.
VCB District - Main Street to Lowell Road including Town Hall, banks, café, Groton Inn, Ace Hardware, and Gibbet Hill
RB District - Lost Lake Drive - mostly residential zoned and an existing a B1 for the British Fieldware Store
GB District - Boston Road including Emerson building, CVS, Myette property, Post Office, Middlesex Bank, Johnson's, the Butcher Shop and the roofing company Stack & Hughes.
NB District -A.L. Prime Gas - a gas station since the 1930's.
GB District - Four Corners - medical offices, restaurant, supermarket, Shanklin conference Center,
NB District - past Four Corners - the Boston Road Marketplace, Pine & Swallow
RB District Stonebridge, along Forge Village Road.
Planning Board Chairman John Giger pointed out that there are two other zoning uses may be eliminated: the Conservancy District that is a separate standalone district and causes confusion and the Open Space Agricultural District which was done solely for the purpose of tax classification. Also the "M" designation for manufacturing may be changed to Industrial.
