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Residents and planners press aldermen to approve new land use code to expand housing options
Summary
Speakers urged aldermen to support a years-long rewrite of the city’s zoning rules—the proposed land use code—to allow more housing, mixed-use development and walkable neighborhoods. Business owners raised concerns about restrictions on existing commercial properties and asked for targeted exemptions.
Speakers at Thursday’s meeting urged the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to adopt a comprehensive change to Manchester’s zoning code aimed at increasing housing supply and enabling more mixed-use development.
Bryce Kawe (spellings in transcript: Kawe/Kaewoo), identified as the Planning Board chair and a candidate for Ward 1 alderman, told the board the proposed “new land use code” is the product of years of staff and volunteer work and would make it easier to build diverse housing types for young professionals, families and seniors.
“Manchester desperately needs more housing,” Kawe said during public comment, adding that the draft code is a “comprehensive and thoughtful approach” to increase supply and affordability.
Some commercial property owners said the proposed form-based code would unfairly restrict existing uses on their sites. Susan…
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