Manchester commission reviews second draft of comprehensive zoning overhaul, focuses on buffers, parking, transparency and affordable-housing fee waiver

Manchester planning staff and members of the commission spent the meeting reviewing the second draft of a comprehensive zoning ordinance update, discussing multiple detailed changes to how the city will treat industrial adjacency, planned developments, parking and conversions between residential and commercial uses.

Kristen, a city planning staff member, reported written public comments received on the second draft and walked the commission through several recurring issues: a misunderstanding about a map that made some readers think a large area was being rezoned to industrial (Kristen said the area south of Procter Road remains industrial in the draft), continued public concern about allowing industrial uses next to the rail trail, and several recent emails asking for changes to rules about backyard chickens.

Why it matters: the draft is written to reflect long-standing land uses and to accommodate housing supply and design goals. Changes discussed would adjust what building types are allowed where, set new expectations for designers and applicants, and create exemptions for certain permanently affordable projects.

Key discussion points and staff responses

Rezoning and existing industrial uses Kristen told the commission that much of the area south of Procter Road is already zoned industrial and that staff restored that designation in the second draft after an earlier mapping change. Commissioners and staff acknowledged public concern about placing industrial uses adjacent to the rail trail, but staff emphasized the intent to match zoning to legally established uses rather than to down-zone long-standing industrial lots.

Planned developments: buffers, setbacks and density Staff described a proposed buffer requirement around new planned developments intended to reduce impacts on adjacent neighborhoods. The draft originally proposed a 50-foot buffer for large planned developments; staff said they now plan a graduated approach (smaller buffers on smaller parcels, larger buffers on larger parcels) and will…