Lynn City planners outline comprehensive zoning rewrite to align code with Vision Lynn

Aaron Clawson, principal planner for the city of Lynn, told the Zoning Board of Appeals on March 18 that the city is pursuing a comprehensive rewrite of the zoning code to implement goals in the city's new comprehensive master plan, Vision Lynn. "I'm Aaron Clawson, the principal planner for the city of Lynn," Clawson said as he introduced the project and the consulting team.

Clawson said the master plan lays out a 20-to-25-year vision for growth and that the zoning code is the city's most powerful tool to implement that vision. He said the rewrite aims to increase predictability for developers, reduce reliance on zoning relief, preserve provisions that work today, and update use and dimensional standards to reflect current development patterns. "The zoning code needs to align with your comprehensive plan," Clawson said.

The planning department is working with Community Scale (the consultant), a zoning working group that includes planning, the solicitor's office, inspectional services, the mayor's office, EDIC, the city council, the planning board, and the zoning board of appeals. Clawson said the work is funded by an HSD-funded grant and built on extensive community outreach tied to Vision Lynn. He told the board the…