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Council sends three zoning amendments to first printing, including FEMA floodplain update
Summary
Gardner City Council voted unanimously to send to first printing three zoning-related measures: a FEMA-driven floodplain overlay amendment (time-sensitive), a Central Street commercial-overlay classification, and a historic-preservation project zoning amendment that would create a special permit pathway and parking relief.
The Gardner City Council on June 16 voted unanimously (11-0) to send three zoning measures to first printing: an amendment to the city zoning code to update the floodplain overlay to comply with recent Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirements; an amendment to add a commercial overlay classification on specified Central Street parcels; and a petition-driven amendment to create a "historic preservation project" section that would allow certain uses by special permit and revise off-street parking and drive-through standards.
Engineer Rob Oliver and the welfare committee presented the FEMA-related floodplain overlay change, which the committee said needs to be adopted in a timely fashion to comply with FEMA updates and to allow affected residents to obtain or maintain flood insurance. Councilor Mack moved to send the item to first printing; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call.
On the Central Street commercial-overlay amendment, the welfare committee said it received a presentation from an attorney (identified in the record as Attorney Tree) and recommended first printing. Councilor Brooks asked for clarification that the amended version with corrected parcel listings was the one being advanced; committee members confirmed the corrected language would be used.
A third zoning petition, submitted by "City Church" and 10 registered voters and presented by Attorney Tree, would add a new "historic preservation project" section to chapter 6.75. The petition seeks to permit certain projects by special permit and to adjust parking relief rules and drive-through standards to facilitate preservation projects; the welfare committee voted to send the petition to first printing following a joint public hearing with the Planning Board.
All three items were sent to first printing on unanimous roll-call votes. Council members and staff emphasized the floodplain amendment's July 8 timeline for compliance and the need to ensure the correct parcel and petition wording appear in the first-printing language.
