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City to spend $132,000 on Merrimack corridor smart-growth study around McGovern Transportation Center
Summary
The council authorized spending a $132,000 housing choice planning grant to study a smart-growth overlay and transit-oriented development options around the McGovern Transportation Center and Merrimack corridor, with required public outreach and eventual ordinance consideration.
The Lawrence City Council authorized the expenditure of a $132,000 housing-choice planning grant to study transit-oriented, smart-growth overlay options for the Merrimack/McGovern Transportation Center corridor.
Planning Director Daniel McCarthy told the council the grant funds will pay consultants — planners, engineers and architects — to design an overlay district that encourages mixed-use development, housing, and improved public connections to the McGovern Transportation Center, Merrimack Street and adjacent industrial parcels. The overlay would be the city's fourth smart-growth overlay and aims to guide redevelopment of underutilized mill properties and brownfields into mixed uses with design standards and community-benefit expectations.
Why it matters: The district would be used to shape future private development and could require baseline affordable housing percentages and other design standards; it is intended to give the city and neighborhood residents more say over large redevelopment projects rather than leaving outcomes solely to individual landowners.
Planning staff said the grant-funded work will include multiple public hearings and community engagement sessions. McCarthy said there are about 84 affected properties across the proposed study area and that any ordinance changes would return to the council for formal adoption votes after the planning process. Councilors raised concerns about parking impacts on Merrimack Street and the need to ensure the overlay does not displace current residents or harm existing industrial employers. Staff said parking and mixed-use planning will be part of the study.
Discussion vs. decision: The council authorized the planning expenditure. Future zoning changes would require separate council adoption after public hearings and review.
Next steps: Planning will begin consultant procurement, schedule public meetings, and provide council with a list of affected parcels and outreach dates; councilors asked that meeting notices be shared in advance so residents and business owners can attend.
