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Planning commission finalizes a bundle of zoning-map adjustments, records consensus on multiple areas
Summary
Commissioners reached consensus or votes on several zoning map changes across wards — including decisions on Hanover Street commercial corridor, a West‑side owner’s BC1 upzone request, Belmont corner upzoning, Riverwalk parcel designation, and Stark Park — and asked staff to post related materials and the UNH report draft.
The Manchester City Commissions reviewed and recorded consensus or agreed directions on a series of zoning‑map adjustments across multiple wards during a lengthy meeting.
Front and center were corridor and mixed‑use questions: commissioners discussed reverting parts of the Hanover Street corridor from proposed BC1/MX2 changes back to the current zoning after residents objected, considered an owner’s request to upzone a vacant West‑side parcel to BC1, and approved a small pocket along Belmont Street as MX1 to allow cottage‑scale corner commercial uses. Commissioners also debated whether a dense pocket near the river should remain MX2 or shift toward BC1 to enable larger redevelopment parcels; that area’s owner had requested BC1 to allow larger apartment buildings. On smaller items, commissioners agreed to return Stark Park parcels to R1B on community request and to treat a Riverwalk‑adjacent vacant lot as commercial/mixed use rather than redevelopment district.
Multiple decisions were recorded by consensus rather than formal roll‑call votes; staff said materials including the lot counts, petitions, and the forthcoming UNH report draft would be posted to the project website. Commissioners repeatedly noted that property owners retain the option to seek variances or to submit formal rezoning petitions to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen if they want to pursue projects that exceed the current zoning allowances.
Votes at a glance: - Board 9 (Gold Street area): kept R1B by consensus (see separate article). - Belmont Street corner: approved MX1 to enable cottage‑scale corner commercial uses (consensus). - Hanover Street corridor (BC1 proposal): staff to revert proposed BC1 changes for much of the corridor and re‑examine a small initial stretch; commission asked for further refinement with the alderman present (consensus to mostly retain current zoning). - West side request (owner petition for BC1): commission recorded mixed views but accepted BC1 for the larger parcel area after discussion (consensus note; staff to add petitioner submission to record). - Riverwalk‑area vacant parcel adjacent to River’s Edge: commission directed keeping it commercial/mixed rather than redevelopment; recommended commercial designation to align with adjacent uses (consensus). - Stark Park: commission agreed to revert the park strip to R1B at public request (consensus).
Commissioners also previewed items for the next meeting, asked staff to post the revised UNH report draft when available, and reminded members that the March deadline for final map adoption remains on the schedule.
