Concord council approves zoning change, housing grants, reserves and multiple grant awards; funds DEI work

The Concord City Council on Monday approved a package of ordinances, resolutions and appropriations covering downtown zoning, housing grants, reserve transfers and several state grant awards.

Why it matters: The actions move forward a zoning change intended to give the Planning Board more discretion on certain downtown design limits, put $750,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) support toward a redevelopment at 30 East Side Drive, set aside $3.049 million in reserve funds from FY2024 surplus, and authorized several smaller grants and appropriations that the city says will support library services, public safety operations and the city—s diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and belonging (DEIJB) efforts.

Zoning and downtown design: The council adopted an ordinance amending Title 4, Chapter 28 of the Code of Ordinances to allow the Planning Board to consider conditional use permits to address potential obstructions to the State House dome and to clarify maximum height limitations in parts of the Central Business Performance District and Opportunity Corridor Performance District. Planning staff and the Planning Board had returned the item to council after public comment and further review. Supporters at council said the revised language gives the Planning Board flexibility to review design issues and reduces the need for applicants to go to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. No recorded roll-call vote counts were provided in the meeting transcript beyond the council—s announcement that the motion carried.

Housing grant and anti-displacement policy: The council authorized the city manager to apply for up to $750,000 in CDBG funds through the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority to support Ketch Neighborhood Housing—s (CATCH) redevelopment of 30 East Side Drive. The council also adopted an anti-displacement relocation policy and procedures required under…