Gardner council denies request to rezone Robinson Street parcels from residential to commercial

The Gardner City Council voted unanimously June 4 to deny a petition to change the zoning of tax map 034, lots 073, 074 and 076 on Robinson Street from high-density residential to in-town commercial.

The change was requested by Mark Warren of Airy Leasing and Development, who told the council the owner hopes to extend the in-town commercial zone roughly 200 feet to allow a national retailer to locate downtown and to increase parking capacity. "We have a national retailer who's looking to open a new retail, business which would greatly benefit beneficial to the residents," Warren said, adding he could not yet disclose the prospective tenant.

Residents and advisory boards opposed the request. Bob Harvey Webster, a neighbor, said the area contains numerous vacant storefronts downtown and argued the lots are part of an established residential neighborhood. "None of these activities really should be happening in a residential neighborhood," Webster said, listing potential commercial uses the city land-use table allows in in-town commercial zones.

Debbie Willis, chair of the Planning Board (also chair of Economic Development and Ordinance Review), told the council the planning board reviewed the petition and "it was resoundly denied." Willis said the board was concerned the applicant offered no specific project and that expanding commercial zoning would affect three adjacent zones, noting it could encourage uses the neighborhood did not want.

Councilors cited the advisory committees' unanimous recommendations and the absence of a specific development proposal as reasons to deny the rezoning. Councillor Tim Cusick said he could not "give a blank vote for something that I don't know what's going in on." Councillor Gaye Grant said she worried the change would strand some houses and that she would prefer see affordable housing pursued at the site.

The motion to deny the zoning change was made by Councillor Grant and seconded by Councillor Greenleaf; the council recorded no votes in favor of approving the rezoning and a unanimous opposition to approval was entered, effectively denying the request.

The council and staff noted the topic will be revisited through the newly formed comprehensive planning process; several applicants and committee members present were told the comprehensive plan committee will review zoning and related policy questions.

No formal development application tied to the rezoning was submitted to the council at the hearing, and the denial preserves the lots' high-density residential designation.