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Board advances zoning rewrite to consolidate art uses and standardize places of public assembly
Summary
On second reading the board moved forward an amendment to the zoning ordinance that creates a new 'Artisan Gallery or Studio' use to consolidate photography studios, galleries and similar activities and reclassifies religious institutions with other places of public assembly for uniform treatment of parking and related standards.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the second reading and public hearing component of an ordinance (2024‑09) that consolidates multiple art‑related uses into a single defined use called “Artisan Gallery or Studio” and treats religious institutions the same as other places of public assembly for parking and zoning standards.
Community and Economic Development Director Michael Clark said the changes respond to a request regarding a proposed photography studio downtown and to other identified deficiencies in the current zoning ordinance. Staff consolidated uses such as photography studios, art galleries and participatory arts spaces into a single use to simplify permitting and ensure consistent parking and performance standards.
Clark told the board the reclassification of religious and similar assembly uses to a single category aligns the town’s rules with federal standards under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and avoids unequal treatment of assembly uses. He said the ordinance includes staff recommendations and that adoption will return for a final vote at the next meeting following required readings.
Aldermen asked about parking and whether downtown projects would need off‑site parking; Clark said the change is zoning‑wide but that in the downtown central business district staff expects shared public parking to accommodate these uses and that not requiring on‑site parking can support pedestrian activity.
