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Fran Arsenault proposes Article 18 to loosen Acton zoning rules to support local businesses
Summary
Fran Arsenault introduced Article 18, a package of zoning bylaw amendments aimed at expanding signage flexibility, permitting retail and services in some industrial and office districts by special permit, raising thresholds for special permits, and easing development constraints to encourage local business reinvestment in Acton.
Fran Arsenault introduced Article 18, a package of proposed amendments to the town zoning bylaw intended to promote economic development and implement recommendations from the town strategic economic development action plan.
The proposal would change sign rules to increase the annual allowance for special-event signage from 45 days to 90 days and add a special-permit option for sign height. It would remove an exception that allowed plastic signs with a wooden appearance in the EAV district so that wooden signs are required across village districts, and it would allow the planning board to grant special permits for signs facing the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail to support trail-facing businesses. "The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail represents a major missed opportunity for trail-facing businesses and D corrects this," Arsenault said.
Article 18 also would alter permitted uses in industrial, business and office districts. The proposal would allow retail and service uses in industrial districts by special permit, permit transportation services by special permit in office-park and limited business districts, and change scientific uses from special-permit-only to allowed by right in industrial, business and office districts. Arsenault described the approach as a modest loosening of restrictions "just a tiny bit" to encourage retail and services that otherwise might be restricted.
On permitting thresholds, the article would raise the special-permit threshold for commercial recreation from 2,000 square feet to 7,500 square feet, and it would remove the special-permit requirement for restaurants with more than 65 seats. Arsenault said past applications under those thresholds have been approved without special conditions.
In the limited business (LB) district, the proposal would reduce the minimum required open space from 50% to 35% and remove the parking maximum of one space per 3,000 square feet, measures intended to allow restaurants and other community-desired uses to locate in LB areas. The article would also remove a zoning requirement for large developments in Kelly's Corner to build pedestrian plazas, saying recent infrastructure improvements have already provided plazas.
Other provisions would allow reconstruction and additions for commercial buildings on non-conforming lots, permit agricultural home businesses to operate outdoors, and give the select board authority to grant special permits to exceed size limits in village districts.
Arsenault said Article 18 is recommended by the select board, finance committee, planning board and economic development committee. The transcript of the presentation did not record a formal vote on the article.
