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Norton panels recommend zoning tweaks that lower village‑center height and tighten mixed‑use rules
Summary
At a joint meeting March 12 the Norton Planning Board and Select Board opened and closed a public hearing and voted to recommend two town‑meeting warrant articles: Article 3 reduces maximum building height in the Village Center Core; Article 21 clarifies mixed‑use/top‑of‑shop definitions.
A joint session of the Norton Select Board and the Norton Planning Board on March 12 opened a public hearing on two town‑meeting warrant articles and then voted to recommend both to the annual Town Meeting.
Planning Board acting chair Mr. Griffin outlined Article 3, which would lower the Village Center Core zone maximum building height from 60 feet (four stories) to 45 feet (three stories) and align special features such as chimneys, domes and spires with the 65‑foot height limit used elsewhere. He said the change is intended to bring the village center into line with other zones and remove one story of potential height in the core.
Article 21 clarifies definitions for mixed‑use or “top‑of‑shop” developments so that only commercial uses normally permitted in the district can support residential units above. "We updated the definition to make sure ... the commercial aspect of the building provides more economic benefit to the town than just a pure mixed multifamily building," Griffin told the boards.
Select Board members asked whether the two measures were intended to constrain multifamily housing. Staff and planners said the reforms are distinct: top‑of‑shop is a constrained mixed‑use category that differs from full multifamily zoning, and the proposed language restricts residential types to those already allowed in the district (single‑family, duplex, dormitory‑type housing and other permitted residential uses), not to create new multifamily allowances.
After public comment the Select Board moved and voted by roll call to open, then close, the hearing and to recommend Article 3 and Article 21 as printed to Town Meeting. The Planning Board followed the same procedural steps and likewise voted to forward the articles.
The hearing record and votes mean Articles 3 and 21 will appear on the May town‑meeting warrant with favorable recommendations from both boards. The boards will present the measures and the supporting analysis at Town Meeting; any final changes would be made by Town Meeting vote.
