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Council approves first reading of zoning map amendment to allow modest housing increase on Patterson Hill
Summary
Planning Director Bob Forney presented a targeted map amendment converting 2.6 acres from Residential 6 to Residential 5 on Patterson Hill (three parcels) to enable roughly 12 additional dwelling units; council approved the first reading and scheduled a public hearing and second reading.
Bob Forney, Planning and Codes Director, presented a proposal to amend the city zoning map for three parcels (2.6 acres) on Patterson Hill from Residential 6 to Residential 5. Forney said the parcels have deeded access to a private sewer line from nearby Penquist Apartments, which allows greater density. He estimated the parcels currently could support about 10 dwelling units and that the rezoning could raise potential capacity to about 22 units — a net increase of roughly 12 units.
Forney said the change is surgical rather than a broad rezone and noted the Planning Board and the Housing and Property Maintenance Committee reviewed the matter; notice for a planning board public hearing ran in the newspaper and property owners of record were mailed direct notice. The council accepted the first reading and scheduled a second reading with a public hearing at the next regular meeting; the first‑reading motion passed 5–0.
Councilors praised the targeted approach to adding housing and directed staff to proceed with the public hearing notification and materials for the next meeting.
