Council hears Planning Board concerns about expedited site-plan waivers for Main Street conversions

Council members heard a Planning Board update on the expedited waiver of site plan (EWSP) process and its growing use for Main Street properties. Councilwoman Mazur said the board is considering whether the current EWSP pathway for B‑1 property owners should include additional Planning Board oversight when commercial spaces are converted to residential units.

"EWSPs are becoming more and more frequent," Mazur said, noting ordinance 26‑21 authorizes expedited waivers in the B‑1 district. She explained the Planning Board’s concern is ensuring conversions do not create inappropriately small living units and that standards — particularly for second-floor and above conversions — are adequate.

Council members and the mayor discussed preserving a streamlined path for commercial-to-commercial changes while routing commercial-to-residential conversions to Planning Board review or reconsidering whether residential conversions should be excluded from the expedited waiver process.

Mazur said the Planning Board has reviewed three EWSPs so far this year and asked for the council’s consideration of an ordinance change or a policy amendment to require Planning Board recommendation when a commercial property is converted to residential use.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the EWSP boundaries: speakers emphasized the current rules generally restrict residential conversions to second floor and above and that basement or street-level residential units are not intended under the expedited process. A council member noted a recent semi‑basement example that prompted discussion about where standards had been unclear.

What happens next: The council and Planning Board will discuss options for amending the ordinance or establishing a formal recommendation path from the Planning Board; any change to the municipal code would require drafting an ordinance and additional public hearings.