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East Longmeadow panel reviews draft 'Center Town District' 40R bylaw after robust resident engagement
Summary
The Steering Committee reviewed a draft Model 40R Center Town District bylaw on Feb. 19, 2025, hearing that 550 residents responded to an outreach survey and that staff will refine rules on use mix, affordability, dimensional standards and parking before formal hearings.
The Center Town District Steering Committee of East Longmeadow reviewed a draft Model 40R Center Town District bylaw presented by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) at its Feb. 19, 2025 meeting, and heard PVPC say public participation had been substantial during the drafting process.
PVPC presenters Kyle Finnell and Aodhan Hemeon-McMahon said the draft largely reflects elements of the town’s existing Mixed-Use Village standards while incorporating resident preferences gathered over more than 10 months. PVPC reported 550 online survey responses—about 3.4% of residents—and highlighted a resident map-making exercise used to help form district boundaries. Finnell said several provisions still need refinement, including the residential-to-commercial ratio, the proportion of affordable units, dimensional and density rules, and minimum parking standards.
“Public participation has been an important and integral piece of the planning process,” Finnell said, citing two community events that each drew about 75–90 residents and the online survey response total.
Town Manager Thomas Christensen called the process “very successful” and thanked Deputy Town Manager Rebecca Lisi and PVPC for their work; he said he plans to conduct exit interviews with committee members as staff refine the draft bylaw in-house before bringing it to the Planning Board and Town Council.
Audience member Greg Thompson urged the committee to pursue a mixed-use overlay and suggested a housing density of about 12 units per acre, saying the conversation should keep a simple message focused on affordable housing, density and parking. Committee members asked for more detail on design standards—roof forms, building heights and parking placement—so residents understand how the center will look.
Slides shown at the meeting described the proposed Center Town District as about 96.5 acres (roughly 1.2% of town area) and encompassing 122 tax parcels. The committee discussed three core sections of the draft bylaw that will need continued deliberation: Section 4 (permitted uses), Section 6 (dimensional and density requirements) and Section 7 (parking), and reviewed options such as shared parking, dimensional waivers for substantially developed sub-districts and types of public amenities like pocket parks and tree-lined streets.
A motion was made to take up agenda item 3A by Steven Graham and seconded by Dawn Starks; the motion was taken up and the PVPC presentation followed (the transcript does not record a formal roll-call vote for that procedural motion). Approval of the Jan. 29, 2025 meeting minutes was tabled for the next meeting. Jason Gumpert moved to adjourn, seconded by Dawn Starks; the meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m.
PVPC and town staff said deliberation on remaining sections—including affordability, plan approval procedures and design standards—will continue at February meetings before the draft is sent to the Planning Board and Town Council for formal hearings and a final vote.
