Norwell

Zoning Implementation Process

Updates

Thank you everybody who participated the Accord Park and Queen Anne’s Corner rezoning process! Your feedback has been instrumental in helping the Town of Norwell and MAPC understand what the community’s priorities are and where you would like to see the Town move in the future.

After the final community forum on Jan. 7, MAPC and the Town finalized the language of the zoning articles based on the feedback we accumulated over the three different forums. For now, the Town has decided not to move forward with the 40R Zoning Article for Town Meeting in May, but will continue to move forward with the rezoning for Accord Industrial Park. The Town is also going to pursue including residential as an allowable use by special permit along the Pond Street corridor.

Questions? Contact:

If you have any questions about the zoning proposal that the Town is bringing to Town Meeting, please reach out to Norwell Town Planner, Ken Kirkland, at [email protected].

For questions about the MAPC process, contact Josh Eichen at [email protected] or 617-933-0722.

About the Project

In a 2018, the Town of Norwell and MAPC created an Economic Growth Plan with the priority goals of:

Maintaining a fiscally strong town government
Maximizing efficiency in the town's industrial park (specifically Accord—no changes are planned for Assinippi)
Introducing mixed use commercial and residential development
Addressing wastewater infrastructure capacity

The plan's recommendations included changing the zoning at Queen Anne's Plaza and Accord Park to accommodate new growth and the private investment needed to support that growth. In 2019, MAPC and the Town of Norwell collaborated again to write new zoning guidelines to implement the recommendations in the Economic Development Plan. During the fall and winter of 2019, we worked with the community to develop zoning changes to guide and regulate new development at Queen Anne's Plaza and in Accord Park.

As part of this process, MAPC evaluated the net impact of zoning changes on the town's finances, environment, and traffic and wastewater infrastructure. For any adverse impacts are identified, MAPC provided mitigation recommendations to help address them.

Community input was central to developing the new zoning guidelines. MAPC hosted three community workshops to center public input and feedback in the creation of the new zoning. Individuals who were unable to attend these public meetings can still access the materials we used for this project and view videos of each of the three presentations.

Throughout the spring, Norwell residents will have the chance to submit further feedback on the zoning proposal through planning board meetings. The proposal will appear on the warrant for the May 2020 Town Meeting and will require a two-thirds majority vote to pass. Make sure to connect with Norwell Town Planner Ken Kirlkland at [email protected] for more information about the Town Meeting.

Documents & Resources

Past Events

Community Workshop:
January 7, 2020

Agenda and Summary

Boards:

Proposed Zoning Bylaws Summary Matrix

Proposed Zoning Bylaws Map

Zoning Summary: Accord Inner Loop Business Expansion District and Accord Outer Loop/Cordwainer Drive Industrial Retention Sub-district

Zoning Summary: Pond Street Amenity Sub-district

Zoning Summary: Queen Anne's Plaza 40R Sub-district

Queen Anne's Plaza Smart Growth Overlay Organization and Design Framework

Feedback: How Well Did We Explain...?

Community Workshop:
November 19, 2019

Norwell Mariner article: "Norwell Pitches Zoning Changes for Queen Anne's Corner and Accord Park"
Flyer
Presentation

Boards:

Frequently Asked Questions
Project Timeline
Accord Inner Loop Industrial Retention Sub District and Cordwainer Drive: Incentivize private development while supporting existing businesses
Pond Street Amenity Sub District: Amenities to support local businesses, workers, and residents
Queen Anne's Plaza 40R Sub District: Mixed use commercial and residential development to meet community needs

Community Workshop:
September 24, 2019

Boards:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is zoning?

Zoning is the regulatory framework that guides development in a community. Local zoning bylaws are dictated by a community’s preferences for where residential, commercial, and industrial buildings should go. Zoning regulations can include specific requirements about the types of businesses or housing allowed in a certain area, and can sometimes set requirements for what buildings should look like. Community visioning meetings give community members the opportunity to craft a zoning framework to guide future growth.

Why is Norwell pursuing zoning changes at Queen Anne's Plaza and Accord Park?

Zoning changes at Queen Anne's Plaza and Accord Park are being proposed to address two distinct challenges that the town faces:

Norwell's tax base is overly reliant on residential sources. As the value of Norwell's homes continues to appreciate, the tax burden on residents will also increase. This is especially problematic for individuals on a fixed income, such as older adults. Rezoning Accord Park to allow for more commercial and industrial uses will increase the non-residential tax base within Norwell, which will help offset increases in the municipal budget.
Norwell has a shortage of housing options for seniors looking to downsize or young professionals working on the South Shore. The South Shore is expected to face a significant labor shortage in the coming years, and housing has been identified as a key factor for ensuring the long-term viability of the regional economy. Constructing new multifamily housing at Queen Anne's Plaza will help close a critical gap in the local housing market.

Where will the new zoning be implemented? What will it include?

How were Queen Anne's Plaza and Accord Park selected as locations to implement new zoning?

Both of the town's industrial parks were identified as locations for expanded development in the 2005 Master Plan. A 2018 study by MAPC found that Accord Park was best positioned for redevelopment because of its higher vacancy rates, lack of recent private investment, and removal from abutting residential districts.

Queen Anne's Plaza is an ideal site for compact mixed use development because of its large lot size, location near access points to Route 3, and existing wastewater infrastructure. Redevelopment on the site is financially feasible and the owners of Queen Anne's Plaza have expressed interest in developing housing on the site.

How will MAPC evaluate the fiscal, traffic, and environmental impacts of new zoning?

Fiscal: MAPC will conduct a fiscal impact analysis for potential zoning scenarios to evaluate the net contribution of new tax revenue.
Traffic: The Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) is undertaking a traffic study of Pond Street and Washington Street to evaluate current traffic conditions and the added trip generation and direction from new zoning. CTPS will also evaluate opportunities for traffic mitigation and suggest best practices for a redesign of the Pond Street/Washington Street intersection.
Environment: MAPC will evaluate the potential for point and non-point source pollutants to impact water quality in Accord Pond and adjacent wetlands as a result of the new zoning. Net improvements in environmental quality are a goal for this project.

Once the zoning is written, how is it approved?

Once developed, the new zoning language will be submitted to the Board of Selectmen to review. The Board of Selectmen is required to refer a zoning article to the Planning Board withing 14 days.

The Planning Board then has up to 65 days to hold a public hearing and make a report to the Town Meeting.

Once reviewed by the planning board, the new zoning will be added to the Town Meeting "Warrant" (aka the agenda). The May 2020 Town Meeting will vote whether to adopt the new zoning: it will require a two-thirds majority vote to be adopted.

This sounds familiar. Didn't the Town try this a few years ago?

Yes and no. There were two previous efforts to pass zoning changes in the two industrial parks, which failed to secure the needed two-thirds vote at Town Meeting. New zoning to allow housing at Queen Anne's Plaza has not been proposed in the past.

Concerns related to the previous zoning resolutions centered primarily on the impacts of light and traffic from an expanded Assinippi Park on residential abutters along High Street. Focusing efforts on Accord Park and Queen Anne’s Plaza, which have no residential abutters, will hopefully mitigate this concern.

What steps will be included to ensure public input?

How can I get involved?

You don't have to be an expert in zoning to get involved - you're an expert in what you want in your community, so your voice counts. We're looking for diverse perspectives and we'll do our best to answer your questions and help you understand the basis of the process.

How can you get involved? Come to the meetings! We'll be hosting community workshops in September, November, and December. In between, we'll be crafting and refining zoning language based on what we hear from the public. In the spring, go to planning board meetings for more opportunities to give feedback.

If you can't make a meeting, we'll use this webpage to provide meeting materials and ways to give feedback.

The community's role isn't over once the zoning is written - it still needs to be approved by a two-thirds majority at Town Meeting in May 2020. Talk to you neighbors about the process and proposal, and come to Town Meeting to lend your voice to the final vote.

How can I stay updated on the process?

Is Norwell working on any other plans right now?

Do you have a question that's not answered here?
Let us know! Contact:

Josh Eichen
[email protected]
617-933-0722

Norwell

Zoning Implementation Process

Updates

About the Project

Documents & Resources

Past Events

Community Workshop: January 7, 2020

Community Workshop: November 19, 2019

Community Workshop: September 24, 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Workshop:
January 7, 2020

Community Workshop:
November 19, 2019

Community Workshop:
September 24, 2019