When the rezoning of two Limited Business districts in downtown Amherst reappeared on the Community Resources Committee (CRC) agenda June 22, those following this topic were surprised that substantial changes had been introduced without explanation. Rather than encouraging three-story, 39-foot buildings along the street edge the previous version, which the Planning Department had staunchly defended the newest revision proposes four-story buildings, 51 feet tall. Behind this overlay, buildings could now be three stories tall, rather than two.
The blocks in question, along the west side of North Pleasant Street between Cowles Lane and McClellan Street, and along the northeast side of Triangle Street from the playing fields to the roundabout, currently house one- or two-story small shops and professional offices. I’ll focus on the North Pleasant blocks, the historic ones.
Amherst Planning Board delays action on Town Council subcommittee’s proposed zoning changes
Updated Dec 21, 2020;
AMHERST – The Planning Board appeared on verge of moving ahead with zoning amendments proposed by a Town Council subcommittee, but the board’s chairman, Jack Jemsek, announced no action would be taken after several residents objected to the amendments that includes a 40-R “smart growth” overlay district proposed for downtown.
Only one of the seven planning board members objected to the zoning proposals at Wednesday’s meeting, Janet McGowan.
The chairman said the idea presented by the council’s Community Resources Committee [CRC] would be reviewed again, during a meeting likely to be scheduled in January. The CRC is chaired by Council Vice President Mandi Jo Hanneke.