Favorable Reaction To EH Village Center Zoning Framework

by William F. Galvin

            EAST HARIWCH – Approximately 40 residents got a glimpse at the future of an East Harwich Commercial Village Thursday evening when a zoning framework presentation was made by Horsley Witten Group, offering specific recommendations for a more livable village.

            Consultant Nathan Kelly made the presentation that seeks to consolidate zoning language, eliminating several overlay districts and possibly the Six Pond District of Critical Planning Concern, and simplify the bylaw to better define allowable uses.

            The goal of the framework is to address the vision for a denser village center with more open space in the surrounding residential area. The plan is to develop a   

commercial district that would reduce minimum size lots, keep commercial enterprises to a small scale, allow an additional story to add housing opportunities and share parking as one means of providing additional open space.

            At the same time the plan creates a residential district outside the village with open space subdivisions retaining standard density, but designed to cluster homes to keep development away from sensitive environments. A network of access paths would be provided so residents could walk to the village instead of being forced to drive and fill parking areas.

            The framework has its environmental side, in keeping with the guiding principles developed through several public forums conducted by the East Harwich Village Center Collaborative over the past four years. Those principles include making and keeping the village green, providing open space and retaining the Cape Cod character.

            While the plan is to provide more density in the village, Kelly said that through the shared use of parking, either by adjoining businesses or restaurants making arrangements with other businesses to use their lots during down times, there would be a five-acre reduction in pavement in the district.

            The consultant also said by allowing increased density through additional stories and reduced parking areas, the present requirement for 60 to 70 percent of open space would not have to be altered. Open space requirements could be provided offsite as a tool for meeting those requirements, he added.

            Kelly cited the importance of the smaller business models, pointing to Stop & Shop and the massive requirement for parking, which in turn does not encourage people to move about on foot.

            The idea is to encourage pedestrian and bicycle movement throughout the village through connectors and corridors. Shop designs should be close to the sidewalk and facing these connectors, the consultant said.

            He cited the traditional zoning practice of large lot sizes, 50,000 to 100,000 square feet, and recommended 5,000 to 10,000 square feet as a minimum standard to encourage the smaller types of retail businesses people have said they would prefer in the district.

Kelly said the framework encourages stricter regulations on formula or franchise businesses and proposes to ban drive-through facilities. He said regulations could be designed so chain stores that meet requirements could not develop their “lowest common denominator model” in the village.

It is important to increase the population in the village center, Kelly said. He recommended housing diversity, incentives for affordable housing and providing for senior or campus-style models to draw that population.

“Compact development is an antidote for greenhouse gas emissions,” Kelly said. “When people aren’t driving as much, it can create a 30 percent reduction.”

While admitting transferred development rights provisions can be complex and don’t always work in some locations, Kelly said it is a tool that should be examined for this location.

There was discussion about the need for sewage abatement to address the denser conditions, and Kelly said landscaping can be used for stormwater management.

The consultant said community character can be controlled by design consideration, including pitched roof lines, dormers and window design. Building materials, lighting and signage can also shape character.

Residents seemed more concerned about coordination and the ability to address traffic issues. Ted Nelson of the EHVC Association said traffic concerns were being addressed through the Route 137 corridor improvements, now in the 25 percent design stage. That work is scheduled to be done in 2011.

Bridget Rutten, president of the association, said wastewater, gas lines, utilities and broadband infrastructure along the corridor should be coordinated to be installed at the same time.

There were additional concerns about traffic and a secondary route around the village center. One resident cited earlier concepts for secondary roads. Other residents said at times it is impossible to get out of  the movie theatre lot turning south. There was a suggestion that signalization be placed there in conjunction with of a loop road to the west.

Kelly said those secondary loop roads will likely fall to private developers to create.                    

The next step in the process is to prepare zoning provisions that will guide the vision. Nelson said that will happen over the next year, with amendments going to town meeting in May 2011. He said there will be a couple more public meetings during that process.

Town Planner David Spitz said the collaborative has received a third phase grant for $70,000 for this project.

11/5/09