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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20211006 - Zoning Advisory Committee - Meeting MinutesTOWN OF HOPKINTON ZONING ADVISORY COMMITTEE Wednesday, October 6, 2021 7:00 PM REMOTE MEETING MINUTES Members Present: Curtis Smithson, Sundar Sivaraman, Mary Larson-Marlowe, Ron Foisy, Madhu Chandrasekar, Ted Barker-Hook, Rachel Rossin, Elyse Barrett-Mihajloski Members Absent: John Coutinho Also Present: John Gelcich, Principal Planner Mr. Smithson called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and read through the remote meeting script. 1.Form-Based Code Overview Mr. Gelcich gave a presentation providing an overview of form-based codes. Ms. Larson-Marlowe asked how this could be used with a developed town. Mr. Gelcich said it would be put in place and changed over time. Mr. Barker-Hook asked what would scare developers and what would make them happy. Mr. Gelcich said unfamilairty would be scary but predictability is good. Mr. Sivaraman asked about subdivisions and how they would apply. Mr. Gelcich said they could be applied based on the design. Mr. Trendel asked if FBCs and subdivisions are counter to each other. Mr. Gelcich said we think of subdivisions as residential but they don’t have to be, unless other uses are explicitly prohibited. Mr. Smithson discussed his experience with FBCs elsewhere in the country. Mr. Gelcich briefly touched on PUDs and how they are different from FBCs. ZAC generally discussed FBC application town-wide and how it would apply in certain situations. 2.Discussion re: Parking Changes Proposed by Chamber of Commerce Mr. Foisy presented the parking comparison table drafted as an overview. ZAC generally discussed the table Mr. Foisy shared. Ms. Larson-Marlowe said these limits will allow for parking that developers need while not requiring parking that is not needed, since these are minimums. Mr. Sivaraman had a question about the process moving forward. Mr. Barker-Hook asked why parking requirements are needed at all. ZAC generally discussed this issue. Ms. Larson-Marlowe said she would support no parking minimums for industrial and office uses. Mr. Sivaraman agreed. ZAC generally discussed whether life sciences/laboratory should be added as a defined term and splitting general office and medical/dental office. Mr. Barker-Hook proposed reducing the parking as much as possible. ZAC generally discussed this issue. ZAC generally agreed to draft a revision to the zoning to discuss at the next meeting. Mr. Smithson directed Mr. Gelcich to put together a draft amendment reflecting the changes discussed as part of this agenda item. Mr. Smithson mentioned proposed administrative amendments to the Zoning Bylaw, such as an index and use table. Mr. Gelcich said he can draft a use table and mentioned a dimensional table that has already been drafted that could also be included. Mr. Gelcich also mentioned the upcoming housekeeping changes he drafted and will add to a future agenda. 3.Minutes of September 20, 2021 Ms. Larson-Marlowe moved to approve the minutes as written. Mr. Sivaraman seconded the motion. The Committee voted unanimously to approve the motion (8-0-0). Ms. Larson-Marlowe moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Sivaraman seconded the motion. The Committee voted unanimously to approve the motion (8-0-0). Meeting adjourned at 8:42 PM. Approved:October 25, 2021 Documents:Form-Based Code Presentation Minutes of September 20, 2021 Area Parking Comparison 9.18.21