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Date: 12/15/2021
AMHERST – The Amherst Town Council continued discussions on zoning changes during its Dec. 6 meeting and ultimately held up the vote on the most divisive of the possibly changes, a new parking facility overlay district in downtown.
During the meeting, the four proposed zoning amendments from the previous meeting were brought back up to continue consideration. District 5 Councilor Darcy DuMont requested the postponement of two of the items.
The Town Council unanimously approved the first zoning amendment they reviewed, which was an extension of temporary Article 14 through Dec. 31, 2022. This was done to allow outdoor dining and other pandemic protocols to remain in place in support of local business.
To adopt the zoning amendments, there must be nine of the 13 councilors in favor to achieve the two-thirds threshold under state law. Councilors also voted 12-1 to approve a series of new parking and access requirements for residential sites.
The two bylaws that have been delayed have been the most divisive. Concerns stem from North Prospect Street residents about the new overlay district that would apply to the town-owned parking lot between North Pleasant and North Prospect streets to accommodate a second parking garage downtown.
Public comments to the council at this and the previous meeting were overwhelmingly focused on this zoning change that would allow for a new garage to be built.
“I am opposed to the rapid movement toward the garage,” said Harry Peltz of District 3. “There is a lack of current studies and considerations of other locations. In my opinion, Amherst will regret the decision to place a garage in this location and it will harm the town, not help it.”
Ira Bryck of Strong Street seconded those same sentiments and urged the council for the second straight meeting not to pass this zoning bylaw.
Resident Meg Gage did bring up the point that while some in favor of passing this change in the bylaw were making clear it does not also approve the construction of a parking garage, the change would ultimately end up leading to a developer to come through and build the garage.
“Think for a minute how decisions are made,” Gage said. “Momentum is created and the decision hasn’t been made to build a garage but there is a possibility it could. I think everyone knows this isn’t going to create the garage, but it’s about getting ready to. When it comes, the town will say what’s the big deal and give the land to a builder.”
One public comment in favor of making the zoning changes was from Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Claudia Pazmany, who believed the need for more parking in downtown was necessary for businesses.
“There is no corner [of Amherst] where we don’t hit historical and residential issues in our town due to its size. Overlay will benefit downtown,” Pazmany said.
The final proposed zoning change was on mixed-use buildings. Councilors seemed to be supportive of the 30 percent requirement of the ground floor area to be commercial. The amendment to move that number to 40 percent, however, was denied in a 7-6 vote by the council.
At-Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke brought up a retail analysis study from before the pandemic that found requiring too much commercial space would create empty storefronts and would be bad for the economic vitality of the town and downtown area. According to Hanneke, the analysis showed a demand for 12,000 to 15,000 square feet of commercial space townwide.