August 7 Zoning Board: Meeting on Wednesday for housing + more

ZONING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING

The Zoning Board will meet on Wednesday, August 7 at 6 p.m. and the following cases will be heard. If you cannot make the meeting in person, it will be broadcast live on Manchester Public Television, Channel 22. The agenda is available online.

ZBA2024-047: 458 Lake Avenue, Residential Two Family District, Ward 5

Applicant has proposed to create two parking spaces within 1’ of a building and lot lines where 4’ is required, as well as with 62% lot coverage where 60% is allowed. Applicant seeks a variance from sections 10.09(B) Parking Setbacks (5 counts) and 6.04 Lot Coverage.

ZBA2024-072: 14 Kendall Avenue, Residential One Family High Density District, Ward 9

Applicant has proposed to construct an outdoor kitchen and maintain accessory structures in the rear yard, resulting in a lot coverage of 78% where 50% is allowed. Applicant has also proposed to maintain a garage with a 10” side yard setback where 10’ is required, maintain a pool pump house in the rear yard within 4’ of the side and rear lot lines, and maintain a rear deck with 4’ 8” side yard setback where 10’ is required in the R-1B zoning district. Applicant seeks a variance from sections 6.04 Lot Coverage, 8.29(A) Accessory Structures and Uses (2 counts), and 6.03(C) Side Yard Setback.

ZBA2024-081: 218 Overland Street, Residential One Family High Density District, Ward 9

Applicant has proposed to subdivide the parcel to create one new buildable lot where proposed Lot 16 will remain improved with a two-family dwelling with buildable land area of 7,745 SF where 15,000 SF is required; with lot frontage of 93.65’ where 150’ is required; where the lot frontage is not maintained for 100’, where the two-family dwelling has a front yard setback of 3’ where 20’ is required, as well as create a second parking space in the front yard setback; and where proposed Lot 16-1 has conforming lot area and frontage but

only maintains the frontage for a depth of 98.48’ where 100’ is required in the R-1B zoning district. Applicant seeks a variance from sections 6.01 Minimum Buildable Lot Area, 6.02 Minimum Lot Frontage and Width (2 counts), 6.03(A) Front Yard Setback, and 10.09(B)2 Parking Setbacks at proposed Lot 16, and 6.02 Minimum Lot Width at proposed Lot 16-1.

ZBA2024-084: 831 Union Street, Residential Two Family District, Ward 2

Applicant has proposed to establish an office of healthcare practitioners in the R-2 zoning district, and seeks a variance from sections 5.10(H-2)1 Offices of Health Care Practitioners.

ZBA2024-085: 159 Brent Street, Residential One Family High Density District, Ward 8

Applicant has proposed to maintain a rear deck with a rear yard setback of 24.5’ where 30’ is required. Applicant has also proposed to maintain a 10’ x 10’ shed in the side yard with a 2.5’ side yard setback where 10’ is required and maintain a second parking space in the front yard setback within 4’ of a building in the R-1B zoning district. Applicant seeks a variance from sections 6.03(B) Rear Yard Setback, 10.289(A)2 Accessory Structures and Uses, and 10.09(B) Parking Setbacks.

ZBA2024-086: 14 W Appleton Street, Residential One Family High Density District, Ward 1

Applicant has proposed to construct a 12’ x 30’ pool with a portion extending into the front yard and a 54” tall fence in the front yard where 4’ is allowed in the R-1B zoning district. Applicant seeks a variance from sections 8.29(A)1 Accessory Structures and Uses and 8.27(B) Fences and Walls.

ZBA2024-090: 80 Merrimack Street, Central Business District, Ward 3

Applicant has proposed to construct a 55-unit multi-family dwelling, from September 8, 2024 to September 8, 2026 in the CBD zoning district. Applicant seeks a variance from sections 14.02(B)4 Two Year Period to Exercise Variance.

ZBA2024-053: 296 Orange Street, Residential Two Family District, Ward 2

Applicant has requested a reasonable accommodation under the FHA, or variance, to allow eleven (11) unrelated handicapped individuals to occupy a single dwelling unit where the definition of family allows four (4) unrelated individuals, or in the alternative for a reasonable accommodation under the FHA, or variance, to allow a single-family home to be occupied as congregate housing in the R-2 zoning district. Applicant seeks a reasonable accommodation or a variance from sections 3.03 Definition of Family or 5.10(A)10 Congregate Housing.

ZBA2024-082: 141, 163, and 173 Queen City Avenue and 28 Vernon Street, General Business District and Urban Multifamily District, Ward 3

Applicant has proposed to consolidate and redevelop four parcels to construct a five story building with a daycare use and a retail use on the first floor, as well as 75 dwelling units on the upper floors with a two level parking structure containing 66 parking spaces. The proposed building has a 6’ front yard setback and side yard setbacks of 9.9’ and 13.94’ where 20’ is required in all instances. The proposed parking structure has side yard setbacks of 4.8’ and 5.58’ where 10’ is required. The proposed lot coverage is 85% where 75% is allowed, with a height of 5 stories where 4 stories are allowed, a height in feet of 62’ where 50’ is allowed, and a floor area ratio of 1.93 where 1.025 is allowed. There is one loading space proposed where two are required and without sufficient space for maneuvering. The proposal is also without the 10’ landscaped buffer at the loading space, without the required 15’ landscaped buffer between the B-2 and R-3 zoning districts, and with a commercial parking garage and business parking in a residential district in the B-2 and R-3 zoning districts. Applicant seeks a variance from sections 6.03(A) Front Yard Setback (Queen City Ave.), 6.03(C) Side Yard Setback (4 counts), 6.04 Lot Coverage, 6.05 Height in Feet and Stories (2 counts), 6.06 Floor Area Ratio, 10.05(2) Number of Off-Street Loading Spaces, 10.06(C) Loading Maneuvering, 6.08(A) Screening and Buffers, 10.07(G) Landscaping, 10.02(F) Business Parking in a Residential District.

PLANNING BOARD UPDATES

The Planning Board met on Thursday, August 1 and the following applications were decided. If you missed the meeting, it is available on-demand via Manchester Public Television.

• CU2024-011:  40 Rosecliff Lane, Application approved.
• CU2024-012:  100 Lakeside Drive, Application approved.
• CU2024-005 & SP2024-008:  27 Myrtle Street, Applications approved.
• SP2024-007:  1305 Elm Street, Application approved.
• PDSP2024-001:  800 & 830 Harvey Road, Application approved.

WARD-LEVEL DRAFT ZONING ORDINANCE MEETINGS

A new draft zoning ordinance was revealed on Friday, June 21 at 6 p.m., in the Aldermanic Chambers. City staff provided a comprehensive walkthrough of how the draft was created and what it means for the city as a whole. A recording of the meeting is available on-demand via Manchester Public Television. More information is also available on the city’s Land Use Code website.

In short, the rules found in our new zoning ordinance will govern what can be built and where, which has a huge impact on our housing supply. The city wants to update its draft based on your feedback. Whether you live, work, or play in Manchester, your voice matters. So please take a moment to think about what you want our community to look like in 10, 20, even 30 years.

I personally would love to see Manchester encourage more walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods; a city where young people can afford to move here, and people of all ages can afford to stay. That’s why I’m excited about the Manchester Neighbors Welcome coalition.

But what do you want to see? Give it some thought, and mark your calendar so you can attend one of the community meetings below. You can attend any meeting that works for you even if it’s outside your ward. City staff will be there to share info, answer questions, and take feedback.

Wed. July 10 @ 6pm – Ward 12, Northwest Elementary School (click link for story)

Sat. July 13 @ 10am – Ward 10, Parker-Varney Elementary School (click link for story)

Wed. July 17 @ 6pm – Ward 8, Jewett Street Elementary School (click link for story)

Sat. July 27 @ 10am – Ward 11, Gossler Park Elementary School (click link for story)

Wed. July 31 @ 6pm – Ward 1, Webster Elementary School (click link for story)

Sat. August 3 @ 10am – Ward 7, St. Anthony Community Center (click link for story)

Wed. August 14 @ 6pm – Ward 6, Green Acres Elementary School

Sat. August 17 @ 10am – Ward 5, Manchester Community Resource Center

Wed. August 21 @ 6pm – Ward 4, McDonough Elementary School

Wed. August 28 @ 6pm – Ward 2, Smyth Road Elementary School

Wed. September 4 @ 6pm – Ward 9, Bishop Leo E. O’Neil Youth Center

Sat. September 7 @ 10am – Ward 3, Palace Theater Spotlight Room