Guest-blogging on the stimulating subject of zoning overlay districts (Word doc) is City Councilor Bruce Stebbins, who lives downtown on Mattoon Street and is a senior regional manager for the National Association of Manufacturers. Stebbins serves on the community advisory committee currently engaged in revising drafts of the city’s soon-to-be-updated zoning ordinance (PDF).
One of the more important land use and economic development challenges facing Springfield today is how we allow development in our neighborhood commercial districts to proceed and subsequently, how we maintain the character of these areas.
Springfield has great, historic neighborhood commercial districts that are reminiscent of the days when people walked to run errands, see friends, and interact within their community.
I think there are five interesting and unique commercial districts—Indian Orchard, Main Street in the South End and North End, the X, and State Street. We are beginning to make progress in these areas and more focus, attention and resources need to be applied to help make it happen.
One of the starting points for reinvigorating these commercial districts is building consensus and gathering ideas and concepts from the neighborhood residents and business owners. This neighborhood-up grassroots approach is helpful because after all, it is their neighborhood. Remember, Indian Orchard voted against a Dunkin’ Donuts because it was not designed to be pedestrian-friendly, and that concept was a component of their master plan.
Overlay districts are currently used in many towns and cities across the country, and in Massachusetts, for the purpose of protecting historic properties and areas, among other things. The benefits of these districts are many. Overlay districts, through set of defined development standards, can preserve a community’s sense of history by ensuring that new buildings remain compatible with the existing historic environment.
If historic buildings’ characteristics are maintained according to particular standards, property values can also increase, and can generate or increase other commercial opportunities. Community pride can grow from a unique neighborhood commercial district.
There are several advantages for a business owner or developers. They will know that their assets and property value will be protected and enhanced because shoddy investment or construction will not be allowed. They will also have a clearer and more defined set of development requirements. One thing that developers find most helpful, regardless of where you go, is knowing in advance what the expectations are and if they stick to those guidelines, how long it will take for them to move their project forward. Removing a sense of uncertainty for a project is an incentive and essential to any developer. We can also prioritize overlay districts to received expedited permit review and approval as an incentive from the city.
In addition, the city should work with these neighborhoods to target resources and development incentives to attract investment. We are watching other cities expand locations and neighborhoods to receive tax benefits of the state’s Economic Development Incentive Program.
Springfield needs to be more aggressive in utilizing this program, which is already in place here in the city. We can offer state and local tax incentives for investment, rehabbing abandoned property and relief for new property tax value growth. Our economic development staff should also be able to work with developers to realize historic tax credits and other incentives available through the federal and state government. Directing money for infrastructure projects can also be targeted for these overlay zones.
These overlay zones are meant to drive investment, enhance neighborhood commercial districts, create jobs, and build community pride, among other goals. I want Springfield to be able to attract the best business investment we want, and not just settle for what comes through the door. Strong business development encourages strong business development.
Finally, I don’t want other neighborhoods to feel their commercial districts will be excluded from creating an overlay zone, but the initiative should be driven from the neighborhoods on a grassroots basis.
You heard him, folks: you have to want it to get it. By the same token, it sounds like all you have to do is ask.
