City of Methuen Master Plan

Land Use
LU-5: Identify opportunities for additional economic development growth
LU-5.1: Explore areas such as Lindbergh Ave, Merrimack Street and Broadway with an eye for
economic development. Develop site-specific goals for economic development/
maximization of industrially zoned land, downtown development, and commercial corridor
redevelopment.
Goal LU-6: Manage land uses in a manner that will incrementally improve transportation flow.
Objectives:
• Reduce the amount of projected future increases in vehicle trip generation from proposed projects and increase traffic
safety.
Strategies:
LU-6.1: Include vehicle trip generation reducing requirements in commercial and industrial zoning,
e.g., require new commercial and industrial development to include bicycle racks and
lockers and showers for bicycle users, in concert with the Merrimack Valley Transportation
Management Association (TMA).
LU-6.2: Require employers to provide priority parking (most favorably located) for car and van
pools. Encourage new commercial and industrial development to provide low interest
loans for employees to purchase vans for carpooling. Require new commercial and
industrial development to pay for off-site traffic safety and flow improvements if new traffic
they will generate is expected to lower the level-of-service on adjacent roadways, or
otherwise adversely impact the transportation network.
Goal LU-7: Reduce the unfavorable aspects and impacts of strip commercial development
Objectives:
• Increase flexibility in zoning to create more attractive and better functioning single and mixed use commercial areas.
Strategies:
LU-7.1: Create a mixed use commercial corridor zoning overlay that permits smaller lots and
reduces building setbacks so that mixed use shopping villages can be created along arterial
roadways with parking to the rear and side. Set overall design principles in the overlay zone,
but leave details of design to be determined and approved in the site plan and special permit
approval process. Specifically consider the following areas: Broadway from Rosewood to
NH State Line, Haverhill Street from 93/110 Rotary to Lawrence line, Merrimack Street in
the Valley, Pleasant Street from Methuen Executive Park to lights at Jackson Street
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