AFFORDABLE HOUSING DRAFT - Salisbury, CT

would involve changes to basic zoning requirements and policies requiring extensive review. PhaseTwo regulation changes would require more time for deliberations and verification of consistencywith the Town Plan. The AHAC understands that Phase Two recommendations will require P&Z todedicate significant time and effort to reconsider some basic zoning requirements and policies. Majorzoning amendments, such as a change to zoning boundaries or housing density requirements, shouldbe reviewed for consistency with the existing 1999 POCD. Alternatively, where appropriate, PhaseTwo revisions should be addressed in the revision of the POCD scheduled for the year 2011. Further,AHAC strongly supports including affordable housing as a top priority of the Town Plan update,including propositions such as expanding the village center areas and adding new cluster and otherregulation changes that will help reduce costs consistent with the goal of retaining Salisbury’scharacter. Although it is likely that P&Z will identify other basic zoning requirements and policiesthat can be modified to improve the opportunity for creating affordable housing, AHAC urges theCommission to consider the Phase Two recommendations.In developing the Phase One and Phase Two recommendations, the AHAC worked with thePlanning and Zoning Commission by:• Including a member of P&Z on the AHAC;• Keeping the Commission apprised of the direction and progress of the project;• Drafting regulatory amendments in cooperation with the Commission’s consulting townplanner;• Proposing zoning amendments that adhere closely to and build upon existing town planningpolicies and zoning regulations;• Providing Phase One amendments in “final draft” form ready for review and adoption; and• Providing Phase Two recommendations regarding fruitful areas of general zoning requirementsand policies for the Commission to reconsider in connection with the updating of the TownPlan.Our Phase One recommendations are being provided in“final draft” form suitable for timely review and adoption.Summary of Phase One Recommendations (see Appendices V, VI, and VII for the full text):1. Add a new regulation permitting apartments over commercial buildings,2. Add a new regulation permitting an existing residence to be converted to a multi-familyresidence of not more than three dwelling units without the present zoning requirementthat the minimum lot area be three times the minimum area required in the zone (e.g. ina one-acre zone a three-unit conversion currently requires three acres).38