Zoning Regulations - The Town of Hinesburg

Hinesburg Zoning Regulations – October 12, 2009 Article 3ARTICLE 3: ZONING DISTRICTSSection 3.1 VILLAGE GROWTH AREA – OVERALL PURPOSEDISTRICTS: Village, Village NW, Village NE, Commercial, Industrial 3, Industrial 4, Residential1, Residential 2PURPOSE: To encourage a vibrant mix of commercial, residential and civic activities in a compact,pedestrian-oriented village that is recognizable as the Town's social and economic center. To allowfor development that brings value to the community and maintains Hinesburg’s unique sense ofplace. Densities will be high relative to the rest of the town, and multi-story buildings areanticipated. The design of this area shall include public spaces to serve as focal points and gatheringspaces, and to take advantage of important views. It should include internal streets that makepedestrians feel comfortable and welcome. A mix of uses within the Village NW, Village NE,Village, and Commercial districts is particularly important to provide a reason for the widerHinesburg community to visit and spend time in this area (employment, walking, services,recreation, events, etc.).Development densities should be maximized to the extent practical in order to better realizeHinesburg’s overall “smart growth” strategy. Increased density opportunities should also serve as anincentive to promote the creation of affordable and moderately priced housing.The density of the area makes it conducive to the use of transit. Suitable transit stops, including buspull-offs, should be anticipated in the overall layout. Internal streets should, to the extent possible,form a circulation grid and accommodate on-street parking. To the greatest extent possible, thedistrict shall favor pedestrian movement, minimizing traffic movement and parking conflicts withpedestrian ways.The compactness of proposed development will inevitably lead to a loss or shifting of some scenicviews now afforded in the undeveloped portion of the overall village growth center. However, newview opportunities should be provided from the new street network and from other perspectivesavailable to the public. In the evolving design, it is important to pay close attention to the creation ofgreen spaces such as parks, recreation areas, and community gathering places that will complementthe pattern of streets, buildings, pathways and view corridors. Even with the proposed developmentdensities, small scale agricultural operations and community gardens (e.g., Burlington’s Intervalearea) will be a viable and important element given the abundance of prime agricultural soils and theneed for locally grown food. It is also important to retain functional connections to the surroundingrural landscape via public trails, contiguous green space, and other mechanismsSection 3.2 AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTPURPOSE: To promote the continuation of agricultural and open space uses on land so suited andto allow low density, rural residential development primarily on land less suitable for open space andagricultural uses. Development that conserves agricultural lands and prevents conflicts betweenresidences and farming operations is encouraged.3.2.1 DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AND LIMITSThis district encompasses all of the land west of Route #116 which is not in any otherDistrict.- Page 12 -