Town Meeting approves downtown zoning changes

202 of the approximately 250 Town Meeting members were present at the first session of Town Meeting Monday night.

By: Kathryn Eident
Globe Correspondent

A new set of zoning rules aimed at encouraging development in Needham’s downtown were enacted at the first session of Town Meeting at the Newman Elementary School night Monday night. Slightly more than 200 of the 250 Town Meeting members were present to approve seven zoning articles by voice and hand vote, and several other unrelated articles by unanimous consent.

The zoning articles, proposed by the Planning Board, create three new overlay districts that will give businesses greater flexibility in developing mixed-used buildings on Garden and Chestnut Streets, and in Needham center.

“The present zoning presents barriers to redevelopment,” said Robert Smart, a Planning Board and Downtown Study Committee member. “When you’re seeking new growth that will lead to more tax revenue for the town…you need to provide incentives for more dense and taller buildings.”

The new districts and rules will not override the existing zoning rules, but instead will allow the town to better control how the downtown will be developed, he said.

The zoning rules create new districts to allow for mixed-use development in Needham's downtown.

For instance, new buildings near Town Hall in the Needham Center district will not be higher than three stories. Buildings closer to the hospital on Chestnut Street, however, could be as high as four stories to allow for both housing and retail units.

“The zoning has been crafted to keep the Town Hall as the focal point of a traditional downtown in a New England town,” said Board of Selectmen member Moe Handel. “The zoning creates the condition for a livelier downtown; the downtown as a destination.”

Several Town Meeting members expressed concern about parking and traffic issues if the downtown develops to the 30 percent build-out the Planning Board expects to see in the next 20 years.

“The parking is not well-designated now, and the zoning will allow for organized parking developments” said Planning Board member Jeanne McKnight. “It will take time to get from here to there.”

The articles were approved with a two-thirds voice vote after a short discussion.

Town Meeting members also approved by a hand vote an article giving the Zoning Board of Appeals the power to decide when developers have purposefully or accidentally exceeded the allowed square footage in a construction project.

“The new language is intended to be a governor so that a development team won’t come back [with a mistake] more than once,” Planning Board member Ronald Ruth said. “It’s a one-time mistake. The second time a development team is going to have to be smooth and articulate as to why.”

Eleven other articles, including an appropriation for a wastewater pump station design, and establishing elected officials’ salaries were also approved by unanimous consent.

The second night of Town Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Newman School. Members will examine the remaining 30 or so articles, including property tax relief, an appropriation for the Town Hall renovation project and Community Preservation Act articles.

Click HERE to see all Town Meeting documents, or visit, needhamma.gov