BYLAW: Village Development Overlay District

Download a Word file of this Bylaw

MUNICIPALITY: Gloucester, MA

DATE ADOPTED: 2003

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS BYLAW CONTACT:
Gloucester Community Development Office (978) 281-9781

PURPOSE:
"...the "Village Development Overlay District Zoning Ordinance" (VDOD) is intended to provide incentives to direct development into locations where there is adequate existing or planned infrastructure, such as sewers, water facilities and roads. The VDOD special permit mechanism is intended to provide an incentive mechanism whereby areas of high environmental sensitivity are permanently preserved as open space in exchange for a density bonus -- meaning that a "Village Development Project" (VDP) proponent may increase density of housing by a set proportion in exchange for the permanent protection of open space, and by providing a mix of housing, including permanently affordable units. The overlay mechanism also provides incentive by allowing Planning Board (special permit granting authority) to approve a more flexible layout than other available options such as a conventional subdivision or a city council multifamily special permit..."

TEXT OF THE BYLAW: See Word file