February 28, 2024 |City of Lynn, City Services, News, Zoning Board of Appeals

City Launces Rewrite of Zoning Ordinance

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The City of Lynn has launched an extensive rewrite of its citywide zoning ordinance with the goal of creating a more understandable, modern code that aligns with the City’s comprehensive plan, Vision Lynn.

An internal working group comprised of staff from the Planning, Inspectional Services, and Law departments, Mayor’s office, EDIC, and representatives from the City Council, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals will guide the work.

To lead the rewrite, the City has hired CommunityScale, an urban planning consultancy with deep experience amending and rewriting zoning codes in a variety of other municipalities. They will be supported by Levine Planning Strategies, who brings additional perspective from major zoning initiatives in other municipalities, and legal guidance by Blatman, Bobrowski, Haverty & Silverstein, LLCB. The zoning expertise of the consultant team, paired with close involvement from internal City staff and feedback from local developers, real estate professionals, and land use lawyers, will help create a code that supports the community’s goals for the city.

Vision Lynn, which was adopted in 2023, explores the community’s priorities for new development in the city. These include growing commercial and industrial activity to support Lynn’s economy and directing development into existing activity nodes that already enjoy mixed uses and excellent transit connectivity.

The project is supported by a Housing Choice grant from the State’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. The zoning amendment is expected to be completed in Spring 2025 with a review and recommendation provided by the Planning Board and a vote of adoption by the City Council.

“Zoning reform is one of the key next steps identified in Vision Lynn because zoning is one of the most powerful regulatory tools municipalities have to carry out land use and development objectives,” said Mayor Jared C. Nicholson. “By updating our zoning, we will be able to translate the community’s vision more clearly into the regulatory framework developers must follow when they are building new projects.”

Principal Planning Director Aaron Clausen noted that Lynn’s existing zoning code dates back to 1925, providing an opportunity to modernize it and make it easier to understand. “This is important for developers, who seek predictable, straightforward economic environments, and community members, who want clarity around process and possibilities for new development in Lynn.”

Assistant City Solicitor James Lamanna added “because the Zoning Code is so outdated and fails to reflect current realities, property owners are required to often seek variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals at considerable financial cost to themselves.  A revised Zone Ordinance that reflects existing and desired uses and sizes of existing lots will both promote development and reduce costs for property owners who seek to develop their properties.”

Building on the foundation laid during the Vision Lynn process, the initiative will further involve the community through interviews, surveys, and project updates. Project information is available at lynnincommon.com/zoning, and opportunities to participate will be shared there and through the Planning Department’s monthly newsletter and City social media and newsletters.

The above press release was submitted to us by Mayor Nicholson’s Office.