The City of Lynn, in partnership with consultants CommunityScale LLC, Levine Planning Strategies, LLC, and Blatman, Bobrowski, Haverty & Silverstein, LLC Attorneys at Law, announces the release of the Zoning Code Audit Report [PDF]. This comprehensive review marks a significant step toward implementing Vision Lynn, the City’s Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2023, aimed at modernizing land use, strengthening neighborhoods, and encouraging vibrant redevelopment along commercial corridors.
This project, unlike previous amendments to the City’s zoning adopted in 1926, proposes a complete overhaul of the existing zoning regulations to better align with Vision Lynn’s objectives and the physical and cultural reality of Lynn today. The audit shows how only 4% of the buildings in residential zones meet today’s requirements. This signals the need for a zoning code that reflects Lynn’s current conditions and vision for the future. Achieving higher levels of conformity promotes equity because the new zoning will remove the costly step of getting variances for routine changes to properties, thereby allowing small-scale investment into neighborhoods.
“This is an opportunity to modernize our zoning code, as well as make it easier to understand. Also, 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.”
Principal Planner Aaron Clausen
Key findings from the audit include the need for updated definitions, a reevaluation of the zoning districts, and a modernized use table. Many of the proposed changes deal with administrative issues while also improving legibility and accessibility. The code audit also emphasizes the need to support future employment opportunities, such as creative arts and climate tech.
In anticipation of the proposed zoning rewrite, scheduled for adoption in mid-2025, the City of Lynn is calling on Lynn residents, property owners, developers, and interested stakeholders to participate in an online survey. This survey, available in English and Spanish, will help prioritize actions and ensure the zoning rewrite reflects the community’s vision for Lynn’s future.
“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 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. We encourage residents to fill-out the survey to help the City realize their vision.”
The survey is available at lynnincommon.com/zoning, where participants can also find more information about the zoning rewrite process, including timelines, goals, and detailed findings from the zoning audit. Your feedback is crucial to creating a zoning code that promotes sustainable growth, enhances community character, and supports economic development in Lynn.
The above press release was submitted to us by Mayor Nicholson’s office.
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