Speaker 1 00:04
We've heard about the experiences you want to have in Slade’s Ferry. We've produced potential zoning changes to the Slade's Ferry overlay district that will help the town achieve some of the goals we heard from you. This includes an emphasis on local community character, enhanced public spaces and amenities, and finally, infrastructure and safety to achieve the grand vision for Slades Ferry, we've listened to the needs of residents in crafted three districts. The residential transition zone is meant to provide developmental restrictions that protect nearby residences on the western side of Slade's
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Ferry between the residential
Speaker 1 00:39
zone and the highway, the core zone is the heart of slates ferry given its relative distance from existing residential development and the presence of underutilized parcels, this area enables the greatest density and height focal points in this zone include enhancing the existing park and creating flexible pedestrian pathways to host open Air markets or community events currently inaccessible. The Waterfront District enables some opportunity for development concentrated in the most appropriate sites. It emphasizes the waterfront experience, increasing visual and physical access to the river. The town is also pursuing a design of a scenic overlook and fishing pier at the site of the former bridge, embedding three districts within the Slade's Ferry overlay district requires changes to the existing by law, as you can see by the three zones we've carefully thought about density and where it should be focused in the district. By implementing the changes, the town can create more flexibility for development types. The existing zoning allows for up to four stories across the entire district based
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on feedback and preferred development styles.
Speaker 1 01:45
The new by law allows different heights across the three districts. The transition zone, which abuts the neighborhood from the rear, has the lowest maximum height with two and a half stories. The core district, on the other hand, allows up to four and a half stories, and the waterfront district also allows two and a half stories to support waterfront views.
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We also made changes to the
Speaker 1 02:07
allowed residential density. If you recall, the 2015 market study emphasized that economic growth and development would be viable in Slade’s Ferry but not without a significant residential component. Currently, zoning allows between four to eight units per acre, which has not resulted in growth. The transition zone and the Waterfront District offer the lowest density, 12 and a half units per acre, given constraints to building size and step backs. The core district has the greatest allowable density, up to 17 and a half units per acre. We heard residents were concerned how additional development might affect their lived experiences in their own homes. We want to be sensitive to these ideas. So through the residential transition zone, we created a buffer zone. This means that any new development or redevelopment requires a 25-foot rear setback from a residential lot line. This zone also implements setbacks on buildings to ensure that residential lines of site are free from commercial Skylines, given that the core district does not abut any residential uses, setbacks are smaller 15 feet from rear lot lines. Lastly, the waterfront district also offers a 25-foot rear setback to create open space to the water. Taking into consideration your feedback and the restrictions of existing zoning, we proposed three major changes, dimensional regulations such as heights, setbacks and lot coverage help influence the form of a building on any given parcel. This lets the town place limits on density and contributes to your on the ground experience in the neighborhood. Open Space has always been a priority. However, this by law, emphasizes green space to facilitate its implementation. Based on preference surveys, we've illustrated the type of New England style design that the public would like to see in the neighborhood through design guidelines to guide development in the district, we created design guidelines based on the feedback from the development preference survey. The existing by law provides some guidance in the areas of lighting, signage and landscape. However, the review and approval is unclear and subjective. Design Guidelines ensure written and recorded consensus on the development types and amenities the town hopes to achieve in the slates ferry district, this type of clarity helps facilitate developers' ability to navigate the special permit process and ensure support. For example, residents were attracted to the village style presented in Ashby Commons. This mixed-use development emphasizes active ground floors where people can visit. The preference survey also revealed an interest in outdoor dining and public realm amenities such as tables and benches. This translates into open space and landscape requirements that improve the public realm. We also considered the type of design that presidents preferred based on conversations at both workshops. And the survey, we found that residents wanted to see traditional New England styles as presented by Mashpee Commons, nearby Bristol, Rhode Island and other Waterfront Communities. If you have questions about the proposed changes to the Slade's
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Ferry overlay district,
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please contact the project team or your town planning board. We hope you will vote yes to make your vision for
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Slade’s Ferry a reality.
