The centerpiece of the meeting was the proposed ordinance, item number 11704, designed to amend Chapter 675 of the city’s zoning code. This ordinance seeks to address longstanding issues related to housing availability and affordability by introducing several key changes. Councilor Harden, who co-authored the ordinance with Mayor Michael J. Nicholson, illustrated the challenges faced by property owners in her neighborhood. Harden shared a personal observation about an abandoned apartment house that was renovated but remained vacant due to existing zoning regulations. The property required a variance to be reclassified as a multifamily dwelling, a process complicated by the loss of its grandfather status after prolonged vacancy. Harden highlighted the difficulties in renovating multifamily homes, emphasizing the need for regulatory changes that would protect the integrity of neighborhoods while allowing for necessary development.

Mayor Nicholson supported these efforts, contextualizing them within the broader housing crisis impacting the Commonwealth and the nation. He drew attention to the increasing property valuations and the restrictive zoning regulations that contribute to rising housing costs. The mayor detailed various components of the ordinance, including the introduction of provisions for small homes or tiny homes, which would promote higher-density housing by allowing up to ten such homes per acre. This, he argued, could provide more affordable entry points into the housing market.

The ordinance also addresses accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which would comply with the Affordable Homes Act. Currently, obtaining permits for in-law apartments is a cumbersome process requiring notarized letters, complicating efforts to increase housing availability, especially for senior citizens. The proposed changes aim to simplify this, making it easier for families to add these units to their properties.

A significant aspect of the ordinance is the proposal to reduce the permitting process timeline from approximately 180 days to 90 days for all housing projects, with an even shorter 60-day window for projects prioritizing veteran housing. This adjustment is designed to alleviate delays that can burden developers and slow down housing projects.

Another focus during the meeting was the current ordinance’s requirements for parking spaces, which mandates one parking space per bedroom. The committee discussed potential revisions to address these concerns, adapting to urban living realities and acknowledging that families may not all own vehicles.

The ordinance also includes measures to facilitate the development of starter homes, which sit between small homes and traditional single-family residences. This could potentially open up additional grant funding opportunities for the city. Additionally, the ordinance proposes allowing multifamily housing by right in areas of the city where it has historically existed, thereby streamlining the process for reestablishing these properties after periods of vacancy.

The proposed changes are intended to ease these burdens, making it more feasible to rehabilitate vacant and blighted properties.

Committee members expressed varying degrees of support for the ordinance, with some linking their advocacy to personal experiences with housing insecurity. Discussions highlighted the need for student housing solutions, given the lack of dormitories at local institutions such as Mount Wachusett Community College. The potential for municipal surplus properties to be developed for affordable housing was also explored.

Current collaborations with organizations like New View Communities were highlighted, with the ordinance modifications expected to simplify processes and reduce rehabilitation costs.

Ultimately, the committee moved to recommend the proposed ordinance changes to the full council, with additional amendments to increase the maximum size for ADUs. This recommendation reflects a concerted effort to adapt Gardner’s zoning laws to contemporary housing needs, balancing growth with the preservation of community integrity.

Aside from the zoning discussions, the committee touched on various initiatives aimed at preserving local history, including efforts to maintain and restore historical gravestones and improve storage conditions for historical records. These discussions emphasized the importance of engaging the community in preservation efforts and ensuring that the city’s historical heritage is accessible to the public.