Upper Village Land Use Zoning

 

In order to realize the vision and goals laid out for the Upper Village, new zoning and land use ordinances will be needed to encourage appropriate forms of development. Five new zoning categories are recommended. The details of each new zone are being developed by the New Gloucester Planning Department in partnership with relevant land use planning Boards and Committees, and community members. A summary of each zone is provided below.

 

Upper Village-A (UV-A) Zone

 

The Upper Village-A zone corresponds with the “core” of the Upper Village. UV-A is where residents and visitors will find shopping and eating places, as well as the Village Green. The UV-A zone will also house new businesses that will provide services and amenities to the community. The goal in UV-A is to promote a higher density form of mixed-use development with a pedestrian-oriented atmosphere. Design standards will encourage construction that celebrates New Gloucester’s architectural history.

 

 

Summary: UV-A zoning is used for the core of the Upper Village, where services, meeting places, and community amenities are highly concentrated. Features include:

• Highest density development in New Gloucester

• Design standards and form-based codes

• Mixed-use development

• Pedestrian-orientation

 

Upper Village-B Zone (UV-B) Zone

 

The UV-B zone extends from the UV-A zone and shares many of the same goals related to providing a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented atmosphere. The Upper Village-B district will encourage less density that UV-A to better integrate commercial and public activities with nearby residential areas. UV-B will see a higher proportion of single-family and multi-family residential development, and larger setbacks than UV-A. 

 

 

Summary: UV-B provides support for and serves as an extension of the Upper Village core. Features include:

• Relatively high-density development

• Design standards and form-based codes

• Mixed-use and residential development

• Pedestrian-orientation

 

Upper Village-C Zone (UV-C) Zone

 

In zone Upper Village-C a greater emphasis will be placed on residential forms of development. While a higher level of density will be encouraged compared to New Gloucester’s existing residential zones, the UV-C zone will not be as densely developed as UV-A or UV-B. Larger setbacks will be required and fewer commercial or mixed-use form of land use will be encouraged to seamless transition from the Upper Village into surrounding residential and lower density neighborhoods. 

 

 

Summary: UV-B provides support for and serves as an extension of the Upper Village core. Features include:

• Relatively high-density development

• Less restrictive architectural and design standards

• Predominantly residential with some mixed-use and retail development

• Pedestrian-orientation

 

Transitional Use District (TUD) Zone

 

In the Transitional Use District, the goal will be to limit sprawling forms of development and provide a buffer between the Upper Village zones and New Gloucester’s predominantly rural forms of development. In the TUD, slightly higher densities will be allowed for properties connected to public utilities, but densities will be lower than those promoted in the UV-A, UV-B, or UV-C zones. 

 

 

Summary: TUD provides a buffer between the Upper Village and surrounding neighborhoods

• Opportunities for commercial and higher-density development linked to water infrastructure

• Limited design standards, with an attention to limiting sprawl

 

Residential Neighborhood District

 

The residential district is identified as a unique neighborhood of relatively dense residential development. Land use planning and relevant ordinances will be designed to support and enhance this area as a unique neighborhood located near the Upper Village. The Town and community members will work together to articulate a future vision for this area.