New Zones in Proposed Code

Draft zoning map, showing the location of each zone
(See Planning Department web site for large version)

There are new Urban and Center zones, and an increase in the number of Village Districts proposed in the draft of a new Zoning Code for the City. The Draft was prepared by staff in the City's Planning Department, and has been discussed by the Planning and Zoning Commission at a number of meetings this year.

The Commission is holding extensive public hearings on the proposed changes, in order to receive as much input from the public as possible.  There will be a public hearing at the next meeting, on October 12th (7PM, Council Chambers).

More information is available through the Planning Department web site:

• Further staff comments.
• Proposed new zoning code
• Proposed new zoning map.

Below the jump is a table of all zones, taken from the draft new code. The requirements for each zone are laid out in tables elsewhere in the new code.

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2.1.3 Urban Zones. Urban Zones (U) are intended to regulate the highest intensity development in the city, while respecting the historic building scale of the downtown and adjacent blocks. These zones permit a mix of uses and is intended to create an active atmosphere throughout the day and into the evening.
	Zone	Name	Description
A.	MS-U	Main Street Urban Zone	Designated for properties that front on historic Main Street that requires storefronts with retail, restaurant or entertainment uses on the ground story. Encourages urban infill and activities that create a vibrant pedestrian experience. Upper stories may include office and residential uses.
B.	DT-U	Downtown Urban Zone	Designated for the areas of downtown without frontage on Main Street. This zone encourages urban infill. Upper stories may include office and residential uses.

2.1.4 Center Zones. Center Zones (C) are intended to provide the residents of this community with retail and personal services. Accordingly, these regulations are designed to permit mixed use, retail and higher density residential development, limited by standards designed to protect the abutting and surrounding residential zones. To these ends, the regulations establish standards retaining such intensity of use and concentration of vehicles as is compatible with the function of this zone.
	Zone	Name	Description
A.	WS-C	Washington Street Center Zone	Middletown’s primary commercial strip corridor with heavy traffic volume characterized by predominantly automobile-oriented, strip development such as gas stations, fast-food restaurants, and shopping plazas offering abundant on-site, surface parking, almost none of which has contributed to an aesthetically pleasing business environment. Design along the corridor has been lacking over the years, and the consequent aesthetic damage on these important economic gateways into Middletown. Lax standards for design may seem “business-friendly” at the time of a developer’s application, but in the long term, it contributes to a shoddy overall business environment which weighs down the economic potential of the area, and of the city as a whole.
B.	SF-C	South Farms Center Zone
C.	NF-C	Newfield Center Zone	The Newfield Street Corridor, bears the scars of a roadway that, due to shifting traffic patterns, has undergone a rapid transition in function, from being a primarily residential street, to a commercial corridor, prior to controls being put in place to guide its development. The resulting chaotic visual appearance is due to abrupt changes in land use, inconsistent sidewalks, and traffic speeds and volumes that exceed what is comfortable for a once-residential area. The primary goal for this corridor is a more gradual and orderly transition than what is currently underway. Newfield Center will allow for more intensive mixed-use development.

D.	PM-C	Pameacha Center Zone
E.	SR-C	Saybrook Road Center Zone	Design goals include a cleaner, more uniform look for the corridor, with improved streets and more consistent lot orientation.
F.	LH-C	Long Hill Center Zone
G.	WH-C	Wesleyan Hills Center Zone
H.	RH-C	Round Hill Center Zone
I.	M-C	Maromas Center Zone

2.1.5 Village Districts. Village Districts (V) are intended to protect the distinctive character, landscape, and historic structures within the Village District pursuant to Public Act 98-116, as amended, an Act Concerning Village Districts, and is authorized by Section 8-2 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
	Zone	Name	Description
A.	DT-V	Downtown Village District	Located between the downtown and Wesleyan University, the Village District is overwhelmingly historic residential. The district’s primary goal with respect to the Village District is the preservation of the district’s historic character and balancing the mix of residential and other uses. As one of the few remaining downtown residential areas, design and development in the area should be encouraged in a manner supportive of its continuance as a residential neighborhood while preserving the historic character.
B.	NE-V	North End Village District	An urban zone with a mix of uses, but primarily multi-unit residential in an urban fabric. A wide variety of building types with variable setbacks and landscaping. Streets are defined by curbs, sidewalks and street trees.
C.	SE-V	South End Village District	An urban zone with a mix of uses, but primarily single unit residential in an urban fabric. A wide variety of building types with variable setbacks and landscaping. Streets are defined by curbs, sidewalks and street trees.
D.	NH-V	Newfield Heights Village District	The Newfield Street Corridor, bears the scars of a roadway that, due to shifting traffic patterns, has undergone a rapid transition in function, from being a primarily residential street, to a commercial corridor, prior to controls being put in place to guide its development. The resulting chaotic visual appearance is due to abrupt changes in land use, inconsistent sidewalks, and traffic speeds and volumes that exceed what is comfortable for a once-residential area. The primary goal for this corridor is a more gradual and orderly transition than what is currently underway. Newfield Heights Village District
E.	NF-V	Newfield Village District	The Newfield Street Corridor, bears the scars of a roadway that, due to shifting traffic patterns, has undergone a rapid transition in function, from being a primarily residential street, to a commercial corridor, prior to controls being put in place to guide its development. The resulting chaotic visual appearance is due to abrupt changes in land use, inconsistent sidewalks, and traffic speeds and volumes that exceed what is comfortable for a once-residential area. The primary goal for this corridor is a more gradual and orderly transition than what is currently underway.
F.	WS-V	Washington Street Village District	Middletown’s primary commercial strip corridor with heavy traffic volume characterized by predominantly automobile-oriented, strip development such as gas stations, fast-food restaurants, and shopping plazas offering abundant on-site, surface parking, almost none of which has contributed to an aesthetically pleasing business environment. Design along the corridor has been lacking over the years, and the consequent aesthetic damage on these important economic gateways into Middletown. Lax standards for design may seem “business-friendly” at the time of a developer’s application, but in the long term, it contributes to a shoddy overall business environment which weighs down the economic potential of the area, and of the city as a whole.
G.	WL-V	West Lake Village District	This is a high density residential area with the opportunity for mixed use infill. General characteristics consist of large buildings utilized for multi- family residential use surrounded by natural parks and habitat conforming to the topography of the landscape. Commercial and employment uses shall be interspersed throughout district.
H.	SH-V	Staddle Hill Village District	This suburban are consists of moderate density residential areas adjacent to the higher mixed use zones. The general characteristics consists single family houses, with lawns and landscaped yards.
I.	SR-V	Saybrook Road Village District	This is a mixed use suburban district that has a number of commercial, especially medical, uses that serve the adjacent neighborhoods and traffic generated from Route 9 highway. The general characteristics is a mix of building types with significant landscaping and street trees with parking interspersed between and to the rear of buildings.

2.1.6 Residential Zones. Residential Zones (R) are intended to regulate single-family residential development and other compatible uses.
	Zone	Name	Description
A.	15-R	15,000 Square Foot Residential Zone	This suburban are consists of moderate density residential areas adjacent to the higher mixed use zones. A conforming lot shall be no smaller than 15,000 square feet. The general characteristics consists single family houses, with lawns and landscaped yards.
B.	30-R	30,000 Square Foot Residential Zone	This suburban are consists of low density residential areas adjacent to the higher mixed use zones. A conforming lot shall be no smaller than 30,000 square feet. The general characteristics consists single family houses, with lawns and landscaped yards.
C.	60-R	60,000 Square Foot Residential Zone	A rural zone consisting of sparsely sited single-family dwellings and agricultural uses, with significant bands or corridors existing in their natural wood state. Typical buildings include single family dwelling, farm houses, barns, cabins and similar buildings.

2.1.7 Industrial Zones. Industrial Zones (I) provide areas suitable for mixed commercial-industrial uses with emphasis on industrial uses such as, but not limited to, manufacturing, warehousing, building material yards, intensive agricultural and automobile sales and service.
	Zone	Name	Description
A.	LI-I	Low Intensity Industrial Zone	Industrial areas that are limited to low intensity industrial uses with sensitivity to adjacent residential areas and environmental conditions. Ideal for small scale industrial uses.
B.	HT-I	High Technology Industrial Zone	This industrial zone provides opportunities for large lot campus style high tech manufacturing and power generation.
C.	IT-I	Interstate Trade Industrial Zone	The largest industrial developed area for transportation, light industry and corporate office uses. Uses here depend on easy access to I-91 and its central location within the state.

2.1.8 Special Zones. Special Zones (S) are intended to regulate unique development opportunities or protections as promoted by the Plan of Conservation and Development.
	Zone	Name	Description
A.	RF-S	Riverfront Special Zone	Encourages public and private investment to encourage greater use of the riverfront and adjacent areas. Create an active and comfortable pedestrian environment with a mix of uses that are linked together. Integrate natural areas such as brooks and wetlands into a greenbelt park system. This area promotes intensive development with close proximity to recreation and economic development opportunities. Park development, high-density residential development, historic adaptive reuse, and commercial uses are encouraged.
B.	OA-S	Open Space Agriculture Special Zone	This zone seeks to guide the development of City open space or privately- owned deed restricted properties for uses that foster protection and preservation of natural resources or agricultural potential. Uses that help foster public engagement of agriculture and open space are also encouraged. Activities that help in the management of agriculture and open space are also encouraged.
C.	ID-S	Institutional Development Special Zone	The zone is designed for development of institutional complexes. Land uses in this zone shall be limited to governmental, health, educational, charitable and religious institutions. The facilities in this zone should be compatible with its setting in scale and design.