Purpose

A. The proposed Village Overlay District is to provide flexibility for housing, new business and business expansion with the need for minimal variances or special use permits. The creation of a Village Overlay District unifies under one district the current zoning in the existing commercial, agricultural and residential districts and will provide for revitalization of the village center. The Village Overlay District amendment is also intended to promote pedestrian travel within the village and the development of vacant land as mixed uses with a pedestrian scale and walkablity that would complement the existing village fabric. Lots within the Village Overlay District shall be developed to be a walkable connection to the existing village.
B. The Village Overlay District is intended to:
- (1) Build upon and complement the historic development patterns in the Village of Chepachet to enhance and create attractive walkable neighborhoods;
- (2) Encourage the adaptive reuse of abandoned, vacant or underutilized properties and structures, where appropriate;
- (3) Allow for a mix of land uses that are appropriate to the needs of the community and the uses and scale of surrounding properties in the village;
- (4) Provide incentives to develop larger parcels in a coordinated, planned approach that is in keeping with the village scale and enhances the walkability;
- (5) Maintain a high level of design quality throughout the district.
- (6) Encourage the strategic placement of usable green space in the village to augment existing open space and parks and to improve walkability.