Council amends legislation to protect homeowners in industrial areas

by Judy Stringer

Jan. 21 city council meeting

Hudson City Council passed the second of two zoning amendments aimed at making it easier for residential homeowners to maintain their properties in districts that were zoned commercial or industrial after the homes were built.

The “non-conforming residential use” amended legislation passed with a 4-2 vote, with council members Nicole Kowalski and Patricia Goetz voting against the measure. Council member Chris Banweg was absent.

A related piece of legislation, which requires industrial/commercial property owners to match the setbacks of adjacent residential properties, passed at the Dec. 17 council meeting with a 4-3 vote. At the time, council member Skylar Sutton took issue with a portion of the language that he said contradicted the intent of allowing “existing residences to continue to exist.” Sutton voted against the zoning amendment, as did Kowalski and Goetz.

On Dec. 17, Sutton also asked that language in the non-conforming residential use legislation be clarified as to when residential properties in these commercial/industrial districts are required to get board of zoning and building appeals approval for enlargements, extensions or reconstruction of their homes. Generally speaking, the amendments require BZBA approval if an addition exceeds 50% of the home’s grandfathered occupancy area. However, residential properties that do not meet minimum industrial lot sizes may be enlarged beyond that limit without BZBA approval.

Hudson Community DevelopmentDirector Greg Hannan explained at the Dec. 17 meeting that “extra protection” was carved out for smaller parcel owners, given that they were less likely to be transitioned into other uses.

Council held a public hearing on both changes as part of its Dec. 17 meeting. Planning Commission Vice Chair Sarah Norman was the lone commenter, saying she was there to answer any questions. ∞