Medfield State Hospital - Rezoning - What and Why?

The following provided by the MSHMPC Communications Committee (Medfield State Hospital Master Planning Committee) .

MSH REZONING: WHAT & WHY

What is zoning? Why is this important to MSH?

Towns and cities govern land uses through zoning regulations that specify what type of “uses” (e.g. residential, commercial, or industrial) can be where, dimensional guidelines and sometimes design guidelines. Specifically, Medfield is divided into zoning districts. The zoning bylaw defines these districts and specifies what uses are allowed by right or what must go thru special permit, planning board site review or what is not allowed at all. Any changes to the zoning bylaw require a town meeting passage by two-thirds vote. Non-passage of a zoning amendment requires it to be held for two years until it is brought back to the town unless the defeat is reverted back to a committee, board, or petitioner for further review.

There is an excellent summary about Medfield’s zoning and the process on amending zoning on the town’s website called “Zoning Primer”. Chapter 300 is the zoning section of Medfield’s Town Bylaws and can be read in full at http://www.ecode360.com/27374011

In relation to the Medfield State Hospital, the land north of Hospital Road is currently zoned Business-Industrial (BI) and the land south of Hospital Road is currently zoned Agricultural.

The input over many years by town residents, town committees, catalyst outreaches, the development community and master planning consultant team’s guidance crafted a mixed-use master plan and a zoning recommendation.

Simply put the uses outlined in the mixed-use master plan vision are not allowed by right under BI zoning. The development community was clear that new zoning should be in place before they spend their own capital and resources into responding to any RFQ/RFPs. The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) / Request of Proposals (RFP) is a standard municipal process that results in actual projects with actual costs with actual impacts being proposed, not conceptual like the master plan.

Another town meeting vote that outlines the rules of engagement for land management and disposition is required before a project could proceed.

What is the zoning amendment proposition?

First, the zoning amendment establishes a new zoning district named Medfield State Hospital District (MSHD). The zoning amendment would replace the existing BI zoning.

Second, it breaks the MSHD district into six sub-zones with uses and design guidelines for each sub-zone. The last page of the zoning article has a map outlining these sub-zones. Table 1 is the permitted uses of each sub-zone and Table 3 is the design guidelines for each sub-zone.

Third, it establishes sustainability requirements such as energy star and water sense usage in any rehabilitation and new construction throughout MSHD. In addition, renewable energy technologies are encouraged.

Fourth, it requires any housing to comply with Medfield’s inclusionary program keeping Medfield aligned with affordable housing requirements.

Fifth, it specifies parking requirements. The parking requirements “…encourage the MSHD to be pedestrian-friendly, with alternative travel modes…”.

Sixth, it sets dimensional and density requirements via the design guidelines. Particular to note is the heavily used design guidelines in the sub-zones saying “limit to existing building footprints” and “maintain height, cornice line and floor-to-floor levels with existing structures” to preserve the historic campus and the open space as we know it today.

Seventh, it says the signage must adhere to Medfield’s existing sign bylaw.

Eighth, it defines and outlines the process for plan applications, review and decisions.

The full zoning bylaw is posted on the Town of Medfield’s website at https://www.town.medfield.net/556/Medfield-State-Hospital.

The vote on Monday, November 18th at Special Town Meeting is a vote for rezoning the Medfield State Hospital. It is NOT a vote for a specific project or a plan.

Respectfully Submitted,

Teresa James, MSHMPC & Planning Board Member