The document discusses form-based zoning proposals presented by Steven Cecil at the 2012 Massachusetts Association of Planning Directors conference. It summarizes the proposals for the Town of Amherst, including concept plans and zoning changes for the North Amherst Village Center and Atkins Corner areas that aim to create walkable mixed-use districts through standards for streets, buildings, open spaces, and other site elements. The proposals also include adopting a new zoning article establishing these form-based districts and their development regulations.

1. Massachusetts Association of Planning Directors, Inc.
2012 Annual Conference
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
Steven Cecil AIA ASLA
The Cecil Group, Inc.
June 7, 2012

2. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Village Center Rezoning
Form Based Zoning

3. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Concept Plans: North Amherst Village Center
P
Legend
Civic Center Area
Commercial Corridor
Rural Residential Corridor Extension
Open Space Corridor
Potential Development Site
Rural Residential Corridor Maintain Existing Patterns of Use
Commercial Frontage
Civic Center Circulation
Civic Center
Shared Use Path
Rural Residential Frontage
P Potential Shared Parking Area
Potential
Development at
Block Interior
Civic Center
Potential New
Civic Space
Expand Landscape and
Pedestrian Amenities
Future Shared
Parking Node
Open Space
Extend Residential
Character
Active Edges
at River
MontagueRoad

4. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Legend
North Amherst Village Center – Form-Based District (FBD)
Proposed North Amherst Village Center
(NAVC) Form-Based District
Figure 1A:
Proposed Village Center
Residence (R-VC) with Village
Form Residence Overlay District
(R-VF)
North Amherst Village Center
(NAVC) Form-Based District
Village Center Residence (R-VC)
with Village Form Residence
Overlay District (R-VF)
Village Form Residence Overlay
District (R-VF)
Village Form Residence
Overlay District (R-VF)
Village Form Residence
Overlay District (R-VF)

5. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Concept Plans: Atkins Corner
Legend
Circulation Network
Gateways and Special Corners
Prominent Views
Focus
Development
at Corners
Pedestrian
Improvements
and Crossings
at Four Corners
Active Retail Environment
Variable Use Village Scale Development
Hampshire College Campus
Open Space Areas and Wetlands
Maintain Existing Patterns of Use
Maintain Existing Patterns of Use w/
Potential Increase in Density
Bay Road

6. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Proposed Atkins Corner (AC) Zoning
District
Legend
Proposed Extension of
Educational District
Education Form Overlay District
(ED-F)
Proposed Extension of ED:
Educational Zone
Atkins Corner (AC)
Zoning District
Proposed Underlying Change
from R-O: Outlying Residence
district to R-VC: Village Center
Residence district
Proposed change to R-LD:
Low Density Residence
Proposed Underlying Change
from R-O: Outlying Residence
district to R-LD: Low Density
Residence district
Proposed change to R-VC:
Village Center Residence
50’
Atkins Corner – Form-Based District (FBD)
Figure 1B:
Education Form
Overlay District (ED-F)
Proposed change to R-LD:
Low Density Residence

7. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Overview of Proposed Form-Based Zoning
1. New Zoning Article 16
1. Statement of Public Purpose
2. Street Types
3. Building Types
4. Open Space Types
5. Development Standards for Sites and Buildings
6. Nonconforming Lots, Uses and Structures
7. Off-Street Parking and Access Standards
8. Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Standards
9. Administration
Commercial/Civic Street Type

8. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Overview of Proposed Form-Based Zoning
1. New Zoning Article 16
1. Statement of Public Purpose
2. Street Types
3. Building Types
4. Open Space Types
5. Development Standards for Sites and Buildings
6. Nonconforming Lots, Uses and Structures
7. Off-Street Parking and Access Standards
8. Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Standards
9. Administration
Commercial Street Type

9. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Overview of Proposed Form-Based Zoning
1. New Zoning Article 16
1. Statement of Public Purpose
2. Street Types
3. Building Types
4. Open Space Types
5. Development Standards for Sites and Buildings
6. Nonconforming Lots, Uses and Structures
7. Off-Street Parking and Access Standards
8. Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Standards
9. Administration
Village Commercial Street Type

10. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
1. New Zoning Article 16
1. Statement of Public Purpose
2. Street Types
3. Building Types
4. Open Space Types
5. Development Standards for Sites and Buildings
6. Nonconforming Lots, Uses and Structures
7. Off-Street Parking and Access Standards
8. Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Standards
9. Administration
Overview of Proposed Form-Based Zoning
Village Residential Street Type

11. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Overview of Proposed Form-Based Zoning
1. New Zoning Article 16
1. Statement of Public Purpose
2. Street Types
3. Building Types
4. Open Space Types
5. Development Standards for Sites and Buildings
6. Nonconforming Lots, Uses and Structures
7. Off-Street Parking and Access Standards
8. Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Standards
9. Administration
Access Street Type

12. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
1. New Zoning Article 16
1. Statement of Public Purpose
2. Street Types
3. Building Types
4. Open Space Types
5. Development Standards for Sites and Buildings
6. Nonconforming Lots, Uses and Structures
7. Off-Street Parking and Access Standards
8. Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Standards
9. Administration
Overview of Proposed Form-Based Zoning
Multi-Purpose Path Type

13. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Overview of Proposed Form-Based Zoning
1. New Zoning Article 16
1. Statement of Public Purpose
2. Street Types
3. Building Types
4. Open Space Types
5. Development Standards for Sites and Buildings
6. Nonconforming Lots, Uses and Structures
7. Off-Street Parking and Access Standards
8. Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Standards
9. Administration

14. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Atkins Corner Zoning District Precedents

15. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Overview of Proposed Form-Based Zoning
1. New Zoning Article 16
1. Statement of Public Purpose
2. Street Types
3. Building Types
4. Open Space Types
5. Development Standards for Sites and Buildings
6. Nonconforming Lots, Uses and Structures
7. Off-Street Parking and Access Standards
8. Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Standards
9. Administration

16. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Atkins Corner Zoning District Precedents

17. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Overview of Proposed Form-Based Zoning
1. New Zoning Article 16
1. Statement of Public Purpose
2. Street Types
3. Building Types
4. Open Space Types
5. Development Standards for Sites and Buildings
6. Nonconforming Lots, Uses and Structures
7. Off-Street Parking and Access Standards
8. Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Standards
9. Administration
Includes General Development Standards for: appearance, façade length and articulation, building
separation, building entrance location, transparency, building roof form and features, ground
story heights
Including Specific Development Standards that differentiate special characteristics of each Form-
Based District for: North Amherst Village Center, Atkins Corners, Educational Form Overlay
District.

18. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Overview of Proposed Form-Based Zoning
1. New Zoning Article 16
1. Statement of Public Purpose
2. Street Types
3. Building Types
4. Open Space Types
5. Development Standards for Sites and Buildings
6. Nonconforming Lots, Uses and Structures
7. Off-Street Parking and Access Standards
8. Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Standards
9. Administration

19. Form Based Zoning, Town of Amherst
Innovative Zoning Proposals: East Harwich and Amherst
2012 MAPD Conference
The Cecil Group
Observations