By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
After more than a year of public discussion, subcommittee review and revision, the Town Council unanimously approved a new multi-use overlay zoning bylaw, aimed at reshaping how several of the town’s commercial corridors can redevelop in the future.
The bylaw, approved in a 6-0 vote at the council’s meeting on Monday, May 11, creates a flexible overlay district allowing a broader mix of commercial, industrial and residential uses through a special permit process overseen by the Planning Board. Town officials said the goal is to encourage adaptive reuse and new economic growth, while maintaining local oversight of individual projects.
“It’s not opening the doors and whatever ideas someone has, let’s do it,” Councilor Laura Wagner said. “There are standards and direction, but not so rigid that it’s going to drive away businesses. I really like where we landed on this bylaw.”
The bylaw — developed through collaboration between the Planning Board, town staff and council subcommittees — establishes several overlay districts focused primarily on existing commercial areas, including portions of Route 1, Kelley Boulevard and the Emerald Square Mall area.
“The purpose of the bylaw is to allow for greater flexibility and creative design,” Councilor Dan Donovan said. “So that you can have commercial, industrial, medical office, technology and life sciences, restaurants and residential and combine them in different ways that traditional zoning doesn’t allow for.”
Officials stressed the overlay does not automatically permit residential development throughout the district or eliminate existing protections and review processes.
Projects within the overlay would still require special permits from the Planning Board, along with traffic studies, environmental review and other standard development approvals. Council President Justin Pare said those review requirements remain a key safeguard within the bylaw.
“It’s not opening the floodgates,” Pare said. “It’s still controlled, but gives more options.”
Under the bylaw, developments containing both residential and commercial uses must dedicate at least 33% of gross floor area to nonresidential uses. The bylaw also prohibits certain uses, including adult entertainment, vehicle sales, self-storage facilities and salvage yards.
Donovan also noted the overlay does not override wetlands protections or other environmental regulations.
“Just because it’s included in the zone doesn’t necessarily mean that it can be built on,” he said.
Focus on commercial corridors
A public hearing at the start of the meeting brought concerns from residents about traffic and future development impacts, particularly along Kelley Boulevard near the Plainville line.
Resident Susan Rushlow, who said she has lived in the area for 49 years, spoke about increasing traffic from both existing apartment construction and future redevelopment allowed under the overlay district.
Town Manager Michael Borg said the town has already secured approximately $6 million in traffic improvements for the area, including expanding portions of Kelley Boulevard from two lanes to four lanes and installing a traffic signal near George Levin Drive. Construction is expected to begin this summer.
Officials also emphasized the overlay was intentionally focused on existing commercial areas, rather than established residential neighborhoods.
Town Council Vice President Keith Lapointe said many residents feared either commercial encroachment into neighborhoods or large-scale housing projects overwhelming smaller residential areas.
“I don’t think this does any of that,” Lapointe said. “We’re focused on commercial areas, where if you want some multi-use flexibility, it is exactly the perfect space.”
Lapointe said the bylaw could help the town avoid undesirable redevelopment patterns along aging commercial corridors with lots that now sit vacant.
“If we don’t start getting more creative, they’re just going to be storage centers and auto dealerships,” he said.
Economic development focus
Several councilors and town officials framed the bylaw as an important economic development strategy as the town looks to broaden its tax base and attract new investment.
Pare said encouraging new growth is critical to easing long-term tax pressure on residents.
“We need new growth,” Pare said. “It’s the only thing that’s going to help us keep the tax burden on residents from continuing to increase.”
For Town Planner Gil Hilario, the bylaw serves as an innovative approach that could help North Attleborough stand out regionally.
“Mixed-use is actually more common,” Hilario said. “We’re one of the first communities to really have this multi-use concept, and I think that makes it attractive.”
Hilario said the town is preparing a broader marketing effort tied to the new overlay districts, including a new economic development website that will feature the bylaw and redevelopment opportunities throughout town.
“Almost every piece of commercial property you could think of in North Attleborough, a developer contacts us monthly for a housing project,” Hilario said. “Now this will allow us to answer and say we have a solution — it’s MXO.”