MARLBOROUGH – The City Council has approved an overlay district for Lizotte Drive.
Following approval from the Planning Board, and some revisions from City Solicitor Jason Grossfield, the council gave the OK to amend the city’s zoning ordinance to create the district.
According to Building Commissioner Tin Htway, the overlay district still needs approval from Mayor J. Christian Dumais.
“The applicant will have to submit a special permit application for any uses that require a special permit under the use regulation table and apply for a building permit for all uses allowed by right,” he said.
The new district would allow multifamily housing by special permit. The use of the site as a contractor’s or landscaper’s yard would not be permitted.
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David Ferris of Ferris Development Group LLC owns a Lizotte Drive building, which has been vacant for nearly a decade. He plans to convert the site into multifamily housing.
The current plans call for 75 units, mostly one- and two-bedroom condos, in the building. Two more buildings will be constructed to house up to 105 additional units.
Ferris said there would be a few three-bedroom units.
In the meantime, work continues at the site. Recent permits pulled include the installation of security cameras and interior wiring.
According to Htway, no permits for building construction have been submitted.
Another proposed district – for Donald Lynch Boulevard – has been sent to the city solicitor. It will come before the council on Monday, Aug. 19.
If approved, the new district would allow more businesses to open in the area, such as stand-alone restaurants, medical offices or clinics, open-air markets and, with a special permit, multifamily housing and artists’ studios.
There may be exemptions, such as height, to allow for a recreation complex such as the Hampshire Dome.
The proposed district would encourage more parking for bicycles, more landscaped islands within parking lots, and shared outdoor spaces.
