BURLINGTON — At a marathon meeting Monday night, the Burlington City Council unanimously approved a sweeping rezoning plan meant to encourage denser housing development throughout the city.
Dubbed the “Neighborhood Code,” the new zoning ordinance allows for more multifamily buildings that take up extra lot space, loosening development restrictions that previously applied to much of the city.
At Monday’s meeting, Mayor Miro Weinberger said that the new regulations represent “the first time in about 70 years that Burlington’s residential zoning has made it easier to build, not harder, in our existing neighborhoods.”
“This new code will change the trajectory of housing in the city,” said the outgoing Democratic mayor, who had hoped to pass the overhaul before leaving office April 1.
Under the Neighborhood Code, areas of the city that are considered low-density, such as the New North End, will now accommodate buildings that take up 45% of their lot space, up from the 35% previously allowed. Parts of the city that are designated medium-density, such as the Old North End, will now support buildings that take up 55% of their lot space, up from 40% coverage.
Land designated as low- and medium-density, which has traditionally supported single-family houses or duplexes, can now also accommodate two three-story buildings per lot, with a maximum of four units per building.
Additionally, the Neighborhood Code establishes a new “residential corridor,” which will join existing high-density areas in allowing for buildings that take up 80% of lot space without a per-building unit limit.
Weinberger first initiated the broad rezoning effort in 2021, when he issued a 10-point city housing action plan that called for the city to double its housing production within five years through sweeping investment and zoning reform.
The final version of the zoning regulations approved Monday represents a slight deviation from the proposal introduced by Weinberger’s administration, which was presented to the City Council in January after months of planning and outreach.
Council members adopted six of seven proposed amendments to the initial proposal on Monday. Among those accepted were two amendments introduced by Councilor Zoraya Hightower, P Ward-1, which reduced the maximum number of units allowed per building in medium-density areas from a proposed six to four while decreasing lot coverage in those same areas from 60% to 55%.
“These are compromise amendments to hopefully help more folks get on board with this and make it feel more human scaled,” Hightower said before Monday’s vote.
The council meanwhile rejected an amendment proposed by Councilors Melo Grant, P-Central District, and Gene Bergman, P Ward-1, which would have designated all low-density lots as medium-density to allow for larger buildings in more parts of the city.
Despite the council’s unanimous vote, the Neighborhood Code has proven controversial among residents.
More than 300 people signed a petition calling for the council to reject the code revisions based on the grounds that it would dramatically change the character of Burlington’s historic neighborhoods while doing little to ensure affordable housing, among other criticisms. Dozens spoke both for and against the proposed changes during two public forums held Monday ahead of the vote, and others issued letters to the council.
Among supporters of the measure is Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, the Progressive mayor-elect.
“Emma did communicate with all of the city councilors that she did think that it would be appropriate to go ahead with (the Neighborhood Code), but with the understanding that there is still significant work to do,” said Daryn Forgeron, a member of Mulvaney-Stanak’s transition team. “In her experience as a legislator, moving forward with something does not mean that it is set in stone, and there are improvements that can be made along the way.”
