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WHAT WE'RE DOING

In August 2022 the City of Hamilton updated its Comprehensive Plan, a guide for how the City intends to address growth and future community needs. The plan specifically calls for updating the City's Zoning Code to address issues ranging from housing and transportation to economic development and community design. Our zoning update will be rooted in the City's Vision Statement and the guiding themes articulated in the comprehensive plan:

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  1. Grow in Thoughtful and Proactive Way

  2. Maintain Small Town Character

  3. Strengthen Self Sufficiency and Resiliency

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Hamilton’s zoning code has not been substantially updated in nearly 20 years. In that time the City has grown, housing and business needs have changed, and state land use laws have been amended. In response to these changes and with direction from the comprehensive plan, the whole of Hamilton’s zoning code and zoning map will be reviewed for updates. The approach will be incremental, with updates occurring in phases.

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​To help guide the zoning update, the City also recently completed a Zoning Code Assessment, which provides specific recommendations to update zoning in accordance with the comprehensive plan.  

THE PROCESS

Hamilton's zoning update is being guided by a working group made up of the City's Zoning Commission, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Adjustment. Using an incremental approach, the working group will engage the public and city staff to discuss and draft phased updates to Hamilton's zoning:

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Phase I (winter/spring 2023, COMPLETED) focused on reorganizing Hamilton's zoning code to make it easier to navigate, reduce redundancies, and simplify application processes.

 

Phase II (fall 2023 - fall 2024) will focus on:

  1. Attainable Housing

  2. Older vs. Developing Area Standards

  3. Re-evaluating Allowed Uses

  4. Addressing State Law Changes

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Later phases will address parking, sign regulations, and other topics.

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When the working group feels that draft zoning code updates have sufficient support and are ready for formal review, proposed updates will be forwarded to the zoning commission. The zoning commission will consider updates through a public hearing, and will then forward its recommendations to City Council for consideration and decision at another public hearing.

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Early phases of zoning updates will amend the City's zoning text; later phases will amend the City's zoning map. See the Zoning 101 tab for an overview of the distinction between zoning text and map amendments. The complete update process is not bound to a fixed timeline, and may take up to two years to finalize all amendments.

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Public input is sought at all workshops and hearings, and on all drafts. Click here to participate.

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