It is the City’s goal to create a downtown with a balance of commercial and
residential development and to provide housing to residents of all incomes. New
construction and adaptive reuse of buildings in Downtown Burlington and on the
Waterfront offer an opportunity to provide housing for a wide range of household
incomes and household types - including families with children - in a very
convenient location. The downtown and Waterfront depend on having an active
population after working hours and having residents who are concerned about the
area. Downtown residents provide the workforce for downtown businesses without
causing additional traffic.
While this Plan generally encourages the development of housing in downtown
and on the waterfront, it also needs to ensure that residents and businesses of
the downtown and the waterfront do not inhibit or discourage the public’s
right to use or enjoy both the public and private development that has and will
occur. Burlington’s waterfront is a place for all to use and enjoy, and it
should not become the exclusive domain of its residents. Policies should be
explored and utilized by both the public and private sector to ensure that this
occurs.
The inclusion of affordable housing with market rate housing is important to
maintain a diverse and accessible Waterfront. Inclusionary Zoning is one way to
ensure that the urban neighborhood developing on the Waterfront will remain
economically diverse.
Housing on the Waterfront is restricted to unfilled lands not subject to
Public Trust laws. To date, 29 units have been constructed on the Waterfront and
80 units (Milot Condos) have been constructed on the east side of Battery
Street. Mixed-use zoning ordinances on the Waterfront in WFC-E require
ground-floor commercial and retail uses with housing and office space above.
Conceptual plans by Main Street Landing Company call for 8 additional units
to be developed in a second Wing Building to be constructed between the new
train station and College Street, and 75 units to be constructed east of Lake
Street between College Street and Depot Street. These units have not yet been
permitted. Barry Mossman has received permits to add 14 more units to his row of
six condominiums adjacent to the steel-sided condos built by Harry Atkins.
Existing zoning regulations in the Interim Development Area allow additional
housing development in that area. Zoned Waterfront Residential Medium Density
(WRM), up to 20 units per acre are currently allowed. Refer to Element
L. The number of units that might be built in the IDA has not been
determined, but would be permissible only on the unfilled lands.
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