Comprehensive Zoning Regulations Update

After adoption of the Manchester NEXT Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) in 2023, the Town began a comprehensive update of its Zoning Regulations. Updating the zoning regulations is one of the most impactful ways to put the POCD into action, because zoning directly shapes how land is developed, reused, and preserved across Manchester.

The POCD explicitly calls for a comprehensive zoning update to simplify, consolidate, and modernize regulations. More broadly, updating the Zoning Regulations allows the Town to operationalize all POCD recommendations by embedding plan principles—such as housing diversity, mixed-use development, sustainability, economic vitality, and neighborhood character—directly into the regulatory framework that guides development approvals.

Project Phasing

The zoning update is being completed in two phases:

Phase 1 – Organization and Clarity (Completed)
Phase 1 focused on reorganizing, consolidating, and clarifying the existing Zoning Regulations. These updates improved readability and usability without changing development policy.
Phase 1 became effective on June 9, 2025, and the updated regulations are now in effect.

Phase 2 – Policy Alignment with Manchester NEXT (Underway)
Phase 2 focuses on aligning zoning regulations with the goals and recommendations of the POCD. This includes updates related to housing diversity, adaptive reuse, parking standards, residential design, and historic areas.

Upcoming Planning & Zoning Commission Review

As part of Phase 2, a series of zoning regulation amendment applications will be reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Commission in the coming months. Each application corresponds to a recommendation prepared by the Town’s zoning consultant, FHI Studio.

Public hearings will be held for each application, giving residents, property owners, and other stakeholders an opportunity to provide input before decisions are made. Public hearing dates will be published on this page and are regularly available on the Planning & Zoning Commission's web page.

Why This Matters

By advancing a comprehensive zoning update after adopting Manchester NEXT, the Town is ensuring that long-range planning goals are reflected in the regulations used every day to review development proposals. This work helps create clearer expectations for residents and developers, supports consistent decision-making, and strengthens the Planning & Zoning Commission’s ability to implement the community’s shared vision.