Manchester NEXT: Implementation

The Manchester NEXT: Implementation page provides residents and stakeholders with a clear view of ongoing projects and initiatives outlined in the 2023 Plan of Conservation and Development. Here you can track progress on key recommendations, access updates from departments and commissions, and explore links to active projects.

To learn more about how Manchester NEXT was developed, including the community engagement and planning process, please visit the link under Related Projects on the right-hand side of this page.

Proposed Zoning Regulation Amendments Now Available for Public Review

As part of the Town of Manchester’s ongoing Comprehensive Zoning Regulations Update, seven proposed zoning regulation amendments are now available for public review. These applications represent the next phase of aligning Manchester’s Zoning Regulations with the goals of the Manchester NEXT Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).

Each application addresses a specific topic within the zoning regulations. All seven applications will be reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Commission and will include public hearings, where residents and taxpayers may provide input before any decisions are made. Please Note:

Public hearing dates will be published on this page and are regularly available on the Planning & Zoning Commission's web page.
Below is a brief overview of each proposed amendment. The complete overview is located in the “Proposed Zoning Amendment” section on the right-hand side of this page.

Application 1: Update Nonconforming Uses and Structure Regulations

(REG-0019-2025)

Purpose: Ensure that regulations are within their statutory authority in allowing for the continuation of non-conforming uses and continued use or restoration of non-conforming structures.

Application 2: Update Prohibited Use List

(REG-0020-2026)

Purpose: Ensure that uses that are incompatible with other uses in the town, may cause nuisance or safety or health hazards, and may impair water quality are prohibited and adequately defined.

Application 3: Update Uses Permitted in Residential Zones

(REG-0021-2026)

Purpose: Ensure that appropriate uses are allowed in residential zones, that there are expanded opportunities for the development of a diversity of housing types, and that there is a rational and consistent basis by which uses are allowed.

Application 4: Update Residential Principal Use Regulations

(REG-0022-2026)

Purpose: Improve clarity of residential use regulations, remove redundancy and inconsistencies between the use regulations and the Section 8.1 development standards, remove language that could be interpreted as more restrictive than intended, simplify the regulations for a single-family conversion to two-family or multi-family, and simplify the two-family residence regulations.

Application 5: Update Residential Accessory Use Regulations

(REG-0023-2026)

Purpose: Ensure that accessory use regulations are not overly restrictive of permitted uses.

Application 6: Amend Residential Zone Standards

(REG-0024-2026)

Purpose: Ensure that lot standards are consistent with a majority of existing residential properties so as to reduce non-conformities and reduce the Commission’s broad discretion in varying standards in favor of providing well defined lot standard exceptions.

Application 7: Restructure Historic Zone Regulations and Provide a Village District Overlay Zone

(REG-0025-2026)

Purpose: Restructure the historic zone regulations to establish the Silk Mill and Family Mansion areas as separate zoning districts to allow the regulations for each zone to be tailored to each zone and to classify the Family Mansion area as a residential zone. Establish a village district overlay of the Silk Mill and Family Mansion zones to enable the application of design standards that are present within the existing regulations but currently outside of the Zoning Commission’s authority to enforce.

How to Participate

All seven applications will be reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Commission during upcoming public hearings. Residents and property owners are encouraged to review the applications and share comments during the public hearing process.

Public hearing dates will be published on this page and are regularly available on the Planning & Zoning Commission's web page.

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.