Manchester Residents Support Zoning Changes to Promote Affordable Housing and Walkable Neighborhoods
MANCHESTER, NH – UNH Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with the City of Manchester, has released the second part of their comprehensive Community Engagement Report detailing public feedback on the city’s proposed Zoning Ordinance Update. This zoning update initiative aims to modernize land use regulations, streamline development, and support community priorities such as housing, economic growth, and sustainability.
The report is based on extensive outreach efforts, including community meetings, surveys, and stakeholder discussions. Key findings reveal that Manchester residents overwhelmingly support zoning changes that promote affordable housing, walkable neighborhoods, and mixed-use development.
All 12 wards of Manchester are in agreement: housing affordability is a critical issue. Over half of residents’ comments landed on a unified solution of increased density in their ward and across the city. By up-zoning each ward’s current zoning designation, the city could achieve increased density, a step that would allow for more home types and increase affordability.
The public ward meetings revealed overwhelming support for ”more flexible residential uses in order to enable more residential developments and increase the city’s number and range of housing stock.” Participants of the city’s summer hearings “preferred to see more housing in the form of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), duplexes, triplexes, upper-story residential units over existing buildings with street level commercial, and smaller single-family homes.”
The solutions offered by residents, reflected in this report, align with Manchester Neighbors Welcome’s “Roadmap to More Housing for the Queen City” calling for the allowance of more home types in more zoning districts, the alignment of the ordinance with ADU best practices, and the utilization of mixed use zoning. These solutions have been tested in other cities across the state and country. In each city, these changes increase the housing supply and housing affordability substantially.
“This report underscores the community’s vision for a more vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable Manchester. The input gathered will be instrumental in shaping zoning policies that align with residents’ needs and aspirations,” said Bryce Kaw-uh, Manchester Planning Board Chair.
The City of Manchester will use the report’s insights to refine the proposed Zoning Ordinance Update, ensuring that it reflects community priorities while fostering responsible growth. The public is encouraged to stay engaged as the city moves forward with revisions and implementation strategies.
The Manchester Neighbors Welcome Coalition is a new coalition effort convened by 603 Forward and New Hampshire Youth Movement. We are coming together to support common-sense municipal zoning changes that will bring about more attainable housing choices for all Manchester residents.
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