a development district town planners are looking to redefine this section of the Bernard P. Rines Bypass leading to the roundabout at Narragansett Street (Route 202) for mixed uses, including residential.

GORHAM — A Planning Board subcommittee Tuesday continued its review of potential mixed-use rules that would allow residential units combined with commercial and light industrial buildings in the town’s Narragansett Development District zone.

The zoning district is located on Narragansett Street (Route 202) and runs west from the roundabout of the Bernard P. Rines Bypass. The district primarily is now zoned for commercial uses, but the Town Council wants to expand the zone and amend rules to include residential units in a move to comply with the town’s 2016 comprehensive plan.

According to the comprehensive plan, the zone – a short distance from the Gorham Village shopping area – should be redesignated as the Narragansett Mixed-Use Development District. 

Under proposed zoning changes under review, buildings up to four stories or 50 feet high would be allowed, with residential units on upper floors. Multi-family housing could be located above a variety of light industrial and commercial uses including offices, recreational facilities, day cares, medical quick care facilities, automotive repairs and retail stores with less than 7,000 square feet of gross floor area.

The Town Council sent a request last year to the Planning Board to develop new rules for the zone. In response, the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee, a Planning Board subcommittee, is reviewing potential changes to the zone.

The discussion centered on how best to implement residential units for the zone after member Michael Richman spoke about encouraging residential units as part of the mixed-use plan. Poirier said he would add language to proposed changes to encourage mixed use for the district.

Materials the subcommittee is reviewing identifies the objective of redefining the zone is to “complement uses” in Gorham Village and expand the town’s economic base and add jobs.

The subcommittee in May will likely have a recommendation about rezoning the district into mixed use for the full Planning Board to consider. The public will have an opportunities to speak when the Planning Board holds a public hearing before forwarding its recommendation to the Town Council that will also conduct a public hearing.

The Narragansett Development District includes the 62-acre vacant site of a  former harness racing track that is now the property of Moody’s Co-worker Owned, Inc. Shawn Moody of Gorham did not attend Tuesday’s meeting.

This week’s meeting was the subcommittee’s third; next month the review of proposed changes will resume, but a date has not been set. At the upcoming meeting, members will discuss performance standards like lot layouts, access and building standards.

Robert Lowell can be reached at 854-2577 or rlowell@keepmecurrent.com