Public to review Amherst’s downtown design standards

AMHERST — An effort to have rules and requirements that buildings, sidewalks and public spaces in Amherst center take on a uniform appearance, and to get community support for a specific vision of downtown’s future, is nearing completion.

A presentation and open house on the Amherst Downtown Design Standards, work that began in September 2024 by Dodson & Flinker Landscape Architecture & Planning of Northampton, is scheduled for Wednesday, starting at 6 p.m., at the Social Hall of the Unitarian Universalist Society, 121 North Pleasant St.

“After nearly two years of community input, deep discussion by a dedicated working group, and the support of consultants from Dodson & Flinker, the town is excited to present the Amherst Downtown Design Standards,” Town Manager Paul Bockelman said.

The idea is to have the look and feel of downtown be consistent, whether it be sidewalks and crosswalks, sitting areas and parklets, bicycle lanes, and even the trees and plantings.

Accompanying this would be building design standards for the main commercial district, where several new mixed-use buildings have gone up in the past 15 years, bringing many more residents downtown, with some angst over the look and appearance of these five-story structures.

The Amherst Downtown Design Standards are organized into three complementary volumes that provide a comprehensive framework for guiding change in the built environment in downtown Amherst. The first volume is “Context and Vision,” the second is “Zoning and Design Standards for Private Development” and the third is “Standards for the Public Realm.”

Attendees will be able to provide feedback on each volume by engaging with project consultants and town staff.

A working group has been meeting privately with Dodson & Flinker and providing input in anticipation of continued development downtown, using a so-called “consensus-building model.”

People are also welcome to submit written feedback on the draft design standards through July 1, 2026.

At this point in the process, the town is requesting specific feedback on each of the draft volumes, with suggested revisions through an online form for single comments or by filling out a downloadable spreadsheet for multiple comments. More instructions for submitting written feedback can be found under each volume’s tab at amherstma.gov/downtowndesign

In addition to the community presentation, the Downtown Design Standards will also be presented and discussed by the Design Review Board, likely on March 16, the Planning Board on March 18, the Community Resource Committee on April 9, and the Historical Commission and Commission for Persons with Disabilities, both on April 14.

After all public feedback is collected, a final set of design standards is expected to be
submitted to Town Council in the fall, to be adopted as design guidelines and zoning amendments to guide both public improvements and private development

The project has been funded through a community planning grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, with additional support from town funds.

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