Haverhill, MA Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Downtown Design Guide (2026)

The Downtown Smart Growth Overlay District's general design standards in § 9.8.10 apply to every subzone in the district. New buildings must preserve existing views to the Merrimack River and be sited to protect view corridors to the river; drive-in facilities cannot route driveways across the main frontage sidewalk; signs must meet the same standards that apply in the city's C commercial zoning districts under § 6.2; and outdoor lighting cannot spill onto neighboring properties or into the night sky. Section 9.8.11 then layers subzone-specific rules onto those general standards.

In High Density Subzones A, B and C, made up of seven- and eight-plus-story mill buildings slated for redevelopment rather than new construction, the maximum height of any rehabilitated structure is capped at the height of the existing mill building, and no more than 5% of the gross floor area may be used for ground-floor mixed use beyond what is required. Subzone D, the Washington Street corridor, carries its own detailed standards: new construction must provide public access and view corridors to the river, buildings must present a front facade to both Washington Street and the riverfront with dual entries, and height is generally capped at six stories overall with a four-story maximum right at Washington Street; anything taller must step back along a 45-degree bulk control plane measured from the front cornice line.

A project can seek up to eight stories, the district's absolute ceiling, only by granting the city a public easement connecting Washington Street to Haverhill's planned Riverwalk, with the Permit Awarding Authority weighing the public benefit against the impact of the extra height. Townhouse Subzone E, which abuts single- and two-family neighborhoods, caps buildings at four stories and requires a step-back beginning at three stories along Locust Street.