Special district regulations below provide the framework for zoning districts to be created in appropriate areas throughout the City. The district boundaries of the special districts shall be established through an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance as set forth in §§ 190-12B and 190-132, Zoning amendments.
Purpose: This district is intended to permit the location and growth of institutions of higher education in areas appropriate for such use. This section implements the following Master Plan recommendations:
Require higher education facilities (HEFs) to maintain their site plan.
Require HEFs to submit for approval any requested additions to an existing HEF.
A. 
Establishment of HE District. Prior to the establishment of an HE District by the Board of Alderman, an applicant shall present a master site plan of the proposed district to the Planning Board for approval. The master site plan may be processed concurrent with a request to rezone any lot(s) or parcel(s) to an HE District, pursuant to § 190-135, and shall constitute the site plan for any lot or parcel after it is approved This plan shall show:
(1) 
Adjacent properties sufficiently to identify surrounding uses and potential impacts on them by the applicant's plan;
(2) 
The location and capacity of all off-street parking spaces;
(3) 
Internal traffic circulation plans, including traffic ingress and egress locations; and
(4) 
For new facilities, estimates of traffic load impacts on surrounding public streets.
B. 
Permitted uses. Colleges, universities, junior colleges and other educational institutions of higher learning are permitted in a Higher Education District. The following uses are considered accessory to the permitted uses in a Higher Education District:
LBCS
Accessory Uses
NAICS
Function
Activity
Structure
Dormitories
1300
1320
Gymnasium
713940
7110
4220
Libraries
514120
4242
4100
4400
Museums and art galleries
712110
5200, 5210
6700
4220
Swimming facilities/natatoriums
713940
7110
Outdoor recreation fields
7190
Student unions
4220
Amateur radio transmitter
513112
Bookstore
451211
2135
Churches
813110
6600
6600
3500
Concert halls/performance centers
711310
3110
Day-care and preschool facilities
624410
6562
Floral shops
453110
2141
Game halls
713990
5320, 5380
Gift shops
453220
Hair salons and barbers
812111
2600
Ice skating rink
7130
Parking structure
812930
5230
Restaurants and cafeterias
722110
2510
2200
2220
722111
2520
722212
Stadiums
5210
3300
C. 
Dimensional standards.
(1) 
There is no minimum lot area or minimum lot width requirement for the HE District The minimum building setback from the HE District boundary shall be 25 feet for buildings up to 2 1/2 stories or 35 feet in height.
(2) 
A building may be erected up to 75 feet, provided that the required setbacks are increased by one foot for each foot of building height measured from the outside edge of that portion of the structure that exceeds 35 feet up to a maximum of six stories.
(3) 
Parapet walls may be erected as necessary to screen rooftop equipment if the walls extend around the perimeter of the building and incorporate exterior building materials similar to those of the main building. Parapet walls subject to this subsection are exempt from the height restrictions.
D. 
Parking.
(1) 
Parking areas shall set back a distance of 25 feet from the district boundary.
(2) 
Parking is not required for upper story dwellings above a first floor commercial or office use.
(3) 
All parking areas within the same block should be designed to allow interconnection to neighboring parking areas.
E. 
Transportation. Five-foot-wide sidewalks shall be required along the streets of lots or parcels to be developed. Such sidewalks shall connect to the major entryways of buildings. Sidewalks shall be so designed as to tie to existing sidewalks within or abutting the district.
F. 
Building design.
(1) 
All roof-mounted equipment, including satellite dishes and other communication equipment shall be screened to the extent possible so as not to be visible from any public right-of-way by a parapet or similar structure that is similar to the architectural style of exterior elevation of the principal building. The equipment should not be visible from recreation trails or from public sidewalks adjacent to the building. Communications towers are subject to § 190-38.
(2) 
All equipment and activities shall be screened and placed so as to minimize noise disturbance on any neighboring property.
(3) 
Exterior lighting used to illuminate the premises and/or advertising copy shall be directed away from adjacent properties, and shall conform to Article IX.
(4) 
Architectural elevations of all buildings and structures in the district shall be submitted for review and approval by the Planning Board. Particular attention will be paid to those facades that are visible from a public street. The review by the Planning Board shall be conducted with attention to proposed architectural features, details, materials, and colors of buildings and structures. The Board may require modification to the proposed designs and may impose conditions in granting approval. Key elements that may be reviewed include:
(a) 
Facade design and features.
(b) 
Window size, style and placement.
(c) 
Exterior materials and color.
(d) 
Roof form.
(e) 
Sign location and design.
(5) 
In those cases where the proposed building or structures will be within 20 feet of the district setback, the architectural design shall recognize and respect the architectural character of the existing adjacent neighborhood in terms of scale and proportion.
G. 
Site plan.
(1) 
No building shall be erected or constructed, and no development shall occur, unless and consistent with the master site plan approved by the Planning Board.
(2) 
An updated master site plan may be concurrently submitted to the Planning Board for proposed new building, construction, or development not consistent with the existing plan on record.
Purpose: The MD Medical District is intended to accommodate medically oriented businesses and facilities. Medical Districts (MD) accommodate medical centers, hospitals and all their normally related functions, if properly sited in relation to each other and pursuant to an approved plan for that district. These standards are designed to ensure that developments in the MD are functionally integrated with other buildings and parking areas and in substantial conformity with a master site plan.
This section implements the following Master Plan recommendations:
Consider if the Zoning Ordinance, as it relates to medical services generally, needs to be revised to include provisions for a Medical Services District and related use and dimensional requirements.
Any hospital or medical facility expansions need to recognize and protect adjacent residential areas from unreasonable impacts.
A. 
Establishment of MD District. Prior to the establishment of a MD District by the Board of Alderman, an applicant shall present a master site plan of the proposed District to the Planning Board for approval. The master site plan may be processed concurrent with a request to rezone any lot(s) or parcel(s) to a MD District, pursuant to § 190-135, and shall constitute the site plan for any lot or parcel after it is approved. This plan shall show:
(1) 
Current and anticipated uses of the property;
(2) 
Adjacent properties sufficiently to identify surrounding uses and potential impacts on them by the applicant's plan;
(3) 
The location and capacity of all off-street parking spaces;
(4) 
Internal traffic circulation plans, including traffic ingress and egress locations; and
(5) 
Estimates of traffic load impacts on surrounding public street system.
B. 
Uses permitted.
(1) 
Hospitals and health care providers are permitted in a Medical District. The following uses are accessory uses within an MD District:
LBCS
Accessory Uses
NAICS
Function
Activity
Structure
Ambulatory and outpatient care services
6214
6510
4100
Blood and organ banks
621991
6514
4100
Diagnostic imaging centers
621512
6513
Dormitories
1300
1320
Emergency response centers
621910
6430
4200
Family planning and outpatient care services
621410
6512
4100
Day-care homes
624120
6566
Hospitality houses
Hotels
Kidney dialysis centers
621492
Medical and diagnostic laboratories
621511
6513
4100
Medical and nursing schools
611310, 611519
Parking structures, public or private, subject to the standards in Subsection C below.
812930
5230
Pharmacies
446110
2161
Physical therapy establishments
622310
6520
4100
Residential care and treatment facilities
4500
Bookstore
451211
2135
Day-care and preschool facilities
624410
6562
Floral shops
2141
Gift shops
Hair salons and barbers
2600
Restaurants and cafeterias
722212
2510
2200
2200
2520
LBCS
Uses Allowed by Conditional Use Permit
NAICS
Function
Activity
Structure
Communication towers subject to § 190-69
4200
6500
Heliports
5640
Dwelling units
1100
1100, 1200
C. 
Dimensional standards.
(1) 
There is no minimum lot area, minimum lot width, requirement for the MD district. The minimum building setback from the MD District boundary shall be 30 feet. The Planning Board shall have the authority to modify the setback requirements when the plan is in conformance with the Nashua Master Plan.
(2) 
A building may be erected up to 90 feet up to a maximum of six stories, provided that the required setbacks are increased by one foot for each foot of building height measured from the outside edge of that portion of the structure that exceeds 35 feet up to a maximum of six stories.
(3) 
For purposes of this section, the land area used to compute the open space percentage shall include the entire area subject to the site plan or master site plan.
(4) 
Parapet walls may be erected as necessary to screen rooftop equipment if the walls extends around the perimeter of the building and incorporate exterior building materials similar to those of the main building.
D. 
Parking.
(1) 
There is no maximum parking ratio for buildings in the MD District.
(2) 
Parking areas shall be set back a distance of 25 feet from the MD boundary. For through lots, parking should be located between the principal building and the street that carries less traffic, but no closer than 10 feet to the front property line.
(3) 
Parking is not required for upper-story dwellings above a first-floor commercial or office use.
(4) 
All parking areas within the same block should be designed to allow interconnection to neighboring parking areas.
E. 
Street design and transportation. Six-foot-wide sidewalks shall be required along the streets of lots or parcels to be developed. Such sidewalks shall connect to the major entryways of buildings. Sidewalks shall connect to existing sidewalks within or abutting the district.
F. 
Building design.
(1) 
All roof-mounted equipment, including satellite dishes and other communication equipment, shall be screened to the extent possible so as not to be visible from any public right-of-way by a parapet or similar structure that is similar to the architectural style of exterior elevation of the principal building. The equipment should not be visible from recreation trails or from public sidewalks adjacent to the site.
(2) 
All equipment and activities shall be screened and placed so as to minimize noise disturbance on any neighboring property.
(3) 
Exterior lighting is required for all employee and visitor parking areas, walkways, and building entrances and exits. Exterior lighting used to illuminate the premises and/or advertising copy shall be directed away from adjacent properties, and shall relate to the scale and location of the development. Article IX (Lighting) shall not apply to the MD District.
(4) 
Architectural elevations of all buildings and structures in the District shall be submitted for review and approval by the Planning Board. Particular attention will be paid to those facades that are visible from a public street. The review by the Planning Board shall be conducted with attention to proposed architectural features, details, materials, and colors of buildings and structures. The Board may require modification to the proposed designs and may impose conditions in granting approval. Key elements that may be reviewed include:
(a) 
Facade design and features.
(b) 
Window size, style and placement.
(c) 
Exterior materials and color.
(d) 
Roof form.
(e) 
Sign location and design.
(5) 
In those cases where the proposed building or structures will be within 20 feet of the district setback, the architectural design shall recognize and respect the architectural character of the existing adjacent neighborhood in terms of scale and proportion.
G. 
Master site plan. No building shall be erected or constructed, and no development shall occur, unless and consistent with the master site plan approved by the Planning Board.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 190-30, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), was repealed 10-27-2015 by Ord. No. O-15-064.