Barrington Weighs Ground-Floor Apartments in Business Zones
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- October 26, 2026
- 4 min read
Planners Float Ground-Floor Housing for Empty Barrington Storefronts
A Planning Board member shared that developers are increasingly requesting permits to convert ground floors to housing in Barrington's business zones, citing difficulty finding commercial tenants.
Why This Matters
Barrington's Planning Board proposes studying the possibility of allowing apartments on the ground floors of neighborhood business zones, where commercial use is currently mandatory. A council member advocated for a market study before proceeding, while a town official clarified that a rezoning process wouldn't require one. A housing and zoning workshop is scheduled for November 5th.
The Proposal
The Barrington Town Council discussed the 2026 comprehensive plan during their public hearing, with the Planning Board suggesting a re-evaluation of the neighborhood business zones. Currently, these zones mandate commercial use on the ground floor, with residential units permitted above.
A Planning Board member explained the change in habits post-pandemic, stating that online ordering has reduced the demand for retail spaces. This trend, they said, has led to a surge in comprehensive permit requests to override the neighborhood business zone rules and install residential units on the ground floor.
The Flex Model
Heather Kilmartin, another Planning Board member, presented the idea of adopting a residence business flex zone, which allows residential use on the ground floor while still meeting the business conversion code. This model has been trialed in a small zone in Bay Spring and has shown both expected and unexpected successes.
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