Restrictions for Dorms Proposed in Council

The chairman of the City Council's zoning committee, Tony Avella, is calling for new restrictions on the size of college dormitories, hospitals, and other similar facilities. The current zoning code often allows for such "community facilities" to be built at sizes much larger than the surrounding buildings, and are sometimes built at densities twice as great as neighboring developments are permitted. Neighborhood groups claim they unfairly change the character of neighborhoods.