A.
For the purpose of this chapter, the Town of Franklin
is hereby divided into the following types of districts:
Rural Residential I (RRI)
| |
Rural Residential II (RRII)
| |
Single-Family Residential III (SFRIII)
| |
Single-Family Residential IV (SFRIV)
| |
General Residential V (GRV)
| |
Residential VI (RVI)
| |
Residential VII (RVII)
[Added 10-16-2013 by Bylaw Amendment 13-720] | |
Commercial I (CI)
| |
Commercial II (CII)
| |
Business (B)
| |
Industrial (I)
| |
Limited Industrial (LI)
[Added 10-2-2002 by Bylaw Amendment 02-507] | |
Neighborhood Commercial (NC)
[Added 6-11-2003 by Bylaw Amendment 03-511] | |
Office (O)
[Added 7-11-2001 by Bylaw Amendment 01-467] | |
Downtown Commercial (DC)
[Added 7-13-2011 by Bylaw Amendment 11-652] | |
Rural Business (RB)
[Added 11-16-2016 by
Bylaw Amendment 16-768] | |
Mixed Business Innovation (MBI)
[Added 3-13-2019 by Bylaw Amendment 19-829] |
B.
In addition, there are eight overlay districts: the Floodplain District as established in § 185-24, the Water Resource District as established in § 185-40, the Wireless Communications Services District as established in § 185-44, the Biotechnology Uses Overlay District as established in § 185-42, the Adult Use Overlay District as established in § 185-47, the Senior Village Overlay District as established in § 185-48, the Sign District Map as established in § 185-20 and the Marijuana Use Overlay District as established in § 185-49.
[Added 5-12-1986 by Bylaw Amendment 86-65; amended 7-23-1997 by Bylaw Amendment
97-336; 7-11-2001 by Bylaw Amendment 01-467; 3-21-2012 by Bylaw Amendment 12-671; 6-5-2013 by Bylaw Amendment 13-709; 12-17-2014 by Bylaw
Amendment 14-742; 2-15-2017 by Bylaw Amendment 17-780]
C.
Intent of districts. The intent of the zoning districts is as follows:
(Please refer to the Table of Uses for specific uses as they relate
to each zoning district.)
[Added 7-11-2001 by Bylaw Amendment 01-467; amended 10-2-2002 by Bylaw Amendment 02-507; 6-11-2003 by Bylaw Amendment
03-511; 7-13-2011 by Bylaw Amendment 11-652; 10-16-2013 by Bylaw Amendment 13-720]
(1)
The Rural Residential Districts (RRI, RRII) are intended primarily
for single-family residential uses in a rural and semirural environment.
Agricultural uses are generally permitted. Generally, commercial and
industrial uses are not permitted.
(2)
The Single-Family Residential Districts (SFRIII, SFRIV) are intended
primarily for single-family residential uses in a semirural and suburban
environment. Two-family residential uses may be permitted in some
areas. Generally commercial and industrial uses are not permitted;
however, limited commercial uses may be permitted in some areas.
(3)
The General Residential V District (GRV) is intended primarily for
single-family and two-family residential uses in a suburban downtown
environment. Multifamily and apartment uses may also be permitted.
In addition, certain commercial uses may be permitted, but most nonresidential
uses are not allowed.
(4)
The Residential VI District (RVI) is intended primarily for multifamily and apartment residential uses in a suburban environment. Limited commercial uses may be permitted. See § 185-38, Multifamily and flexible development zoning bylaw, for further requirements of the Residential VI District.
(5)
The Residential VII District (RVII) is intended primarily for single-family residential uses in a semirural environment. Multiple, single-family dwelling units may be permitted. Preservation of open space is encouraged, and most nonresidential uses are not allowed. Please see § 185-50, Residential VII, for further requirements of the RVII District.
(6)
The Commercial I District (CI) is intended primarily for office,
retail, service, trade, restaurant, and other commercial uses in a
downtown environment. Limited industrial uses may be permitted. Single-family,
two-family and multifamily and apartment residential uses may also
be allowed.
(7)
The Commercial II District (CII) is intended primarily for office,
retail, service, trade, restaurant, and other commercial uses and
limited industrial uses in a suburban commercial environment. Single-family
and two-family residential uses may also be permitted.
(8)
The Business District (B) is intended primarily for nonresidential
uses such as office, retail, service, trade, restaurant, and other
commercial uses with some limited industrial uses in a suburban commercial
environment.
(9)
The Office District (O) is intended primarily for office parks, business
uses, limited commercial and light industrial uses. Industrial uses
such as warehouse and manufacturing are not permitted except as an
accessory use. Residential uses are not permitted.
(10)
The Industrial District (I) is intended primarily for light
and medium industrial uses, warehouse and distribution uses, and business
uses. Some commercial uses may be permitted, but residential uses
are not permitted.
(11)
The Limited Industrial District (LI) is intended primarily for
light industrial service, trade and limited business uses. In addition,
accessory office and retail uses may be permitted. Residential uses
are not allowed.
(12)
The Neighborhood Commercial District (NC) is intended primarily
for low-intensity commercial uses located in or within close proximity
to primarily residential neighborhoods providing retail and personal
services which serve the surrounding neighborhood. Industrial uses
are not allowed. The district is further classified by its neighbor-
and pedestrian-friendly design concepts including low-luminescent
lighting fixtures, visibly obscured parking areas, densely planted
property borders, nonintrusive architecture and pedestrian-scaled
signage with external illumination.
(13)
The Downtown Commercial District (DC) is intended as a mixed-use,
transit-oriented commercial district which combines first-floor commercial
uses with upper-floor office or multi-unit residential uses. An emphasis
is placed on commercial uses like restaurants and retail that support
an economically rich downtown environment.
(14)
The Rural Business District (RB) is intended primarily for low-intensity
commercial uses located in or within close proximity to primarily
residential neighborhoods, providing retail and agricultural services
to the surrounding community. The district is further classified by
rural neighborhood design concepts consistent with the character of
the community, complementary in scale and appearance with the surrounding
neighborhood, with low luminescent lighting fixtures, densely planted
property borders, and pedestrian-scaled signage with external illumination.
[Added 11-16-2016 by
Bylaw Amendment 16-768]
(15)
The Mixed Business Innovation District (MBI) is intended primarily
for a mix of light industrial and commercial uses in an older industrial
neighborhood. A strong emphasis is placed on encouraging reuse and
redevelopment of older manufacturing and warehouse buildings, providing
for a wide range of light industrial, commercial, cultural, institutional,
or entertainment uses, including business incubator, co-working space,
studio space, artisanal or craft maker space, art galleries, public
art, performance venues, restaurants, cafes and retail that create
and support a diverse economically and culturally rich environment.
Residential uses and heavy manufacturing uses are not allowed.
[Added 3-13-2019 by Bylaw
Amendment 19-829]
Said districts are located and bounded as shown
on a map entitled "Zoning Map of Franklin, Massachusetts," dated February
24, 1967, as most recently amended, and on file in the office of the
Town Clerk. The Zoning Map, with all explanatory matter thereof, is
hereby made a part of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Zoning Map is included
in a pocket at the end of this volume.
A.
Where a boundary is shown as following a street, railroad
or utility, the boundary shall be the center line thereon unless otherwise
indicated.
B.
Where a boundary is shown outside of a street, railroad
or utility and approximately parallel thereto, the boundary shall
be deemed parallel to the nearest line thereof, and the figure placed
on the Zoning Map between the boundary and such line shall be the
distance, in feet, between them, as measured at a right angle from
such line, unless otherwise indicated.
C.
Where a boundary is shown as following a watercourse,
the boundary shall coincide with the center line thereof as said line
existed at the date of the Zoning Map.
D.
Where the location of a boundary line is otherwise
uncertain, the Planning Board or Building Commissioner shall determine
its position in accordance with the distance, in feet, from other
lines as given or as measured from the scale of the Zoning Map.
E.
Where a district boundary line divides a lot, the
regulations applying to the portion of such lot in the less restricted
district may be considered as extending not more than 50 feet into
the more restricted portion, but only if the lot has frontage on a
street in the less restricted district.