For the purpose of this chapter the Town of
Greenwich is hereby divided into the following districts:
A. Rural Agricultural District (RAD).
(1) The Rural Agricultural District is the largest district
in the Town. It includes the active agricultural uses in the Town.
It also includes low-density residential uses that are compatible
with and integrated into the agricultural uses. Home occupations and
small businesses are also encouraged where they can be shown to be
compatible with the low-density residential and agricultural uses.
It also includes the wetlands, streams, rivers, fallow fields and
forests. The intent of this district is to provide an area in which
the mixture of agricultural, residential and small business uses can
exist in relative harmony with the natural, environmental and open
space character of the area.
(2) The preservation not only of agricultural and open
space but also the social and cultural character of the area is critical
to maintaining Greenwich as a rural community, a primary goal of the
Town's Comprehensive Plan.
(3) The further purpose of the Rural Agricultural District
is to maintain the mixture of farmland and open space resources of
the Town of Greenwich, while providing opportunities for small-scale,
low-intensity housing and businesses that coexist with the rural nature
of the Town. Large-scale residential development, especially that
which would convert farm or open space, is discouraged in this district.
B. Residential District (RD). The purpose of the Residential
District is to protect and encourage moderate-density residential
development as well as a limited number of compatible uses. This district
is located next to the Village of Greenwich, the Hamlet of Clarks
Mills and Cossayuna Lake and provides the best location for residential
development, especially where utilities are present.
C. Hamlet/Mixed-Use District (HMUD). The Hamlet/Mixed-Use
District encompasses the Town's historic hamlets, which are scattered
throughout the Town. Some of these hamlets still contain commercial
uses, while others are more residential in character. All contain
a higher density of development than is found in the surrounding rural
areas. The intent of this district is to encourage higher-density,
mixed-use development providing small-scale services to the surrounding
community. Development that occurs in these hamlets should be at a
scale with the existing development and which is compatible with the
historic qualities of these neighborhoods and respects the integrity
of surrounding open space and agriculture lands.
D. Commercial District (CD). The purpose of the Commercial
District is to provide for high-density commercial development along
Route 29 and adjacent to the Village of Greenwich. This district encompasses
and expands the Town's historic commercial core. Design guidelines
associated with this district are intended to provide for the long-term
transformation of the commercial district into a pedestrian-friendly,
Village-scale area for living, shopping and working.
E. Industrial District (ID). The purpose of the Industrial
District is to allow for the continued operation and expansion of
the Town's paper mills, as well as to provide locations for new, potentially
intensive, manufacturing and industry. This district also provides
opportunities for sand and gravel mining.
The zoning districts are defined and shown on the Town of Greenwich
Zoning Map, which by act of the Town Board is made part of this chapter. The Official
Zoning Map shall be filed in the Town Hall and shall be available for public inspection.
The use and area requirements for each zoning
district are found in Tables 1 and 2. A use that is not shown as a principal permitted use or
a use permitted by site plan review and/or special use permit shall
not be allowed.