Town of Rockland, MA Article VIII Site Plan Review

§ 415-58 General provisions.

A. Except as provided herein, no building, excavation, or foundation activities shall be initiated unless a site plan is first submitted and approved and a building permit is issued by the Building Inspector. No certificate of occupancy shall be given unless all construction and conditions conform to the approved site plan.

B. The following activities shall not require a site plan review or approval:

(1) The construction of accessory uses to single and two-family detached residences, such as: private garage, tool house, garden greenhouse, swimming pool or other similar use;

(2) Repairs or improvements to the interior of a building that do not involve a structural change or enlargement of the building as determined by the Building Inspector;

(3) Renovations or alterations to a building exterior that do not involve a major structural change or enlargement of the building as determined by the Building Inspector;

(4) The construction, renovation or alteration of single family residence, as they are defined in Article II of the Zoning Bylaw.

C. The Building Inspector, at his discretion, may require a site plan review and approval if, in his judgement, the proposed construction, alteration or change of use will affect existing traffic circulation, drainage, landscaping, lighting, off-street parking, or other elements of the environment affecting the quality of life in the Town.

D. Where a small addition (an addition to a principal building not to exceed 15% of the gross floor area of the existing use, or 2,000 square feet, whichever is less) to an existing structure is proposed, the standards established by this bylaw shall be applicable only to the new addition.

§ 415-59 Site plan review and approval.

[Amended 5-4-2010 ATM, Art. 45]

A. Contents of site plan. The form, content, style, number of copies of plans and specifications, and the procedure for submission and approval of such plans and application shall follow the most current Rockland Planning Board rules and regulations for site plan requirements in effect at the time of the application for site plan approval. A copy of said rules shall be filed in the office of the Town Clerk.

B. The reviewing authority shall evaluate each application on the basis of protecting the health, safety and welfare of the prospective occupants, the occupants of neighboring properties, the provision of adequate services, and to preserve and enhance amenities of the Town. In addition to compliance with land space and building space requirements, each application shall provide for:

(1) Protection of adjoining premises against detrimental or offensive uses on the site, including compliance with all dimensional requirements set forth in this bylaw, and provision of adequate landscaping, including the screening of adjacent residential uses, provision of street trees, landscape islands in the parking lot and a landscaped buffer along the street frontage.

(2) Convenience and safety of vehicular and pedestrian movement within the site, and in relation to adjacent streets, property, or improvements. Site plan review shall also include review of a traffic impact and assessment plan associated with the use which shall be certified by a professional engineer or an equivalent professional skilled and experienced in traffic impact and assessment and, where applicable, traffic signal operations.

(3) Adequacy of the methods of disposal for sewage, refuse and other wastes resulting from the uses permitted or permissible on the site.

(4) Adequacy of the proposed drainage system within and adjacent to the site to manage all increased runoff resulting from the development on site, and adequacy of the soil erosion plan and any plan for protection of steep slopes, both during and after construction. Site plan review shall also include review of drainage calculations and also a proposed operations and maintenance plan for the approved drainage system to be certified by a registered professional engineer.

(5) Compliance with Article V of this bylaw, including adequacy of space for the off-street loading and unloading of vehicles, goods, products, materials, and equipment incidental to the normal operation of the establishment.

(6) Adequacy of lighting, including compliance with Planning Board rules and regulations, such that all lighting and other sources of illumination, whether interior or exterior, and all intense light emanating from operations or equipment shall be shielded from direct view at normal eye level from adjacent properties.

(7) Building sites shall minimize any material or significant adverse impacts on steep slopes, floodplains, scenic views, grade changes and wetlands.

(8) Conformance with all appropriate provisions of the Zoning Bylaw except where variance from such provision is applied for and approved by the Board if authorized. All permits issued under this bylaw shall be conditioned upon receipt of all other required permits including those of the Board of Health and Conservation Commission if necessary;

C. As-built plans: Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the owner shall provide as-built plans to the Town. The plans shall be prepared and stamped by a registered land surveyor and a professional engineer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts certifying that the site plan has been built according to the approved plan and submitted to the Building Inspector and Planning Board. Such certification shall also include that the surface and subsurface drainage discharge has been installed according to the approved site plan. Field reports from the design engineer may be requested by the Building Inspector and Planning Board during construction for prior approval of changes from the approved site plan.