Except as hereinafter provided, no land, building or structure,
or part thereof, shall hereafter be used, and no building or part
thereof, or other structure, shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed,
extended, enlarged, altered or moved, and no building or structure,
or part thereof, shall be moved onto any plot or parcel of land except
in conformity with these regulations.
These regulations shall apply to subdivision layouts now on
file in the land records; provided, however, that nothing herein shall
be construed to interfere with vested rights existing prior to the
effective date of these regulations. Should the property included
within said subdivision layouts be resubdivided at any time in the
future, said resubdivision plans shall conform to these regulations.
Where these regulations impose requirements for greater width
or size of lots, or other open spaces, or a lower height of building,
or fewer number of stories, or a greater percentage of lot area to
be left unoccupied, or impose other and higher standards than are
required in any other statute, bylaw, ordinance or regulation, the
provisions of these regulations shall govern. If the provisions of
any other statute, bylaw, ordinance or regulation require a greater
width or size of lots, or other open spaces or a greater percentage
of lot area to be left unoccupied or impose other and higher standards
than are required by these regulations, the provisions of such statute,
bylaw, ordinance or regulation shall govern.
The following regulations shall apply in all zoning districts:
A. Buildings, uses and lots.
(1) Lot for every building. Every building hereafter erected shall be
located on a lot as defined herein, and except for Neighborhood Shopping
Center Districts, there shall be no more than one principal building
and its accessory structures located on any one lot.
(2) Subdivision of a lot. Where a lot is formed hereafter from part of
a lot already occupied by a building or structure, such separation
shall be effected in such manner as not to impair conformity with
any of the requirements of these regulations.
(3) Lot width required. No part of any dwelling or other structure housing
a principal use shall be erected on any part of a lot which is less
width than the minimum required.
(4) Parts of lot not counted toward minimum area requirements. No part
of any lot reserved for or used as a road, right-of-way or accessway
shall be counted as part of the required minimum lot area. Land subject
to easements for aboveground utilities which forbid buildings or structures
within the area of the easement shall not be included as part of minimum
lot area, nor shall any easement which grants exclusive surface use
of the property to other than the owner, except drainage easements.
Land under water and soils defined as "very poorly drained" in the
National Cooperative Soils Survey, as may be amended from time to
time, of the Soil Conservation Service of the United States Department
of Agriculture may be used to satisfy no more than 20% of the minimum
lot area requirement.
[Amended 7-1-1986]
(5) New building on existing lots. A permit shall be issued for a permitted
use on a lot which does not meet the minimum area or dimension requirements
of these regulations:
[Amended 9-15-1985]
(a) Provided that such lot existed in separate ownership as of the effective
date of these regulations, or of any pertinent amendment thereof,
and was so recorded on the Assessor's records or the land records
of the Town;
(b) Provided that the lot met the zoning requirements at the time the
deed to the lot was recorded;
(c) Provided that the owner of such lot did not and does not own other
land contiguous thereto or directly across a road therefrom at the
time of the adoption of these regulations, or subsequent thereto.
(If this is the case, such other land or so much thereof as may be
necessary, shall be combined with the first-named lot in such manner
as to produce one or more conforming lots); and
(d) Further provided that all setback and other requirements are complied
with, in so far as possible, at the time of obtaining the zoning permit.
(6) Split lots. A parcel or tract of land that is divided by a public
or private road, a major watercourse, a public or private easement
restricting development (other than a utility easement or a right-of-way)
does not meet the minimum lot area requirements unless it contains
at least two contiguous acres of land. For purposes of this regulation,
land is not contiguous if a public or private road, a major watercourse,
a public or private easement restricting development, or a right-of-way
divides it. This contiguity requirement applies even if the public
or private road, major watercourse, public or private easement restricting
development, or right-of-way and the parcel or tracts of land are
in the same ownership. Construction on a lot that is subject to this
section of the minimum area requirement regulation must take place
on that section of the lot that contains the two contiguous acres
of property. This regulation does not apply to passageways that serve
as a second access to a parcel or tract of land and are dedicated
exclusively to emergency access. For purposes of this section, "major
watercourse" shall mean the Saugatuck River, the Aspetuck River, the
West Branch of the Saugatuck, and any nonseasonal branch or tributary
thereof being more than two feet wide at any point within the subject
lot. (See C.G.S. § 8.26a.)
[Amended 5-18-2006]
(7) Odd-shaped lots. A lot may not measure less than 75 in width or depth
at any point except where the measurement of the width or depth of
the lot at such point multiplied by three is equal to or greater than
the distance from such point to the point where the lot boundary lines
form a figure closed on three sides measured along a line running
through the center of such portion of the lot. An accessway otherwise
in compliance with these regulations shall not be a violation of this
subsection. For example, a lot which narrows to 50 feet at a given
point must become a closed geometric figure within 150 feet of such
point. (See Illustration No. 1.) A lot which narrows to 30 feet at
a given point must become a closed geometric figure within 90 feet
of such point. (See Illustration No. 2.)
[Amended 5-4-2006]
Illustration No. 1
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Illustration No. 2
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B. Structures and projections within setback areas and additional restrictions.
(1) Architectural features. Notwithstanding the terms of §§
240-9B(7),
240-11F and
240-12D, architectural features such as window sills, belt courses, chimneys, balconies, cornices, eaves or bay windows may project up to three feet into any setback area.
[Amended 5-26-2011]
(2) Terraces. Notwithstanding the terms of §§
240-9B(7),
240-11F and
240-12D, a terrace may extend no less than 20 feet from the front lot line or any side or rear lot line. The foregoing shall not apply to porches which shall be subject to §§
240-9B(7),
240-11F and
240-12D without adjustment.
[Amended 5-26-2011]
(4) Swimming pools and playing courts. All swimming pools, tennis, paddle and other such playing courts shall be deemed to be structures and shall be subject to §§
240-9B(7),
240-11F and
240-12D without adjustment.
[Amended 5-26-2011]
(5) Projecting features above the roof level. The height limitations
of these regulations shall not apply to antennas, flagpoles, church
spires, belfries, cupolas, chimneys, or similar features, provided
that such are not used for human occupancy, provided that they shall
not extend more than 15 feet above roof level, and provided that the
total area covered by such features shall not exceed 10% of the area
of the roof upon which they are located.
[Amended 5-1-1989]
(6) Visibility at intersections. No structure, fence, hedge, tree or
other planting shall be erected, placed or maintained on a corner
lot in such a way as may obstruct traffic visibility across the triangular
area formed by the two intersecting road right-of-way lines and a
straight line connecting points along said right-of-way lines, which
points are located 50 feet distant from the theoretical point of intersection
of such lines measured along the lines. This provision shall not apply
to existing trees, provided that no branches are closer than six feet
to the ground.
[Amended 5-26-2011]
(7) Setback from watercourses. No structure shall be erected, constructed
or reconstructed within 50 feet from the edge of any watercourse.
The term "watercourse" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term
in § 22a-38 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
[Amended 12-30-2009]
(8) Exterior lighting. All exterior spot- or floodlighting, including
the lighting of signs, shall be of such type and location and shall
have such shading as will prevent the source of the light from directly
illuminating any adjacent property or road. Within Neighborhood Shopping
Center Districts, lighting shall be extinguished within one hour of
the closing of a business use, but in no case later than 10:00 p.m.
except such illumination as may be permitted by the Commission for
property protection and public security. In approving any special
permit application, the Zoning Board of Appeals may further limit
the hours of lighting.
(9) Accommodation for the disabled. The Commission may, in its discretion
and upon application by the owner, issue a permit for the temporary
installation of an access ramp, elevator or other facility intended
exclusively to provide a means of access to or within a residence
or other structure for resident with a disability which facility would
otherwise be prohibited under these regulations. The permit shall
expire and the facility shall be removed upon the earlier of i) the
tenth anniversary of the approval unless an application to renew is
made, and ii) the date the disabled resident named in the application
or his or her estate or administrator shall permanently relinquish
residence of the property on which the facility is located. The Commission
may, in its discretion, impose such reasonable conditions as it deems
appropriate including, without limitation, requiring submission of
a bond to secure the obligation to remove the facility upon expiration
of the permit. The Commission may also in its discretion accept an
application to renew said permit after the tenth anniversary referred
to above. For purposes of this section, the term "disability" shall
have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Americans with Disabilities
Act.
[Added 12-30-2009]
(10)
Travel way obstructions. In order to provide adequate room for
emergency vehicles to turn into driveways and access buildings and
parcels, no structure, tree, shrub, boulder, mailbox or other obstruction
shall be erected, placed or installed alongside any paved or unpaved
vehicular travel way (including, without limitation, public ways and
driveways) so as to reduce the unobstructed access to less than 14
feet in width. Such minimum required access may be increased in the
discretion of the Commission or its agent to the extent required to
accommodate the turn radii of emergency vehicles. No vehicular travel
way may be obstructed by an arch or other overhead structure.
C. Fences.
[Amended 4-16-2012, effective 4-27-2012]
(1) Fence height. No portion of any fence shall exceed six feet in height.
(2) Open mesh fence. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection
C(1), that portion of a fence consisting of open mesh having a mesh size of no less than two inches and consisting of a wire diameter of no greater than 0.120 inch (11 gauge) may measure up to 10 feet in height [measured from the adjoining grade pursuant to Subsection
C(3) below].
(3) Measurement of fence height. For purposes of this Subsection
C, the height of a fence at any given point shall be determined by measuring the height of such fence from the adjoining finished grade on one side of the fence. In the event the measurement of one side of the fence differs from the other (including, without limitation, retaining walls), the greater measurement shall be deemed to be the height of the fence at the point of measurement. In the event the fence is constructed on a berm less than 20 feet in width at its base, the height of the berm shall be included in the height of the fence. In the event the fence is constructed within 20 feet of a retaining wall, the height of the retaining wall shall be included in the height of the fence. All ornamentation, lighting and other structures affixed to a fence shall be deemed part of the fence for purposes of measurement.
(4) Prohibited materials. Barbed wire, razor wire, corrugated metal,
orange plastic and like materials shall not be permitted.
No building, structure or premises shall be built, erected, altered, used, arranged or designed to be used for any purpose other than those specified in this section. Only those uses specifically listed as being permitted shall be permitted. All new construction shall require a zoning permit in accordance with §
240-67, and new or changed uses shall require a certificate of zoning compliance in accordance with §
240-68.
[Amended 1-18-2007]
This Neighborhood Shopping Center District shall provide the
people of Weston with needed and desirable convenience goods and services
in a manner which will not be detrimental to the surrounding residential
areas. The uses permitted in this district shall be limited to those
which will primarily serve the residents of Weston and are consistent
with the purposes for which the district was designed.
A. Permitted principal uses.
(1) Stores and shops for the conduct of retail sales and personal service
uses of a local convenience character.
(2) Banks, business, professional, and civic offices.
(3) Restaurants and other food service establishments where customers
are served only when seated within an enclosed building. Such uses,
however, may include a food takeout service incidental to the primary
permitted use.
(4) Automotive service stations, as defined in §
240-74, provided that any such station is located in a place approved by the Commission as not interfering with the normal operation of the balance of the Neighborhood Shopping Center District development, or the movement of pedestrian and vehicular traffic thereto and therefrom.
B. Permitted accessory uses.
(1) Parking and loading space for motor vehicles, in accordance with the requirements of Article
VIII.
(2) Business signs, in accordance with the requirements of Article
VII.
(3) Exterior lighting, in accordance with the requirements of §
240-9B(8).
(4) Any other use clearly and customarily incident to a permitted principal
use.
C. Limitation on uses.
(1) The maximum square footage of any single building shall not exceed
8,000 square feet, regardless of its use. Calculation of such square
footage shall include, but not be limited to, all floors, attics,
basements, cellars, exterior areas enclosed by walls, fences and for
hedges, and areas devoted to utilities.
[Amended 12-7-2006]
(2) There shall be no exterior storage of articles for sale, or of other
materials or equipment, except for a small amount of materials and
equipment placed at the gasoline pump and solely for convenience in
serving customers.
D. Lot dimensions.
(1) Minimum lot area: five acres.
(2) Minimum width of lot: 300 feet.
(3) Minimum depth of lot: 300 feet.
(4) Minimum road frontage: 300 feet.
(5) Minimum setback, front lot: 100 feet.
(6) Minimum setback, side lot: None, except where such lot abuts a residence
district or a road, in which case the setback shall be at least 100
feet.
(7) Minimum setback, rear lot: 100 feet.
(8) Minimum setback for off-street parking and loading areas: 50 feet where adjoining a lot in a residence district; 10 feet where adjoining a street, except where a wider buffer planting is required by Subsection
G of this section; 10 feet where adjoining a building in the case of unenclosed off-street parking areas intended for the customer use.
E. Maximum building height: two stories; 30 feet.
F. Maximum building coverage. Maximum coverage of buildings, structures
and paved areas shall not exceed 15% of the lot area.
G. Landscaping.
(1) Where a lot abuts or is directly across a minor road, as defined
in the Town Plan of Development, from a residence district, a twenty-five-foot
wide buffer strip shall be planted and permanently maintained with
evergreen landscaping of a type, height and spacing approved by the
Commission as being adequate to effectively screen the view of such
development from a person standing at ground level on the residentially
zoned property.
(2) All other portions of a lot not covered by buildings, structures,
off-street parking and loading spaces, sidewalks, or similar improvements
shall be landscaped and permanently maintained with trees and/or other
plantings of such type, height and location as may be necessary to
harmoniously blend the business area in with the rural residential
character of the Town as a whole. Areas may be permitted to remain
in their natural state when approved as appropriate with the above
objective by the Commission.
H. Approval of site plans.
[Amended 5-31-2007]
(1) Before the issuance of a zoning permit, a detailed plan of development
shall be submitted by the applicant to and approved by the Commission,
and no development shall be carried out, or certificate of zoning
compliance issued, except in conformance with such approved plan or
a similarly approved revision of such plan.
(2) The plan of development shall include, with respect to all existing
and proposed development:
(a) A survey meeting the minimum detail standard requirements for ALTA/ACSM
land title surveys, and including all optional survey responsibilities
and specifications as promulgated by the American Land Title Association
then in effect, including, without limitation, parking data;
(b) A floor plan showing the basic subdivision of buildings, all entrances,
exits and loading and service areas;
(c) Elevation drawings of all sides of the building, with finish materials
and colors indicated;
(d) Samples of all finish materials to be used on the exterior of any
building;
(e) A lighting plan showing the location, direction, power and timing
of all exterior lighting and illuminated signage;
(f) A roof plan showing all mechanical equipment, vents, hatches, skylights,
etc., and the type and extent of screening to be provided; and
(g) A list of all existing and proposed tenants, the permitted uses under
each lease, and the number of square feet occupied by each such tenant.
(3) In acting upon such plan of development, the Commission shall determine
that the requirements of the Zoning Regulations are met, and that
the plan of development is such that the architectural design, scale
and mass of buildings and other structures, including the exterior
building material, color, roofline and building elevations shall harmonize
and be compatible with the residential nature of the community, to
protect property values in the neighborhood, and to preserve the appearance
and beauty of the community. The Commission shall attach such conditions
to its approval as may be necessary to assure initial and continued
compliance with these and other above-specified requirements.
(4) The Commission shall act to approve or disapprove such plan of development
within 65 days of the date it is received, and failure to act within
such time limit shall constitute approval of the plan except to the
extent such period may be extended pursuant to the statute.