No building, structure, or land shall be used or occupied except
for the purposes permitted in its district.
The permitted uses of buildings, structures or land are set
forth in the Table of Use Regulations included as an attachment to
this Bylaw.
The Table of Use Regulations is included as an attachment to
this Bylaw.
Agricultural land is an important resource to the Town of Medfield,
serving the public interest through its visual, economic, traditional,
ecological and food-producing benefits.
A. Purpose. The purpose of the Agricultural District is to preserve
land well suited to agriculture and to encourage commitment of such
land to agricultural use.
B. Definition.
(1)
The Agricultural District is shown on the Zoning Map.
(2)
Agricultural use. For the purposes of §
300-5.5, land shall be deemed to be in agricultural use:
(a)
When primarily used in raising beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry,
swine, sheep, horses, ponies, goats or bees, for the purpose of selling
such animals or a product derived from them in the regular course
of business, or when incidentally used in a related manner which represents
a customary or necessary use in raising such animals and preparing
them or the products derived therefrom for market; and/or
(b)
When primarily used in raising fruits, vegetables, grains, berries,
nuts and other foods for human consumption, feed for animals, flowers,
trees, forest products, and nursery or greenhouse products for the
purpose of selling such products, in the regular course of business,
or when used incidentally in a related manner which represents a customary
and necessary use in raising such products and preparing them for
market.
C. Use.
(1)
The primary use of land in the Agricultural District shall be
agricultural.
(2)
The construction or placement of buildings or structures, except
as provided in this § 300-5.5C(3); and the removal, excavation
or dredging of loam, peat, gravel, soil, rock or other mineral substance
in such a manner as to adversely affect the land's overall future
agricultural potential; and other acts or uses detrimental to such
retention of the land for agricultural use shall be prohibited.
(3)
Construction of a single-family or two-family dwelling for the
farmer, his or her family and his or her employees shall be allowed
on a lot exceeding 10 acres in area in the Agricultural District,
and shall not derogate from the purpose of the district. Such dwellings
shall comply with the dimensional regulations of the RS District.
The maximum area devoted to residential use on any lot shall be 30,000
square feet.
[Amended 4-28-2014 ATM
by Art. 33]
(4)
Construction of buildings for year-round retail sales of farm
products raised primarily on the premises shall be allowed in the
Agricultural District. Site plan approval by the Planning Board shall
be required for all such construction exceeding 500 square feet in
area. The area devoted to retail sales and parking on any lot shall
be a maximum of 20,000 square feet, shall meet the yard and height
requirements of the RS District, and shall meet the parking requirements
of Article 8 of this Zoning Bylaw. Signs shall meet Business District
requirements.
(5)
Construction or placement of temporary (not exceeding a period
of three consecutive months) structures for the retail sale of products
raised primarily on the premises and for housing seasonal agricultural
employees shall be permitted in the Agricultural District, and shall
meet the yard and height requirements of the RS District. Signs shall
meet Business District requirements.
(6)
Placement of all other agricultural structures except fences
shall be a minimum of 50 feet from any adjacent zoning district, and
shall meet the front yard requirement of the nearest adjacent district.
Properties containing historic structures are an important resource
to the Town of Medfield, providing a direct connection with the Town's
past and contributing to the Town's character.
A. Purpose. The purpose of this Historic Properties Section is to preserve
historic structures as defined herein by providing a regulatory process
to enable a property owner to increase the productive use of the property.
B. Definitions.
HISTORIC PROPERTY
Any property which contains a still-existing principal or
significant structure (constructed or erected upon it prior to 1900).
PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE
The main or primary structure, in terms of the present purpose
or use of the property.
SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE
A structure the use or purpose of which is substantial, in
terms of the present purpose or use of the property, such as a carriage
house, caretaker's house, barn, or similar building.
C. Specially permitted use or uses. The Board of Appeals, upon application,
may issue a special permit to the owner of an historic property for
any use or combination of uses listed in the Table of Use Regulations; the decision whether or not to grant a special permit
under this Section is entirely within the Board's discretion; the
Board shall not be required to issue a special permit, even if it
is able to make the required findings to support granting a permit.
D. Procedure.
(1)
Generally, the requirements set out in §
300-14.10 for special permits by the Board of Appeals shall apply to this Section.
(2)
In addition to the application requirements contained in §
300-14.10A, applicant shall submit the following:
(a)
Historic documentation, including an historic survey prepared
by a qualified professional.
(b)
Plans prepared by a licensed architect or other design professional showing all proposed exterior improvements and changes; these shall include both a concept rendering and a site plan meeting the requirements of §
300-14.12.
(3)
In addition to the notice requirements contained in §
300-14.10C, the Board of Appeals shall forthwith transmit copies of the application and supporting documents to the Medfield Historical Commission for their review and comment.
(4)
In addition to the required findings contained in §
300-14.10E, the Board of Appeals shall make the following specific findings of fact:
(a)
The proposed use(s) represents a reasonable adaptive reuse of
the historic property.
(b)
The proposed use(s) will preserve or substantially preserve
the historic nature and character of the property and the historic
structures thereon.
(5)
In addition to the authorized conditions contained in §
300-14.10H, the Board of Appeals, if it decides to grant a special permit under this Section, shall impose such conditions, limitations, and safeguards as it deems necessary to preserve the historic nature and character of the property and the historic structures thereon, including a requirement that the property serve as the applicant's primary residence, and/or a requirement that applicant place a permanent historic preservation restriction, as defined in MGL c. 184, § 31, upon the property.