Town of Medfield, MA Article 6 Area, Height and Bulk Regulations

§ 300-6.1 Applicability of area, height and bulk regulations.

The regulations for each district pertaining to lot area, dimensions, and residential floor space shall be as specified in this Article and set forth in the Table of Area Regulations and Table of Height and Bulk Regulations,[1] and shall be subject to the further provisions of this Article.

[1] Editor's Note: The Tables of Area Regulations and Height and Bulk Regulations are included as attachments to this chapter.

§ 300-6.2 Area regulations.

The Table of Area Regulations included as an attachment to this Bylaw, together with the notes therein, are part of this Bylaw.

A. Except for multifamily residential developments, planned business and industrial developments, public housing for the elderly, agricultural use, community facilities and public utilities (see Article 14), only one principal structure shall be permitted on one lot.

B. For purposes of determining setback requirements, both yards of a corner lot that front on a street shall be considered front yards on the street on which they are located.

C. A legal service driveway shall have a minimum width of 12 feet and a maximum width of 24 feet.

D. For purposes of determining setback requirements, both yards of a through lot that front on a street shall be considered front yards on the street on which they are located.

E. Frontage.

(1) Frontage shall be measured at the street line. On corner and through lots, frontage shall be measured on one street only.

(2) Frontage for municipal water wells and water storage standpipes shall not be required.

F. Building within the following districts will be subject to the respective Zoning Bylaw Section: Open Space Residential, Article 7; Floodplain District, Article 10; Watershed Protection District, Article 11; and Aquifer Protection District, Article 16.

G. Only the following projections into required yards or other required open spaces are permitted:

(1) A balcony or bay window limited in total length to 1/2 the length of the building shall project not more than two feet.

(2) Open terrace, steps or stoop under four feet in height shall project not more than 1/2 of the required yard setback.

(3) Steps or stoop over four feet in height, window sill, belt course, chimney, roof eave, fire escape, fire tower, storm enclosure or similar architectural features shall not project more than two feet into the required yard setback area.

(4) Decks, porches, or similar features are subject to the requirements of the Table of Area Regulations adopted in accordance with § 300-6.2 of the Medfield Zoning Bylaw, except that the Board of Appeals may, in Districts RE, RT, RS and RU, by special permit as specified in § 300-14.10E, allow a lesser setback not to exceed six feet less than the required front or rear setback for the zoning district. The proposal must also comply with all other dimensional requirements, including lot coverage. Any special permit that may be granted may be conditioned that any portion of the structure within the required setback may never be fully enclosed as an expansion of the dwelling.

[Added 5-17-2021 ATM by Art. 26]

H. In B and BI Districts, all uses shall be conducted within a completely enclosed building, except: dispensing of food, beverages or goods at a drive-in or stand; dispensing of gas, water or lubricants at a garage or gasoline service station; vegetation held for sale in a horticulture or floriculture business; permitted parking or loading; and permitted exterior signs.

I. Screening and buffers shall be required in the Industrial-Extensive (IE) District. There shall be a landscaped buffer strip along each boundary which adjoins a residential use or district. This strip shall be at least 150 feet in width and shall be portioned as follows:

(1) The portion of such buffer strip within 100 feet of the district boundary line shall be used only for, and maintained as, a planting area for lawns, trees, shrubs, or other landscape materials to provide a visual barrier between districts.

(2) The remaining 50 feet of space may be used for off-street parking or other permitted open uses, and shall not contain any permanent structure.

J. In a Business District, a Business-Industrial District or a lot in an RU District on which a multifamily dwelling is placed, there shall be a landscaped buffer strip along each boundary which adjoins a residential lot. The strip shall be at least 25 feet in width and shall contain a screen of plantings in the strip not less than five feet in width and six feet in height at the time of the occupancy of any lot. Individual bushes or trees shall be planted not more than six feet on centers, and shall thereafter be maintained by the owner or occupants so as to maintain a dense screen year round. All of the plantings shall be evergreen. No building, structure, driveway, or other artificial improvements, except such fencing as the Planning Board may require, shall be placed within this buffer strip. A waiver of the required plant spacing may be granted if, in the opinion of the Planning Board based on evidence submitted by applicant, the wider spacing allows the proposed plantings to thrive and fully mature while providing a long-term healthier vegetative screen. The relief of plant spacing will allow for plantings to be concentrated in areas where a fuller vegetative screen is required or desired. A waiver on the plant spacing does not allow for a reduction in the overall plant quantity.

[Amended 4-30-2018 ATM by Art. 40]

K. In any R District, permitted accessory buildings shall conform to the following provisions: They shall be not less than 60 feet from any street lot line, except for a garage on a corner lot, which shall be set back at least the same distance as the front yard setback for the adjacent lot; and they shall be set back from side and rear lot lines at least the distance specified in the Table of Area Regulations, provided that one accessory structure that will not exceed 200 square feet, and not exceeding 12 feet in height, shall be allowed to be located in the rear yard with a setback to the rear lot line of no less than 20 feet and side lot line of no less than 12 feet.

[Amended 5-17-2021 ATM by Art. 27]

L. All IE uses shall conform to IE District regulations.

M. All BI uses shall conform to BI District regulations.

N. All B uses shall conform to B District regulations.

O. All R and A uses shall conform to R and A District regulations.

P. Setbacks in the Table of Area Regulations shall not apply to fences up to six feet in height.

Q. Side yards for other permitted business and residential uses in the B District shall be a minimum of 12 feet on one side and six feet on the opposite side, either or both of which may be reduced to zero side yard, provided that it is adequately demonstrated in site plan review that unobstructed emergency access to the rear of the lot can be gained, that appropriate fire-stop construction is provided for the sidewalls of the structure, and that light, air, and access is not unduly obstructed from openings in the side wall of any structure on the adjacent lot. These minimums may be waived for conversion of existing structures that have nonconforming setbacks, provided that the above conditions are adequately demonstrated in site plan review.

[Amended 4-28-2014 ATM by Art. 33]

R. Lot frontage and width for other permitted business and residential uses in the B District shall be the width of the building plus 24 feet unless it is noted that access can be otherwise gained by means of a public way.

[Amended 4-28-2014 ATM by Art. 33]

S. Any permitted structure within a Business District shall have a minimum seven-foot front yard setback. The area between the building and the sidewalk shall be landscaped. The landscaped setback may be interrupted only by access walks and driveways.

T. Recreational structures are subject to the requirements of the Table of Area Regulations, except that the Board of Appeals may, by special permit, allow a lesser setback. Fencing for recreational structures is not subject to the height limit of the "wall, fence, hedge or similar enclosure" entry in the Table of Use Regulations included as an attachment to this Bylaw.

U. Only land or that portion of land located within the Town of Medfield shall be included for purposes of determining compliance with minimum lot area and frontage requirements set out in the Table of Area Regulations; land located outside of the Town's borders shall not be included.

§ 300-6.3 Height and bulk regulations.

A. Any maximum height permitted in this Bylaw shall be further subject to the restrictions of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Building Code and shall not apply to:

(1) Community facility and public utility structures, provided that the side yards, rear yards and setbacks required in the district for the highest permitted principal structure shall be increased two feet in width for each foot by which the height of such structure exceeds the height permitted in the district.

(2) Necessary appurtenant structures such as a church spire, belfry, cupola, dome, smokestack, monument, derrick, conveyer, flag pole, communications tower, mast, antenna, aerial, airplane hangar, roof tank, building service equipment, roof structure other than a penthouse, chimney or parapet wall, or any similar appurtenance, provided that the side yards, rear yard and front setback be increased one foot horizontally for each two feet that the height of such structure exceeds the height permitted in the district.

(3) Special industrial structures such as a cooling tower, grain elevator, sugar refinery, gas holder or other similar structure where the industrial process requires a greater height, provided that any such structure shall not occupy more than 15% of the lot area and shall be not less than 50 feet from any lot line.

B. A fence, hedge, wall or other enclosure may be maintained on a corner lot, provided that it shall not, at intersecting streets, obstruct visual clearance between 3 1/2 feet and 10 feet above the grade within the triangular area formed by the intersection of the curblines and a straight line joining said curblines at points which are 25 feet measured from the intersection of the curblines. Where curbs do not exist, the lines shall be where such curb would be required if built.

C. A basement or cellar, to be inhabited, must have the ceiling not less than five feet above the average elevation of the land immediately surrounding the building foundation wall.

D. In order to minimize drainage and erosion problems as well as to discourage disturbance of natural areas, the maximum amount of impervious surface allowed shall be as indicated in the Table of Height and Bulk Regulations.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: The Table of Height and Bulk Regulations is included as an attachment to this chapter.

E. Recreational structures are subject to the requirements of the Table of Height and Bulk Regulations adopted in accordance with § 300-6.2 of the Medfield Zoning Bylaw, except that the Board of Appeals may, in Districts RE, RT, RS and RU, by special permit as specified in § 300-14.10E, allow a greater maximum lot coverage not to exceed 5% beyond the maximum lot coverage for the zoning district.