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.
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.
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.
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.
