[Amended 12-9-2025 STM by Art. 24]
A. 
A dwelling, building, or any structure hereafter erected in any district shall be located on a lot having no less than the minimum requirements set forth in the schedule in § 230-4.2A and B.[1] No existing lot shall be changed as to size or shape so as to result in the violation of these requirements.
[1]
Editor's Note: The schedules of density and dimensional requirements are included as an attachment to this chapter.
B. 
A lot or parcel of land having an area or a frontage of less amounts than required by the following schedule may be considered as coming within the area and frontage requirements of this section, provided such lot or parcel of land has an area of not less than 5,000 square feet and a frontage of not less than 50 feet and was shown on a plan or described in a deed duly recorded or registered at the time of adoption of this bylaw and did not at the time of such adoption adjoin other land of the same owner available for use in connection with such lot or parcel.
C. 
The minimum front yard dimensions required in the following schedule are to be measured from the street line where a plan of the way or street is on file with the Registry of Deeds or in Town records or, in the absence of such a plan, from the line 25 feet from a parallel with the center line of the traveled way.
D. 
The limitation on height of buildings and structures shall not apply in any district to spire, domes, steeples, radio towers, chimneys, broadcasting and television antennas, bulkheads, cooling towers, or ventilators, when the preceding are accessory and subordinate to the primary use, and other appurtenances or ornamental features usually carried above the roof, which features are in no way used for living purposes, nor to farm buildings, churches, municipal or institutional buildings, except as all structures located in airport approach zones are restricted as provided in § 230-4.6. The height of wireless communication towers as described in § 230-3.6G of this bylaw shall be restricted as provided in § 230-3.6G.
E. 
Each dwelling unit, wherever located, shall have a minimum of 600 square feet of interior floor area, exclusive of cellars, said area to be measured to the exterior walls of the structures, provided that the Board of Appeals may issue a temporary permit for occupancy of a building or structure with less floor area for a trailer coach situated outside of a trailer coach park for a single period not to exceed 12 months, provided the rules and regulations of the Board of Health are complied with. Such temporary permit shall not be renewable.
F. 
Any lot located within and containing a habitable structure in the Agriculture Zone and Residence A and duly recorded in the Bristol County Registry of Deeds on or before July 1, 1975, can be subject to the front yard setback requirements of 30 feet from the right-of-way line and 15 feet from the side property line. All other dimensional requirements in Section IV-B shall be adhered to.
G. 
Any lot located within and containing a habitable structure in any residential zone and duly recorded in the Bristol County Registry of Deeds on or before October 16, 1989, shall be subject to the frontage, setback and lot area requirements set forth in the Town of Mansfield Zoning Bylaw adopted February 1953.
H. 
Where the Town acquires an interest in land by eminent domain or otherwise, which is adjacent to an existing public way for the purpose of constructing or widening of the public way or sidewalks, then the following provisions shall apply to lots or buildings affected by any such street widening or sidewalk acquisition:
(1) 
If the area of the lot, which prior to such acquisition conformed to this bylaw, is reduced to an area less than is required by Schedule 4.2, then the area of such lot remaining after such acquisition shall be deemed in conformity with this bylaw.
(2) 
If a yard setback of a building, which prior to such acquisition conformed to this bylaw, is reduced to a distance less than is required by Schedule 4.2, then the yard setbacks remaining after such acquisition shall be deemed to be in conformity with this bylaw.
I. 
In all residential districts, structural projections into required front, side or rear yard setbacks are allowed only as set forth in the following standards:
(1) 
Emergency repairs required by an order or written directive from the Inspector of Buildings are exempted from front, side and rear yard setbacks until such time as relief for the repairs can be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals, if necessary;
(2) 
Emergency or secondary means of ingress/egress may extend a maximum of six feet into a side or rear yard setback;
(3) 
Entrance stairs or landings may project up to a maximum of three feet into a required setback;
(4) 
Bay and/or bow windows, chimneys and their foundations, roof eaves, bulkheads or similar architectural features may extend a maximum of three feet into a required front, side or rear yard setback.
A. 
General purpose and intent. The requirement and standards set forth herein are intended to achieve specific performance objectives, as described below, to enhance the visual quality of the Town's commercial areas, to encourage the creation and protection of open space, to avoid expansive development of impervious surfaces, to protect and preserve the Town's ecological balance and to ensure that landscaping is an integral part of development.
B. 
Objectives. In order to accomplish the general purpose and intent of these regulations, specific objectives shall be accomplished by landscape plans, which shall include the following:
(1) 
Buffer strips at the front of lots shall contribute to the creation of tree-lined roadways and shall create a strong impression of separation between the street and the developed area of the site without necessarily eliminating visual contact between them.
(2) 
Buffer strips adjoining or facing residential uses or residential zoning districts shall provide the strongest possible visual barrier between uses at pedestrian level and create a strong impression of spatial separation.
(3) 
Landscaping within parking areas shall provide visual and climatic relief from broad expanses of pavement and shall be designed to define logical areas for pedestrian and vehicular circulation and to channel such movement on and off the site.
(4) 
All required landscaping shall be located entirely within the bounds of the parcel.
(5) 
To the greatest feasible extent, existing healthy, mature vegetation shall be retained in place or transplanted and reused on site.
(6) 
It is the intent of this section to count all buffer and landscape area toward the open space requirement for the underlying zone.
(7) 
The owner(s) and/or developer(s) of any lot shall be responsible for the maintenance of all landscaped open space and buffers. Landscaping shall be maintained in good condition so as to present a healthy, neat and orderly appearance and shall be kept free from refuse and debris.
C. 
Applicability.
(1) 
The requirements of this § 230-4.3 shall apply to any new structure which requires 10 or more parking spaces, and to any major alteration, or change of use of an existing structure which requires the addition of 10 or more parking spaces. The requirements of this section shall also apply to all commercial parking lots and parking facilities as defined in § 230-3.5T of this bylaw.
(2) 
Notwithstanding the above statement, all development in the Business 1 or Business 2 District shall be exempt from these requirements.
D. 
Submission and approval requirements.
(1) 
No construction or alteration of a structure subject to the requirements of this section shall take place until a landscape plan and planting schedule prepared by a registered landscape architect has been submitted to the Planning Board and approved by the Board for conformity with these regulations.
(2) 
The applicant shall submit the original and seven blue-line prints of a landscape plan conforming to the following standards:
(a) 
The landscape plan shall be prepared at a scale of one inch equals 40 feet.
(b) 
The plan shall contain the information required for site plans in § 230-5.5C(1) through C(5) and § 230-5.5C(8) through C(11).
(c) 
The plan shall indicate the limits of work, existing tree lines, and all proposed landscape features and improvements, including planting areas, with size and type of stock for each shrub or tree.
(3) 
For uses not otherwise subject to site plan approval for special permit, the Board shall review a properly submitted and prepared landscape plan at its next scheduled meeting and shall approve the landscape plan and planting schedule as being in conformance with these requirements.
(4) 
For uses requiring site plan approval or a special permit, the review of the landscape plan and planting schedule shall be concurrent with other reviews, and granting of site plan approval or a special permit shall include approval of the proposed landscaping as being in conformance with the requirements of this section.
E. 
Modification by special permit.
(1) 
In the event an applicant desires to deviate from the specific standards for landscaping and screening set forth in this section, the Zoning Board of Appeals may approve alternative plans through the granting of a special permit.
(2) 
The findings generally required for special permits under § 230-5.5F of this bylaw shall not be required for a special permit to modify landscaping and screening standards; however, no such special permit shall be granted unless the Zoning Board of Appeals finds that the proposed landscaping arrangement meets the general purpose, intent and objectives of this section and in addition makes one of the following findings:
(a) 
The alternative landscaping arrangement proposed by the applicant is clearly preferable for the site and surroundings than one strictly conforming to the standards of this section.
(b) 
It is impractical to provide the specified depth of landscaped area due to the size, shape or other characteristics of the parcel beyond the control of the applicant, and the alternative arrangement proposed by the applicant provides equivalent benefits to the site and surrounding areas.
F. 
Landscaped buffer strips.
(1) 
General standards.
(a) 
A landscaped buffer strip shall be provided separating all buildings, parking areas, circular circulation facilities, or similar improvements from the right-of-way line of any public street, or any private way which is adjudged by the Planning Board to perform an equivalent function.
(b) 
Landscaped buffer strips shall also be provided along the side and rear lot lines wherever a commercial or industrial zone abuts a residential zone. In the Business 4 (B-4) Zone, the landscaped buffer strip shall be a minimum of 20 feet deep at the side and/or rear of the property. No main building, accessory building, parking area, storage area, driveway, railway or roadway shall be permitted within these buffers.
(c) 
Plantings in landscaped buffer strips shall be arranged to provide maximum protection to adjacent properties and to avoid damage to existing plant material.
(d) 
The landscaped buffer strip shall include the required planting as set forth herein, and shall be continuous except for required vehicular access points and pedestrian circulation facilities. All required landscaping amenities shall be located within the bounds of the parcel. Signs shall be designed to be integrated into the landscaping.
(2) 
Specific standards.
(a) 
Depth.
[1] 
Landscaped buffer strips along a public way shall be 1/3 of the distance between the street right-of-way and any building line, but shall not be less than 15 feet in depth, and need not be greater than 50 feet in depth.
[2] 
Landscaped buffer strips abutting or across a street from a residential district shall be a minimum of 15 feet in depth in commercial districts, and a minimum of 50 feet in depth in industrial districts.
(b) 
Composition. The buffer strip shall consist of a combination of deciduous and/or evergreen trees and lower-level elements, which may include shrubs, hedges, grass, ground cover, fences, planted berms, brick or stone walls. Not more than 25% of the coverage of the landscaped area shall be mulch or nonliving material.
(c) 
Density of plantings.
[1] 
At least one tree shall be provided per 27 linear feet of street frontage or portion thereof. There shall be a minimum of three trees in the entire buffer strip. Trees may be evenly spaced or grouped. Groups of trees shall be spaced no further apart than 50 feet.
[2] 
At least four shrubs shall be provided per 100 square feet of landscaped area in the buffer strip.
(d) 
Opaque screens. For developments adjoining or facing residential districts or residential uses, or when necessary for public safety or to prevent adverse impacts on neighboring properties, a buffer strip shall contain opaque screens as described herein. An opaque screen may be comprised of walls, fences, berms or evergreen planting, or any combination thereof, provided that the Planning Board may require evergreen trees or shrubs instead of fences when deemed appropriate. Opaque screens shall be opaque in all seasons of the year.
[1] 
Within a side or rear yard, the screen shall be opaque from the ground to a height of at least six feet when planted or installed. At the street line, the screen shall be opaque from the ground to a height of at least three feet when installed.
[2] 
Walls or fences exceeding 4 1/2 feet in height shall have plantings on the side facing the residential district.
[3] 
Evergreen trees or shrubs shall be spaced not more than five feet on center.
(e) 
Berms. When berms are used to meet the requirements for a buffer strip, they shall be planted with living vegetation. The minimum top width of a berm shall be three feet, and the maximum side slope shall be 3:1. No more than 25% of the coverage of a planted berm shall be mulch or nonliving material.
G. 
Intersection sight distance restrictions. Landscaped buffers and screening shall not restrict sight distances at intersections or driveway entrances. Site distance requirements, location and specification of site zones shall be determined by reference to the current edition of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Works Highway Design Manual, or any successor publication. No fence or other structure may be erected, and no vegetation may be maintained, between a plane 2 1/2 feet above the curb level and a plane seven feet above intersecting roadway levels within the zone required for sight distance, subject, however, to actual roadway profiles of the intersecting streets and/or driveways.
H. 
Landscaping within off-street parking areas.
(1) 
Use of landscaped islands as buffers. Parking areas shall be broken into sections not to exceed 140 cars per section. Sections shall be separated by landscaped buffers to provide visual relief. At a minimum, the buffers shall consist of islands which shall be a combination of "divider islands" and "terminal islands."
(2) 
Standards for landscaped islands.
(a) 
General. Each landscaped island shall have a minimum area of 150 square feet and shall consist of pervious landscaping. Curbing, at least five inches in height, shall surround each landscaped island as protection from vehicles. No tree shall be planted less than four feet from the curbing.
(b) 
Divider islands. The following additional design standards shall apply to divider islands:
[1] 
At least one landscaped divider island shall be provided for every four parallel rows of parking.
[2] 
Trees shall be spaced not more than 27 feet on center.
[3] 
At least one shrub shall be provided for every five linear feet, or one shrub per 35 square feet of ground area, whichever results in a greater number of shrubs.
(c) 
Terminal islands. The following additional design standards apply to terminal islands:
[1] 
Terminal islands shall be used either:
[a] 
To separate parking spaces from driveways and other vehicular travel lanes; or
[b] 
To break up large numbers of parking spaces in a single row of spaces.
[2] 
Landscaped terminal islands shall be provided at the ends of rows of parking where such rows are adjacent to driveways or vehicular travel lanes. In addition, terminal islands shall separate groups of parking spaces in a row, such that no continuous line of adjoining spaces contains more than 25 parking spaces.
[3] 
Terminal islands shall contain at least two trees when abutting a double row of parking spaces.
[4] 
Landscaped terminal islands shall contain evergreen shrubs planted three feet or less on center, in order to prevent damage due to pedestrian traffic.
(3) 
Grass or ground cover may be substituted for shrubs in divider islands and terminal islands with the approval of the Planning Board.
(4) 
A landscaped island may be up to 33% impervious surface, provided that all such area is used for pedestrian walkways and that such walkways are adequately buffered from the parking areas.
I. 
Landscaping adjacent to buildings. Landscaped areas at least 10 feet in depth shall be provided adjacent to buildings on every side of such buildings that has a public access point, and shall contain trees and shrubs.
J. 
Standards for plant materials.
(1) 
All trees, shrubs and hedges must be species that are hardy in Plant Hardiness Zone 5, as defined by the American Standards for Nursery Stock, and shall be resistant to salt spray and urban conditions where appropriate.
(2) 
Plantings shall be selected and designed so as not to require high water use for maintenance.
(3) 
Deciduous trees must be at least 2 1/2 inches to three inches in caliper, six inches above the top of the root ball at the time of planting; and must be expected to reach a height of at least 20 feet within 10 years, when considering the expected normal growth patterns of the species.
(4) 
Evergreen trees must be at least six feet in height at the time of planting.
(5) 
Ornamental or specimen trees must be at least eight feet in height at the time of planting.
(6) 
Shrubs and hedges must be at least 3 1/2 feet in height or have a spread of at least 24 inches at the time of planting.
(7) 
Shade or canopy trees shall be provided within parking lots and within buffer strips.
K. 
Design for pedestrian circulation.
(1) 
Pedestrian access through buffers and screens. Landscaped buffers should, to the greatest extent possible, serve as usable open space, providing an environment for pedestrian access between uses. Therefore, buffers shall be designed to include appropriate means of pedestrian access and crossing, both along the landscaped area (i.e., in a parallel direction with the property line) and across the buffer (i.e., providing pedestrian access to the site, separate from vehicular access points). Buffers and screens shall provide for appropriate hard-surfaced pedestrian access points and walkways where property lines abut existing or planned public streets, whether or not such streets have been constructed.
(2) 
Pedestrian circulation in parking facilities.
(a) 
Parking facilities and appurtenant driveways shall be designed so as to gather pedestrians out of vehicle travel lanes and to maximize the safety and convenience of pedestrians walking between parked cars and business entrances as well as between external points and locations on site.
(b) 
Pedestrian walkways shall be:
[1] 
Integrated, to the extent possible, into the interior and/or perimeter landscaping of parking lots;
[2] 
Constructed with a paved or similarly firm surface, at least four feet in width; and
[3] 
Separated from vehicular and parking areas by grade, curbing, and/or vegetation, except for necessary ramps.
L. 
Exterior lighting standards.
(1) 
Purpose: to encourage quality site lighting design, providing consistency of regulation and application, enhancing public safety and security, encouraging the use of energy-efficient lighting, reducing excessive lighting levels, protecting dark skies and the preservation of night skies for the observation of celestial objects, preventing light trespass and reducing unwanted glare.
(2) 
Applicability. The provisions of this bylaw shall apply to the installation of all replacement and new retail/commercial/industrial and multifamily outdoor building and site lighting. "Replacement" is defined as a new lighting fixture type or mounting height or location. Specifically excluded from this bylaw is routine maintenance, such as replacing lamps, fixtures, light bulbs, lenses or starters with similar components, provided such changes do not result in higher light output.
(3) 
General design principles. Site lighting shall be integrated into the design of the proposed development as it becomes part of the built environment, balancing lighting needs with ambient light levels and general neighborhood nighttime characteristics. One hour after the close of the last business, site lighting may be powered down by at least 1/2.
(4) 
Submission requirements. Each site plan shall require the submission of a photometric plan covering the entire site.
(a) 
The photometric plan shall show the horizontal illumination values throughout the site, in footcandles, with ten-foot spacing between each point.
(b) 
Footcandle reading(s) shall be shown under each light fixture.
(c) 
Footcandle reading(s) at the property line(s) shall be shown. Light trespass is prohibited.
(d) 
Location and identification of all proposed lighting fixtures on site shall be shown.
(e) 
Fixture type, lamp type and detail or manufacturer's cut shall be included on the plan. Light poles and foundations shall also be shown.
(5) 
Parking lot lighting.
(a) 
Parking lot lighting poles shall be site- and use-appropriate height.
(b) 
All lighting shall be directed downward.
(c) 
No parking area shall be illuminated outward from a building using wall packs or flood lights.
(d) 
All lighting fixtures shall be shielded in such a manner so as to minimize light trespass, glare and night glow. Full-cutoff fixtures, house-side shielding or other directionally shielded lighting fixtures may be utilized.
(6) 
Pedestrian lighting. Pedestrian lighting shall be provided along sidewalks in common areas and in other areas having public access for safety and security. Lighting shall be located horizontally and vertically to provide a well-lit pathway without light trespass on adjacent properties.
(7) 
Architectural lighting. Architectural lighting should only be used to illuminate special building features.
[Amended 4-11-2017 ATM by Art. 30; 4-9-2019 ATM by Art. 33; 4-14-2020 ATM by Art. 34; 12-9-2025 STM by Art. 14]
In any zoning district, if a commercial, industrial, or multifamily structure is constructed, enlarged, or extended and any use of land established, or any existing use is changed after the effective date of this bylaw, parking and loading spaces shall be provided in accordance with the following schedules:
A. 
Off-street parking schedule.
Land Use
Minimum Number of Off-Street Parking Spaces
Dwelling, single-family and 2-family units.
2 per dwelling; 2-family in B2, 2 spaces per unit
Dwelling, multifamily (3 or more units)
1.5 per unit in Business 1; 2.0 in all other zones
Hotel, motel, tourist court
1 per sleeping room
Automobile repair garage
1 space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
Liquor store
1 space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
Theater, gymnasium, auditorium, church, meeting rooms, or similar place of public assembly with seating facilities.
1 for each 4 seats of total seating capacity (20 linear inches of bleachers or benches may be considered equal to 1 seat)
General business, or commercial, personal services (barber, hair dresser, and tailor), department stores, drug stores, variety stores, medical centers, and outpatient clinics; banks, bowling alleys, and business, professional and other offices less than 25,000 square feet
1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area. In B1 and B2, 1 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area.
Business, professional, and other offices 25,000 square feet and greater
In PBD, 2.75 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area. In all other districts, 3.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area
Manufacturing and warehousing and offices incidental thereto
1 per employee on the largest operating shift
Restaurant
1 per 4 seats; in B1 and B2, 1 space per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area. In the B1 and B2 Zones, off-street parking is not required where valet parking is provided. Only for conversion to restaurant use in the B1 and B2 Zones, the Planning Board may waive the off-street parking requirement as part of site plan or special permit approval based upon alternate parking solutions. ADA-compliant parking must still be provided.
Retail use greater than 25,000 square feet
One per 250 square feet of gross floor area
Mixed use
Number of tandem parking spaces which, in the judgment of the Planning Board are adequate to provide off-street parking for the proposed use
Any use permitted by this bylaw not interpreted to be covered by this schedule
Number of spaces which in the judgment of the Planning Board are adequate to provide off-street parking for the proposed use
B. 
Off-street loading area requirements.
Use
Minimum Number of Loading Space Areas
All uses under 5,000 square feet of gross floor area
None required except instances where existing loading is done in the public street or sidewalk
Retail trade, manufacturing, wholesale, and industry with over 5,000 square feet of gross floor area
1 per 20,000 square feet or fraction thereof of gross floor area up to 40,000 square feet; 1 additional space for every 60,000 square feet thereafter.
Business services, community facilities, and other service areas (school, church, Town building, recreation) with over 5,000 square feet of gross floor area
1 per 75,000 square feet or fraction thereof of gross floor area up to 2 spaces; 1 additional space for each 20,000 square feet or fraction thereof of gross floor area over 150,000 square feet
Any use permitted by this bylaw interpreted to not be covered by this schedule
Number of spaces which in the judgment of the Planning Board are adequate to provide off-street loading for the proposed use(s)
C. 
Handicapped parking. Specially designed parking spaces for the physically handicapped shall be provided according to the most recent rules and regulations of the State of Massachusetts Architectural Barriers Board.
D. 
Design standards and special conditions.
(1) 
Computation of spaces. When the computation of required parking or loading spaces results in the requirement of a fractional space, the fractional space shall require a full space if the fraction is greater than 1/2.
(2) 
Combined uses/multiple uses. In the case of combined or mixed uses, the parking facilities required shall be of the sum of the requirements for the various individual uses, computed separately in accordance with this bylaw. Parking facilities for one use shall not be considered as providing the required parking facilities for any other use unless it can be clearly demonstrated that the need for parking occurs at different times.
(3) 
Location.
(a) 
Required parking spaces and loading spaces shall be on the same lot as the principal use(s) served; or if not reasonably possible, on other property in the same zoning district within 200 feet of the principal building. This 200 feet shall be measured along a public way. Such off-premises parking shall be in possession, by deed or lease, of the owners of the use served.
(b) 
In the Business 1 and Business 2 Districts, all required parking shall be located at the rear of the principal building.
(4) 
Existing spaces. Parking or loading spaces being maintained in any district in connection with any existing use on the effective date of this bylaw, or any spaces subsequently provided in accordance with this bylaw, shall not be decreased or in any way removed from service to the use originally intended to be served so long as said use remains, unless a number of parking or loading spaces is constructed elsewhere such that the total number of spaces conforms to requirements of the parking and loading schedules.
(5) 
Materials. All parking areas shall contain four inches of pavement (2 1/2" binder and 1 1/2" topcoat, or as approved by the Town Engineer using the Site Plan Checklist). Durable curbing shall be installed for four inches above the pavement at appropriate locations to provide for adequate drainage and protection of buffer areas. Parking areas shall be constructed with a subsurface drainage system. The drainage system shall be designed for a twenty-five-year storm frequency.
(6) 
Parking spaces. Each required off-street parking space shall be marked with paint or other durable marking material and shall be large enough to contain a rectangle measuring not less than nine feet by 18.5 feet. This area shall constitute one space. For subcompact cars, a space shall be large enough to contain a rectangle measuring not less than eight feet by 17 feet.
(7) 
Loading spaces.
(a) 
Each space for off-street loading shall be a minimum of 14 feet by 60 feet with a vertical clearance of at least 14 feet. Each loading space shall have additional area adequate for maneuvering and/or parking so that a public street, sidewalk, or area is not encroached upon. The loading spaces required for uses listed in the off-street loading schedule shall in all cases be on the same lot as the use they are intended to serve unless information/data can be presented which demonstrates that this requirement is not necessary.
(b) 
In no case shall the required loading spaces be part of the area used to satisfy the parking requirements of the bylaw.
(8) 
All lighting of parking lots shall be arranged so as to adequately light the entire parking lot and will be directed away from the street and adjoining residential uses.
(9) 
Entrance/Exit drive widths and location.
(a) 
The minimum distance between an entrance or exit drive at the street (right-of-way) line and the curb line of an intersection street shall be 50 feet in all directions.
(b) 
The maximum width of an entrance or exit drive at the street (right-of-way) line shall be 24 feet in a Residential District and 40 feet in any other district. If the driveway is divided to separate entrance and exit movements, the combined width may be increased to 60 feet.
(c) 
The Planning Board may authorize departures from the above standards as follows:
[1] 
In Industrial, Business and Planned Business Districts, the Board may authorize more than two access driveways if it determines that such additional driveways are necessary to provide adequate area for safe vehicular turning movements and circulation. In any case, there shall be no more than one additional access driveway for each 100 feet of frontage, and all two-way access driveways on a single lot shall be at least 100 feet apart measured from the center line of each access driveway.
[2] 
In Industrial, Business and Planned Business Districts, the Board may authorize a driveway with a greater width than provided for herein when the Planning Board finds that such width would facilitate traffic flow and safety.
[3] 
No increase in the number or widths of driveways shall be granted unless the Planning Board specifically finds that the proposed design would provide greater traffic safety than a design conforming to the design standards set forth herein.
(10) 
Subcompact car spaces.
(a) 
The Planning Board may allow the construction of smaller parking spaces designed to accommodate a subcompact car. Thirty percent of subcompact parking spaces shall be allowed by right. Anything above said number shall be approved by the Planning Board.
(b) 
In the Planned Business District only, up to 40% of the required parking spaces may be designed to accommodate subcompact cars by right.
(11) 
Business 1 Zone exception. All businesses proposed for the Business 1 Zone may be exempted from the off-street loading requirements if, in the opinion of the Planning Board, an unsafe traffic condition is not created.
(12) 
Display of merchandise. No parking or loading area shall be used for the sale, repair, display, storage, dismantling, or servicing of any vehicle, equipment, merchandise, material, or supplies except as specifically permitted by these bylaws in conjunction with uses directly involving sale, servicing, storage, or repair of vehicles in districts where such uses are permitted.
(13) 
Parking barriers. A substantial bumper of concrete, steel, or heavy timber; or a concrete curb or berm which is backed; or a natural berm; shall be so located at the edge of surfaced areas except driveways so as to protect abutting structures, properties, sidewalks and landscaping.
(14) 
Aisle and maneuvering space. The aisle maneuvering area shall be provided based on recognized standards approved by the Highway Research Board.
(15) 
Senior citizen housing. In instances where a senior citizen housing project is developed, the requirement for off-street parking shall be one space for every two dwelling units.
(16) 
Municipal parking lots and areas. The Planning Board shall not allow the substitution of parking space within municipal parking lots in lieu of the parking requirements of this bylaw.
(17) 
Employee parking. In addition to the requirements for off-street parking in Subsection A, all use(s) of land shall also provide one parking space per employee on the largest operating shift unless otherwise noted.
(18) 
Drive-up window stacking lane requirements.
(a) 
For the purposes of this bylaw, a "stacking lane" and "stacking space" shall be defined as follows:
STACKING LANE
An area of stacking spaces and driving lane provided for vehicles waiting for drive-up service, which is physically separated from other traffic and pedestrian circulation on the site.
STACKING SPACE
An area within a stacking lane for vehicles waiting to order and/or finish a drive-up transaction.
(b) 
Fast-food drive-up facilities shall provide a minimum of 10 stacking spaces (within the site) before the order board. The facility shall provide another four stacking spaces between the order board and the transaction window. If the facility has two transaction windows, the four stacking spaces may be split between each of the windows. An additional stacking space shall be provided after the last transaction window(s).
(c) 
Non-fast-food drive-up facilities shall provide a minimum of four spaces before the drive-up window.
(d) 
Each stacking space shall be a minimum of 20 feet in length and 10 feet in width along straight proportions. Stacking spaces and stacking lanes shall be a minimum of 12 feet in width along curved segments.
(e) 
Stacking lanes shall be delineated from traffic aisles, other stacking lanes and parking areas with striping, curbing, landscaping and the use of alternative paving materials or raised medians.
(f) 
Entrances to stacking lanes shall be clearly marked and a minimum of 60 feet from the intersection with the public street. The distance shall be measured from the property line along the street to the beginning of the entrance.
(g) 
Stacking lanes shall be designed to prevent circulation congestion, both on-site and on adjacent public streets. The circulation shall: (1) separate drive-up traffic from site circulation, (2) not impede or impair access into or out of parking spaces, (3) not impede or impair vehicle or pedestrian traffic movement, and (4) minimize conflicts between pedestrian and vehicular traffic with physical and visual separation between the two. Stacking lanes or bypass lane shall not interfere with required loading and trash storage areas and loading or trash operations shall not impede or impair vehicle movement. An emergency bypass lane or exit shall be provided.
(h) 
Stacking lanes shall not enter or exit directly into a public right-of-way. Stacking lanes shall be integrated with the on-site circulation pattern.
(i) 
The intersection of stacking lanes and walk-in customer access shall be a minimum of 50 feet from any access connections and/or transaction windows. Said intersections shall be provided with a crosswalk. These crosswalks shall use enriched paving and striping and include warning signage aimed at both the pedestrian and the vehicle.
(j) 
For any drive-up window use permitted by this bylaw interpreted not to be covered by these queuing and stacking requirements, the Planning Board may require the number of spaces which, in the judgment of the Planning Board, are adequate to provide sufficient parking and queuing lanes to provide off-street access for the proposed use(s).
(19) 
Tandem parking spaces, as defined in § 230-1.5, may be allowed in the Business 1 (B1), Business 2 (B2), Business 4 (B4), Industrial 1 (I1), Industrial 2 (I2) and the Industrial 3(I3) Zones. The Planning Board may make the finding that tandem parking may be used in the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and North Main Street Business Overlay District.
On a corner lot, to provide visibility, unobstructed at intersections, no sign, fence, wall, tree, hedge, or other vegetation and no building or other structure more than 3 1/2 feet above the established grade of the street shall be erected, placed, or maintained within the area formed by the intersecting street lines and a straight line joining said street lines which is 25 feet distant from the point of intersection, measured along said street lines.
The height of structures in airport approach zones shall be regulated in conformity with the provisions of Chapter 756 of the Acts of 1960 of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
[Amended 4-10-2018 ATM by Art. 27; 5-22-2024 ATM by Art. 18; 12-9-2025 STM by Art. 13; 12-9-2025 STM by Art. 23]
A. 
In the Business 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Districts, the following standards for business use shall apply:
(1) 
Wall sign: includes all identification parallel and attached to a building wall. The following formula shall regulate the wall sign dimensions:
(a) 
Area: one square foot of sign per running front foot of a front building wall.
(b) 
Length: The length of any wall sign shall be no longer than 60% of the front building wall length.
(2) 
Freestanding sign. The size of the freestanding sign shall not be larger than 16 square feet per side. The sign shall have a maximum height of 15 feet and shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the property line. The maximum size of a freestanding sign shall be 32 square feet per building.
(3) 
Overhanging signs. Signs may be permitted to overhang a public way or project from the front face of a building, provided they do not exceed 12 square feet per side in area. Such signs shall not project more than five feet from the front face of the building wall and shall be at least eight feet above the ground.
(4) 
A-frame/sandwich board signs.
(a) 
A-frame/sandwich board signs may be displayed only in the Downtown Business Zone.
[1] 
Each business is permitted one A-frame/sandwich board sign. Each and every change of business ownership shall require a new hold-harmless agreement and a new sign permit prior to displaying the new owner's sign.
[2] 
A-frame/sandwich board signs shall be located next to the curb edge of the sidewalk in such a manner so as not to interfere with the flow of pedestrian traffic or the opening of car doors.
(b) 
Placement of A-frame/sandwich board signs shall allow sufficient space between the back edge of sidewalk and closest edge of the A-frame/sandwich board sign to allow unimpeded flow of pedestrian traffic. In no case shall that distance be less than three feet.
(c) 
A-frame/sandwich board signs may only be displayed during the establishment's hours of operation.
(d) 
A-frame/sandwich board signs must be displayed within that portion of the sidewalk length equivalent to the length of the building fronting on said sidewalk. There shall be a minimum distance of 10 feet between each sign.
(e) 
A-frame/sandwich board signs shall not be permanently anchored to the sidewalk. Signs may be weighted at their base to reduce movement when displayed.
(f) 
A-frame/sandwich board signs shall not be displayed during times of inclement weather such as high winds, heavy rain, snow or during any on-street parking ban.
(g) 
All A-frame/sandwich board signs shall be constructed of weather-resistant material, having a maximum height of 36 inches and a maximum width of 24 inches, and shall be a sign panel of no more than six square feet on each side.
(h) 
No A-frame/sandwich board sign shall be illuminated or powered by any means. No materials such as balloons, papers, windsocks, etc. may be added to the sign. The height of the sign may not be artificially increased above the elevation of the sidewalk.
(i) 
Each applicant for an A-frame/sandwich board sign must submit a fully completed, signed and witnessed, hold-harmless agreement to the Building Department along with a sign permit application and fee prior to placement of a sign on property owned by the Town of Mansfield.
B. 
In the Industrial Districts, Planned Business District (PBD) and the Reservoir District (RD), the following standards for signs shall apply:
(1) 
Each building shall be entitled to have one freestanding sign or monument sign. The sign height requirement for a freestanding sign shall be a maximum of 15 feet with at least a ten-foot setback from the property line with a maximum of 30 square feet per side, or a total of 45 square feet if parallel to a frontage road.
(2) 
Each building shall be entitled to one front wall sign, the size of the wall sign to be determined by the following formula:
(a) 
Area: three square feet per running foot of front building wall.
(b) 
Length: The length of any sign shall be no greater than 1/3 of the front building wall length.
(3) 
Each building may be entitled to one rear wall sign in conformance with § 230-1.5, Definitions, "rear wall sign." A business in the Downtown Business Zone or the Reservoir District having a non-primary, for zoning purposes, secondary frontage on a public or private way or public or private parking lot may be permitted an additional wall sign on that second frontage. Said wall sign shall not be greater in length than 20% of the rear facade of the building. Rear wall signs shall not be larger than 16 square feet.
C. 
General regulations. When there is a change in ownership or use of the property, and there are any changes to be made to the signs on the building, then all signs shall be made to comply with this bylaw.
D. 
Permitted signs. Nonilluminated signs are permitted in all districts as follows:
(1) 
One sign for identification, announcement of professional or home occupations, or announcements of membership of an occupant or occupants of a dwelling in a professional, fraternal, or service organization, or announcement of use of any other property, not exceeding three square feet in area.
(2) 
Temporary signs may be displayed for a period of one year, during construction of the premises. The size of the temporary signs shall not exceed 32 square feet per side.
(3) 
Off-site directional signs, provided they do not exceed three square feet in area and not more than two per establishment, provided they are not located within a public right-of-way.
(4) 
Temporary signs advertising public and civic events.
E. 
Prohibited signs:
(1) 
Signs in excess of 12 square feet which overhang public ways.
(2) 
Animated signs, except for barber poles.
(3) 
Off-site directional signs in excess of three square feet.
(4) 
Pennants, flags, whirligigs and banners.
(5) 
Intermittently lighted signs.
(6) 
Illuminated signs which cause any glare distracting to drivers, or are in such a position or of such color as to hamper the readability of traffic lights or other traffic signs.
(7) 
Billboards or other off-site advertising.
(8) 
Wall signs shall not extend above roof lines.
(9) 
No freestanding sign shall be constructed on the roof of building.
F. 
Permit required. No sign of any type covered by this bylaw shall be erected without a permit issued by the Building Inspector.
G. 
Corner clearance. Corner clearance shall be maintained as provided in § 230-4.5
H. 
In particular instances, the Zoning Board of Appeals may issue special permits in accordance with §§ 230-7.2 and 230-5.5F for relief from the requirements of this § 230-4.7, Signs, provided that:
(1) 
Scope of relief. This provision applies only to the size and placement of on-site signs in the Business 1 (B1), Business 2 (B2), Business 3 (B3), Business 4 (B4), Industrial 1 (I1), Industrial 2 (I2), Industrial 3 (I3), Planned Business (PBD), and Reservoir Districts (RD).
(2) 
Prohibited signs. Relief under this section shall not extend to Subsection E, prohibited signs, including but not limited to billboards, animated or flashing signs, roof signs, and off-premises signs.
(3) 
Submission requirements. Applicants must submit, in addition to all otherwise required filing materials:
(a) 
A drawing to scale showing the proposed sign and all existing signs;
(b) 
Perspectives, renderings, photographs, or other representations sufficient to show the nature of the proposed sign, its effect on the immediate surroundings, and the reasons for allowing it.
(4) 
Decision criteria. No special permit shall be granted unless the Board finds that the benefits of the proposed sign outweigh its detrimental effects, after considering the criteria set forth in § 230-5.5F.
(5) 
Conditions. In granting such a permit, the Board shall specify the size, location, design, and number of signs permitted and may impose additional terms or restrictions deemed necessary to protect the public interest.
A. 
In order to protect and preserve the areas along existing water bodies and to protect wetland areas from adverse development, the following lists special standards which must be complied with prior to the issuance of a building permit for uses which would be affected by these special regulations.
B. 
In all instances where property is affected by the provisions of this section, the Building Inspector shall require the applicant to submit a plan showing the limits of the property; the location of proposed structure, the exact limits of the watercourses and/or wetlands and the necessary computations to prove that the land will conform to the requirements of this section.
C. 
Water body setback.
(1) 
Along the Wading River, Canoe River, Rumford River, south of Spring Street to the Norton Town Line, and Hodges Brook south of School Street to the Norton Town Line, construction of primary-use buildings shall not be permitted within 100 feet, as measured by the high water line of said watercourses.
(2) 
Along all other brooks and streams, construction of primary-use buildings shall not be permitted within a distance which is equivalent to the minimum rear year setback of any zone, or 20 feet, whichever is greater, as measured from the high water line of said brook or stream.
(3) 
Around all lakes, ponds and the following very poorly drained and poorly drained soil associations (Whitman, Scarboro, Medisaprists, Ridgebury and Walpole), construction of primary-use buildings shall not be permitted within a distance which is equivalent to the minimum rear yard setback of any zone, or 20 feet, whichever is greater, as measured from the high water line of said lake, pond or the soil line of the above-described very poorly or poorly drained soils. Said soils are specifically described in a document titled "Soil Survey of Bristol County Massachusetts (Northern Part)" prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Said document is hereby incorporated into the Mansfield Zoning Bylaw.
D. 
Wetland protection.
(1) 
A primary-use building shall not be erected in the Residence 1, Residence 2, Residence 3 and Reservoir Districts on a lot which contains a permanent body of water; or swamp and wetland specifically described as very poorly or poorly drained soils [said soils are specifically described in a document titled "Soil Survey of Bristol County Massachusetts (Northern Part)" prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service] unless said lot conforms to the following minimum lot sizes and contains the minimum buildable contiguous area which would be exclusive of said body of water and very poorly drained or poorly drained soil. Said lot shall contain the minimum buildable contiguous area that exists prior to any approval that may be granted by the Mansfield Conservation Commission under MGL c. 131, § 40.
District
Minimum Lot Area
(square feet)
Minimum Buildable Contiguous Lot Area
(square feet)
Residence 1/no sewer
60,000
37,000
Residence 1/sewer
60,000
33,000
Residence 2/no sewer
30,000
17,000
Residence 2/sewer
20,000
13,000
Residence 3/single-family
10,000
10,000
Residence 3/2-family
15,000
13,000
Reservoir District/no sewer
30,000
17,000
Reservoir District/Sewer
20,000
13,000
In all lots affected by this provision, the Building Inspector shall require that, prior to the issuance of a building permit, the applicant presents sufficient documentation to demonstrate compliance with this provision.
(2) 
A primary-use building shall not be erected in the Business 1, Business 2, Business 3, and Industrial Districts, on swamps and wetlands, specifically described in a document titled "Soil Survey of Bristol County Massachusetts (Northern part)" prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, unless the required permits are obtained from the Board of Health and under Chapter 131 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
The Planning Board may grant a special permit for additional nonresidential building floor area above the maximum floor area ratio allowed in the Industrial 1, Reservoir and Planned Business Districts in accordance with the schedule below, provided that a linkage payment is made into the Town of Mansfield Capital Improvement Fund in an amount equal to 5% of the total construction cost of the additional floor area allowed by special permit.
A. 
Schedule of floor area ratio.
(1) 
Schedule.
Floor Area Ratio by Special Permit
Use
I-1
RD
PBD
Retail
0.50
0.50
—
Office
0.75
0.75
0.85
Industrial
0.75
0.75
—
Other nonresidential
0.75
0.75
—
Research and development
—
—
0.85
Biotechnology
—
—
0.85
Light manufacturing
—
—
0.85
OR
(2) 
In the Planned Business District only, an additional density bonus may be added to the by-right density when an applicant chooses to use green building or sustainable design and/or construction techniques.
(a) 
An applicant for a density bonus must accrue at least five points from the following list to implement building and/or site-wide or new construction or a major, 51% or more of the total value, renovation.
[1] 
Provision for encouragement of ride sharing; use of shuttle buses to public transportation; electric car recharging stations; covered bicycle lockers: one point.
[2] 
Shared parking, structured, decked or on-grade — one point.
[3] 
Solar arrays in parking field: one point.
[4] 
Permeable paving: two points.
[5] 
Roof garden on primary building: two points.
[6] 
Structured parking with green or solar roof: two points.
[7] 
Silver or higher LEED-certified building: two points.
[8] 
Permanent change of use:
[a] 
Warehouse to manufacturing: five points.
[b] 
Warehouse to office: five points.
[c] 
Warehouse to research and development: five points.
(b) 
PBD bonus FAR: 0.85.
B. 
In no case shall the additional floor area allowed by special permit result in development exceeding the dimensional regulations of Article IV, except for by-right maximum floor area ratio.
C. 
The cost of additional building construction shall be determined by the Planning Board in consultation with the appropriate Town departments and the developer.
D. 
If at the time of linkage payment a Town of Mansfield Capital Improvement Fund has not been created, payment shall be made to the Town of Mansfield to be held in an escrow account by the Select Board until such time as said fund is created.
[Added 5-22-2024 ATM by Art. 17]
The Planning Board may grant a special permit for a reduction of up to 25% of the minimum percentage of open space in the Planned Business District (PBD), Industrial 1 (I1), Industrial 2 (I2), and Industrial 3 (I3) (as listed in § 230-4.2B) based on the following criteria:
A. 
Demonstrate a functioning stormwater management plan.
B. 
Demonstrate inability to implement roof garden or green roof.
C. 
Enhanced landscaped buffer areas along road frontage(s) or along property lines abutting residential uses (with maintenance plan).
D. 
Payment to the Master Plan Implementation Donation Fund in an amount equal to 5% of the total construction cost of the additional floor area allowed by special permit.