This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning
Ordinance, City of Taunton, Massachusetts."
A.
In general this chapter is complementary to other Taunton ordinances
affecting the use, height, area and location of buildings and the
use of premises and of land, but where this chapter imposes a greater
restriction in any respect than is imposed by other ordinances, the
provisions of this chapter shall prevail.
B.
Taunton zoning regulations shall apply to the Taunton portions of
landownerships partly in Taunton and partly in an adjacent municipality
as though the landownership were wholly within Taunton City boundaries.
C.
This chapter is authorized and may be amended from time to time in
the manner provided in the Zoning Act, MGL c. 40A.
The invalidity of any section or provision of this chapter shall
not invalidate any other section or provision thereof.
A.
This chapter is adopted by the City of Taunton to regulate the use
of land, buildings and structures to the full extent of the independent
powers of the City to protect the health, safety and general welfare
of the present and future inhabitants.
B.
The objectives of this chapter include, but are not limited to, the
following: to lessen congestion in the streets; to conserve health;
to secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other dangers; to provide
adequate light and air; to prevent overcrowding of land; to avoid
undue concentration of population; to encourage housing for persons
of all income levels; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation,
water, water supply, drainage, sewerage, schools, parks, open space
and other public requirements; to conserve the value of land and buildings,
including the conservation of natural resources and the prevention
of blight and pollution of the environment; to encourage the most
appropriate use of land throughout the City, including consideration
of the recommendations of the Master Plan, if any, adopted by the
Planning Board and the Comprehensive Plan, if any, of the regional
planning agency; and to preserve and increase amenities by the promulgation
of regulations to fulfill said objectives.[1]
A.
This chapter may be amended as provided in the Zoning Act (MGL c.
40A, § 5).
B.
Amendments to this chapter may be initiated by the submission of
a proposed amendment to the Municipal Council. Amendments may be submitted
by the Municipal Council, a Board of Appeals, by an individual owning
land to be affected by change or adoption, by 10 registered voters
in the City of Taunton, by the Planning Board, by the regional planning
agency, or by others as provided in the Municipal Charter.
C.
The Municipal Council shall submit proposed amendments to the Planning
Board within 14 days of receipt of such amendments.
D.
Before an amendment is adopted, the Municipal Council and the Planning
Board shall each hold a public hearing on the proposal. The hearing
shall be held within 65 days after the proposed amendment is submitted
to the Municipal Council. Notice of the hearing shall be given in
accordance with MGL c. 40A. The costs of publication and mailing of
notices of the hearing and the costs of holding such public hearing
and making a public record of the proceedings at such hearing shall
be paid by the petitioner(s), or such costs shall be divided as the
Municipal Council shall determine.
E.
Proposals for Zoning Map amendments shall be made in writing, stating
the nature, extent and location of the map change proposed, if any,
together with three blackline prints of a diagram to scale showing
and stating the dimensions in feet of the area proposed to be changed
as to zone and a sketch or other explicit identification of the general
location of such area in the City. Zoning Map boundary amendments
must include a certified list, names and addresses, of all owners
of all lands which abut the proposed limits of the boundary amendment
and owners of land within 300 feet of the proposed boundary amendment
and the owners that fall within the proposed zoning boundary amendment.
This list shall be certified by the Assessors' office and be included
along with a map of the proposed zoning boundary amendment and legal
description. The abutters identified on said abutters list shall be
notified by mail at least 14 days prior to the hearing. The fee for
filing a zoning ordinance or map amendment shall be $300 by an individual
owning land to be affected by the change or adoption, by request of
registered voters of a town pursuant to MGL c. 39, § 10,
by 10 registered voters in a city or any other nonmunicipal or regional
governmental organization allowed by City Charter.[1]
