ACCESSORY BUILDING OR USE
A customary building or use on the same lot with, and clearly
incidental and subordinate to, the principal structure, except that
off-site, off-street parking located in accordance with the provisions
of Section 5.1 shall be considered as an accessory use.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
ADULT DAY-CARE FACILITY
A social day-care (SDC) program or adult day health program
as those terms are defined by the commonwealth's Executive Office
of Elder Affairs (EOEA), serving not more than 15 persons in the home.
ADULT USE ESTABLISHMENTS
Shall include and be defined as follows:
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ADULT BOOKSTORE – An establishment having as a substantial
or significant portion of its stock-in-trade printed matter, books,
magazines, picture periodicals, motion-picture films, videocassettes,
computer compact disks, computer disks or diskettes, or coin-operated
motion-picture machines for sale, barter or rental which are distinguished
or characterized by their emphasis on matters depicting, describing
or relating to "sexual conduct" as that term is defined in MGL c.
272, § 31, or an establishment having for sale sexual devices,
which shall mean any artificial human penis, vagina or anus or other
device primarily designed, promoted or marketed to physically stimulate
or manipulate the human genitals, pubic area or anal area, including
dildos, penisators, vibrators, penis rings, erection enlargement or
prolonging creams or other preparations, or an establishment with
a segment or section devoted to the sale or display of such materials. [Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
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ADULT LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ESTABLISHMENTS – Establishments
which feature live entertainment which consists of entertainers engaging
in "sexual conduct" or "nudity" as defined in MGL c. 272, § 31.
|
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ADULT MINI MOTION-PICTURE THEATER – An enclosed building
with a capacity for fewer than 50 persons used for presenting material
distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting,
describing or relating to "sexual conduct" as defined in MGL c. 272,
§ 31, for observation by patrons therein.
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ADULT MOTION-PICTURE THEATER – An enclosed building with
a capacity of 50 or more persons used for presenting material distinguished
or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or
relating to "sexual conduct" as defined in MGL c. 272, § 31,
for observation by patrons therein.
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SUBSTANTIAL OR SIGNIFICANT PORTION – At least that portion
of:
|
|
|
(i)
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Retail sales accounting for at least 25% of gross sales;
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(ii)
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Merchandise accounting for at least 25% of total merchandise
available for sales; or
|
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(iii)
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Shelf space and display space which when combined is in excess
of 80 square feet.
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AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE
A local ordinance that requires developers, as part of any
application to obtain a special permit or variance to build residential
housing projects, to assist the City of Quincy in providing affordable
housing units.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST COMMITTEE
An independent entity created by the City of Quincy to administer
affordable housing in the City of Quincy, including housing units,
land, property or funds contributed by developers for the creation
of affordable housing. The Affordable Housing Trust Committee shall
have the powers and authority granted to that Committee in the Affordable
Housing Ordinance, Section 7.1.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND
A fund into which any moneys, land, property or housing units
received by the Affordable Housing Trust Committee pursuant to Section
7.1 may be deposited. Such moneys, land, property or housing units
shall be utilized solely as described in Section 7.1, and the Affordable
Housing Trust Fund shall be administered and governed in accordance
with the provisions of Section 7.1.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS
Single-family or multifamily residential dwelling units under
any form of ownership and management which by permit or variance condition,
deed restrictions, covenants, lease conditions, and/or occupancy agreements
limit residents to income eligible households at the time of occupancy.
Income eligible households shall be defined by the Affordable Housing
Trust Committee on an annual basis. In defining income eligible households
the Affordable Housing Trust Committee shall seek to provide affordable
housing to low- and moderate-income families in accordance with Section
7.1.
AGE-RESTRICTED SENIOR HOUSING FACILITY
A multifamily residential environment under any form of ownership
and management which, by deed restrictions, covenants, lease conditions,
and/or occupancy agreements, limits residents to occupants who have
attained the age of 55 years.
ANIMAL HOSPITAL or VETERINARY FACILITY
Commercial medical facilities for keeping animals to be treated,
in treatment or recovering from treatment, in accord with normal veterinary
practice as established by the Massachusetts Board of Registration
in Veterinary Medicine.
BASEMENT
The portion of a building that is partly underground and
which has more than 1/2 its height measured from finished floor to
finished ceiling above the average finished grade of the ground immediately
adjoining the building.
BED-AND-BREAKFAST
The providing of room and breakfast in a dwelling to not
more than three transient guests for remuneration. There shall be
no more than two persons per room. There shall be adequate off-street
parking for residents and guests.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
BOARDER
An individual other than a member of the family occupying
a dwelling unit who, for a consideration, is furnished sleeping accommodations,
meals, and may be provided personal care.
BOARDINGHOUSE
See "lodging house."
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
BUILDING
A combination of any materials, whether portable or fixed,
having a roof, to form a structure for the shelter of persons, animals
or property. For the purpose of this definition, "roof" shall include
an awning or similar covering, whether or not permanent in nature.
BUILDING COVERAGE
The aggregate ground floor area of all buildings on the lot,
including accessory buildings but excluding unroofed terraces and
steps and cornices, eaves or gutters projecting not more than 30 inches,
expressed as a percentage of the lot area.
CERTIFICATION OF CONSISTENCY
A determination made by the Planning Board with respect to
the consistency of the design, parking elements, and other components
of:
[Amended 11-21-2016 by Order No. 2016-249]
1.
An urban renewal use with the Urban Renewal Plan in accordance
with the procedures set forth in the Urban Renewal Plan; or
2.
A proposed project in a transit-oriented district with the provisions
of Section 8.5.
CHILD CARE CENTER
A child care center or school-aged child care program, as
those terms are defined in MGL c. 15D, § 1A.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
CLUB, PRIVATE NONPROFIT
A building or portion thereof or an area which is used to
meet the social and recreational needs of a nonprofit group or organization
to which membership is limited or controlled, with or without the
sale of alcoholic beverages.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
COMMERCIAL NURSERY
Land or greenhouse used to raise flowers, shrubs, and plants
for sale not otherwise exempt by MGL c. 40A, § 3.
COMMERCIAL RECREATION, INDOOR
Theaters, concert halls, and cinemas, where noise is confined
to the building, and there is no adult entertainment.
COMMERCIAL RECREATION, OUTDOOR
Drive-in theater, golf course/driving range, bathing beach,
sports club, horseback riding stable, boathouse, game preserve, marina
or other commercial recreation carried on in whole or in part outdoors,
except those activities more specifically designated in this chapter.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
A vehicle registered with the commonwealth as a commercial
vehicle or a vehicle with markings or signage to indicate that it
is used for a commercial purpose.
CONGREGATE ELDERLY FACILITY
A noninstitutional residential shared living environment
which integrates shelter and services needed by the functionally impaired
or socially isolated elder who does not require the constant supervision
or intensive health care services as provided in an institution. The
shared living environment shall include at least the following: (1)
shared kitchen facilities; and (2) shared dining facilities.
CONTRACTOR'S YARD
Premises used by a building contractor or subcontractor for
storage of equipment and supplies, fabrication of subassemblies, and
parking of wheeled equipment.
CONTROLLING PERSON
As defined in M.G.L., Chapter 94G.
[Added 12-2-2019 by Order No. 2018-027]
DRIVE-IN, RETAIL
A retail or consumer service establishment where a motorist
does not have to leave his vehicle, including any such establishment
that provides drive-through window service for retail sales.
DWELLING
A building designed for occupancy as the living quarters
for one or more families, but not a trailer or mobile home.
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SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING – A building designed for occupancy
as a residence and substantially separated by side yards from any
other structure except accessory buildings.
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TWO-FAMILY DWELLING – A building designed for occupancy
as a residence for two families, each occupying a single dwelling
unit.
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MULTIFAMILY DWELLING – A building or structure designed
for occupancy as a residence by more than two families, but not including:
attached dwellings; an apartment house.
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DWELLING UNIT – One or more rooms forming a habitable
unit for one family and complete and independent housekeeping facilities.
Where a dwelling has more than one kitchen, the burden of proof shall
be upon the owner to show that the premises constitutes not more than
one dwelling unit.
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EDUCATIONAL USE, NONEXEMPT
A facility providing educational services, such as a trade,
professional or other school conducted as a private gainful business,
dance studio or a martial arts classroom, but excluding noisy accessory
uses, and not exempt pursuant to MGL c. 40A, § 3.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Services provided by a public service corporation or by governmental
agencies through erection, construction, alteration, or maintenance
of gas, electrical, steam, or water transmission or distribution systems
and collection, communication, supply, or disposal systems, whether
underground or overhead, but not including wireless communications
facilities. Facilities necessary for the provision of essential services
include poles, wires, drains, sewers, pipes, conduits, cables, fire
alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, hydrants and other
similar equipment in connection therewith. Included are transformer
stations, substations, pumping stations (except as an accessory use),
and telephone exchanges.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
FAMILY
One or more persons related within the first degree of kindred,
including domestic employees, occupying a dwelling unit and living
as a single housekeeping unit, provided that a group of four or more
persons who are not related by blood or marriage shall not be deemed
to constitute a family.
FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME
Any private residence operating a facility as defined in
MGL c. 15D, § 1A.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
FARM STAND, EXEMPT
Facilities for the sale of produce and wine and dairy products,
provided that during the months of June, July, August and September
of every year, or during the harvest season of the primary crop, the
majority of such products for sale, based on either gross sales dollars
or volume, have been produced by the owner of the land containing
more than five acres in area on which the facility is located.
FINDING
The simple majority vote of the Zoning Board of Appeals or
the decision of its designated Zoning Administrator, where applicable.
FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR)
The ratio of the total gross floor area of a building or
buildings on one lot to the total area of the lot.
FREIGHT TERMINAL
A structure or area where freight brought by some means of
transportation is stored for routing and reshipment.
FUNERAL HOME
Facility for the conducting of funerals and related activities
such as embalming.
GENERAL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT
Establishments for trades and crafts which require manual
dexterity, including but not limited to shops such as the following:
plumbers, electricians, painters, paperhangers, upholsterers, sign
painters, and monument works.
GREENHOUSE
Building with roof and sides made largely of glass or other
transparent material in which temperature and humidity are regulated
for the cultivation of plants for sale, not otherwise exempted by
MGL c. 40A, § 3.
GROSS FLOOR AREA
The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors
of a building, excluding areas used for accessory garage purposes
and such basement or cellar areas as are devoted exclusively to uses
accessory to the operation of the building. All horizontal dimensions
shall be taken from the faces of walls, excluding unenclosed balconies.
It shall include the horizontal area at each floor level devoted to
stairwells and elevator shafts. Notwithstanding the first sentence
of the "gross floor area" definition, the exclusion granted for accessory
garage purposes shall not apply to either the Residence B or Business
A Zoning Districts.
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT (GVW)
Applies when classifying trucks. "Gross vehicle weight" is
the maximum loaded weight of a truck. It includes the actual weight
of the truck and the maximum cargo weight. The rates contemplate the
fact that many trucks, especially pickups, are only occasionally fully
loaded.
HALF STORY
Any story which is under a pitched roof, where the point
of intersection of the rafters and the face of the wall is less than
three feet above the floor level.
HEIGHT OF BUILDING
The vertical distance measured from the finished ceiling
of the top story to a point at the finished grade measured at the
average grade plane at six feet from the foundation.
HOME OCCUPATION
An accessory use which by custom has been carried on entirely
within a dwelling unit and is incidental and subordinate to the dwelling
use. In connection with such use, there shall be no retail sale of
merchandise on the premises. Home occupations shall not include barbershops,
commercial stables or kennels, motor vehicle repair or service, contractor's
or landscaper's yards, or teaching of more than three pupils simultaneously
and, in the case of musical instruction, more than one pupil at a
time.
HOTEL, INN or MOTEL
A building designed or used for paying guests, primarily
the temporary abode of persons who have their residence elsewhere,
who are lodged with or without meals, and in which major provision
for cooking may be made in a central kitchen but may not be in the
individual rooms or suites.
INCLUSIONARY PROJECT
A project subject to the provisions of Section 7.1.1 in which
affordable dwelling units are required.
JUNK
Worn out, cast off or discarded articles or materials which
have been collected or stored for salvage, destruction or conversion
to some use, but not including articles or material which, unaltered
or unchanged, and without further reconditioning, can be used for
its original purpose as readily as when new.
KENNEL
Facilities for keeping three or more animals three months
old or older on a single premises, whether maintained for breeding,
boarding, sale, training, hunting, or other purposes, and including
any shop where animals are customarily kept for sale.
LABORATORY, RESEARCH
Laboratory or research establishments including biotechnology
companies, but excluding laboratories categorized as Level 4 by the
National Institutes for Health. Any laboratory that conducts testing
or research of any kind on samples drawn on site shall be regulated
in the same manner as a medical clinic, defined below, and may be
allowed in a Business A, B, or C District only under a special permit
from the Board of Appeals as provided under Section 9.4
[Amended 12-16-2013 by Order No. 2013-136]
LIGHT MANUFACTURING
Manufacturing assembly, reconditioning and processing plant
of the following types of industries: food and kindred products, apparel,
electronics and electrical products, furniture and fixtures, and primary
and fabricated metal products, including the storage of new materials
and containers used in or incidental to any of the foregoing.
LODGING HOUSE
A building or premises, other than a hotel, inn, motel, or
tourist house, where rooms are let and where meals may be regularly
served by prearrangement for compensation; not open to transient guests,
in contrast to hotels, restaurants, and tourist homes, open to transients.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
LOT
A contiguous parcel of land in identical ownership throughout,
bounded by other lots or streets, and used or set aside and available
for use as the site of one or more buildings or other definite purpose.
For the purpose of this chapter a lot may or may not coincide with
a lot of record.
LOT AREA
The horizontal area within the exterior lines of the lot,
exclusive of any area in a public or private way open to public uses.
LOT DEPTH
The mean horizontal distance between the front and rear lot
lines measured in the mean direction of the side lot lines.
LOT, FRONTAGE OF
A lot line coinciding with the side line of a street which
provides both legal rights of vehicular access and physical vehicular
access to the lot, said line to be measured continuously along a single
street or along two intersecting streets if their angle of intersection
is greater than 120°. Vehicular access to a building site on the
lot shall be exclusively through the frontage of the lot.
LOT OF RECORD
A lot recorded in the Registry of Deeds of Norfolk County
or in the Land Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts either as
a separate lot or as part of a subdivision.
LOT WIDTH
The mean horizontal distance between the side lot lines measured
perpendicular to the mean direction of the side lot lines.
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FRONT LOT LINE – A line separating the lot from a street
or private way.
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REAR LOT LINE – The lot line opposite the front lot line,
except that, in the case of a corner lot, the rear lot line shall
be the line opposite from the street on which the principal building
faces.
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MAJOR NONRESIDENTIAL USE
Any use, whether allowed by right or by special permit in
the Table of Use Regulations, other than a dwelling, which, after
initial construction or expansion of an existing structure, will have
10,000 or more gross square feet in floor area.
MANUFACTURE
As defined in M.G.L., Chapter 94G.
[Added 12-2-2019 by Order No. 2018-027]
MANUFACTURE, PROCESSING, ASSEMBLY OR OTHER INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS
A use engaged in the basic processing and manufacturing of
materials, or the manufacture from previously prepared materials of
finished products or parts, including processing, fabrication, assembly,
treatment, packaging, incidental storage, sales and distribution of
such products but excluding the following: acid manufacture; cement,
bituminous concrete or asphalt manufacture; lime, gypsum or plaster
of paris manufacture; production of chlorine or similar noxious gases;
distillation of bones; drop-forge industries manufacturing forging
with power hammers; manufacture or storage of explosives in bulk quantities;
fertilizer manufacture; garbage, offal, or dead animal reduction or
dumping; glue manufacture; hair manufacture; petroleum refining; processing
of sauerkraut, vinegar or yeast; rendering or refining of fats or
oils; smelting of tin, copper, zinc or iron ore, including blast furnace
or blooming mill; stockyard or feeding pen; and slaughter of animals,
not including the killing of fowl.
MARIJUANA
As defined in M.G.L., Chapter 94G.
[Added 12-2-2019 by Order No. 2018-027]
MARIJUANA PRODUCTS
As defined in M.G.L., Chapter 94G.
[Added 12-2-2019 by Order No. 2018-027]
MARIJUANA RETAILER
As defined in M.G.L., Chapter 94G.
[Added 12-2-2019 by Order No. 2018-027]
MARINA
A dock or basin where slips, moorings and often supplies,
repairs and other services are available for craft.
MEDICAL CLINIC
A facility as defined in 105 CMR 140.020, including a mobile
clinic.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
As defined in M.G.L., Chapter 94G.
[Added 12-2-2019 by Order No. 2018-027]
MGL
Reference to the General Laws of the commonwealth.
MINI STORAGE WAREHOUSE
A facility at which individual self-service storage spaces
are made available to the public for rent.
MIXED USE
A combination of residential and nonresidential uses in one
development or building.
MOTOR VEHICLE BODY OR PAINT SHOP
An establishment for body work or painting, provided that
all work is carried out inside the building, the structure is sufficiently
sound-insulated and any flashing, fumes, bases, smoke and vapor are
effectively confined to the premises.
MOTOR VEHICLE BODY REPAIR
An establishment, garage or work area enclosed within a building
where repairs are made or caused to be made to motor vehicle bodies,
including fenders, bumpers and similar components of motor vehicle
bodies, but does not include the storage of vehicles for the cannibalization
of parts.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
MOTOR VEHICLE SERVICE STATION
A building or premises used for the dispensing, sale or offering
for sale of motor fuels directly to users of motor vehicles. Other
sales activities and any repairs shall be activities minor in scope
and clearly subordinate to the sale of motor fuels, oils and lubricants.
MUNICIPAL FACILITY
Facility owned or operated by the City of Quincy, including
police stations, fire stations and municipal administration buildings.
NONCONFORMING BUILDING OR LOT
A building or lot that does not conform to a dimensional
regulation prescribed by this chapter for the district in which it
is located or to regulations for off-street parking or loading or
accessory buildings, provided that such building or lot was in existence
and lawful at that time the regulations became effective.
NONCONFORMING USE
A use of a building or lot that does not conform to a use
regulation prescribed by this chapter for the district in which it
is located, provided that such use was in existence and lawful at
the time the use regulation became effective.
NURSING OR CONVALESCENT HOME
Any building with sleeping rooms where persons are housed
or lodged and furnished with meals and nursing care for hire.
OCCUPANCY
The utilization of land, buildings or structures. Change
of occupancy is not intended to include change of tenants or proprietors.
OPEN SPACE
That part of a lot designed and developed for use by the
occupants of the lot or for the pleasant appearance of the building
in which they reside. Such space may include swimming pools, tennis
courts or similar facilities, private gardens, or landscaped elements
and natural features on the site, walks and terraces. Exterior balconies
and patios having an area of not less than 40 square feet and reserved
for the exclusive use of one family may be counted toward meeting
the required open space on the lot. Such open space may not include
lot area for parking, access and service drives or other hard-surfaced
areas intended for vehicular use.
PARKING AREA, COMMERCIAL
Principal use of a lot for the structured or unstructured
parking of passenger cars for which a fee is paid, including customary
ancillary service operations. A commercial parking area shall not
employ machinery to engage in stacking or lifting vehicles.
PARKING AREA or PARKING GARAGE OR STRUCTURE
Parking, whether as a principal use of a lot or as a secondary
use, for the parking of passenger cars of employees, customers or
guests of establishments or of residents of a multifamily dwelling,
provided that no sales or service operations are performed.
PAVING
For the purposes of Section 5.1.14 the following definitions
shall apply:
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"Pave," and its derivatives, shall mean the placement of materials
on the ground, including but not limited to tar, asphalt, concrete,
gravel, bituminous material, crushed stone, tile, and stone, concrete
and brick pavers.
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"Repaved" shall mean the replacement of the existing paved surfaces
or the supplementation of existing paving materials or the placement
of a new type of surface material over an existing paved surface.
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PERSONAL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT
A service business primarily serving local needs with fewer
than five employees, including but not limited to barber, beauty shop,
laundry and dry cleaning, shoe repair, printing shop, photography
studio, and caterer's shop.
PUBLIC ART AND PLACE-MAKING PROGRAM
For the purposes of Sections 8.3.9 to 8.3.14, the following
words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
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ART, ARTWORK or WORKS OF ART or PLACE-MAKING – Tangible
creations by artists exhibiting the highest quality of skill and aesthetic
principles and includes all forms of the visual arts conceived in
any medium, material, or combination thereof, including but not limited
to paintings, sculptures, engravings, carvings, frescos, stained glass,
mosaics, mobiles, tapestries, murals, photographs, video projections,
digital images, bas-relief, high relief, fountains, kinetics, collages,
drawings, monuments erected to commemorate a person or an event, functional
furnishings, such as artist-designed seating and pavers, architectural
elements designed by an artist, and artist-designed landforms or landscape
elements. The following shall not be considered artwork or works of
art for this chapter: (i) reproductions or unlimited copies of original
artwork; (ii) art objects which are mass produced; or (iii) works
that are decorative, ornamental, or functional elements of the architecture
or landscape design, except when commissioned from an artist as an
integral aspect of a structure or site.
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ARTIST or PROFESSIONAL ARTIST – A practitioner in the
visual arts, and shall include visual artists, landscape artists and
architects, as well as graphic artists, generally recognized by critics
and peers as a professional of serious intent and ability. Indications
of a person's status as a professional artist or place-maker include,
but are not limited to, income realized through the sole commission
of artwork, frequent or consistent art exhibitions, placement of artwork
in public institutions or museums, receipt of honors and awards, and
training in the arts.
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DEVELOPMENT – Any construction or redevelopment of any
private or public building within the Quincy Center Urban Redevelopment
District or the Quincy Center Zoning Districts.
|
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PUBLIC ART COMMISSION – The entity appointed by the Mayor
to administer the Public Art and Place-Making Program and administer
the Public Art Fund.
|
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PUBLIC ART FUND – A separate, interest-bearing account
set up by the City to receive moneys for the Public Art and Place-Making
Program.
|
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REMODELING or CONVERTING – Changes to the facade of a
building, changes to the interior of a building, increases or decreases
in the floor area of a building and changes to exterior improvements.
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PUBLIC MARKET
A market or market place as defined in MGL c. 40, § 10.
REGISTERED MARIJUANA DISPENSARY
A not-for-profit entity, as defined by Massachusetts law
only, registered under this law, that acquires, cultivates, possesses,
processes (including development of related products such as food,
tinctures, aerosols, oils, or ointments), transfers, transports, sells,
distributes, dispenses, or administers marijuana, related supplies,
or educational materials to qualifying patients or their personal
caregivers.
[Added 6-17-2013 by Order No. 2013-061]
RESTAURANT, GENERAL
An establishment exceeding 20,000 square feet of gross floor
area, other than a fast-food restaurant, where the principal activity
is the service or sale of prepared food or drink for on-premises or
off-premises consumption, or a smaller such establishment providing
dancing and entertainment, but not adult entertainment.
RESTAURANT, LOCAL
Eating places of 5,000 square feet or less of gross floor
area per establishment primarily serving local needs, including but
not limited to lunch room, restaurant, cafeteria, places for sale
and consumption of beverages, ice cream, etc., primarily in enclosed
structures with no dancing or entertainment other than music and no
drive-in retail or drive-through window service.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
RETAIL
A business which supplies commodities, but not including
exterior sales or services, drive-in or window services or the provision
of any amusement, live or mechanical, except music or as incidental
to the operations of a permitted church, school, club or similar nonprofit
institution or educational use.
RETAIL ANCILLARY TO MANUFACTURING
Stores 5,000 square feet or less of gross floor area per
establishment where manufacturing, assembly or packaging of consumer
goods is conducted, provided that at least 50% of such merchandise
is sold at retail on the premises and that all display and sales are
conducted within a building.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
RETAIL OPERATION, GENERAL
Stores with more than 20,000 square feet of gross floor area
serving the general retail needs of a major part of the City, including
but not limited to general merchandise department store, furniture
and household goods.
RETAIL OPERATION, LARGE
Stores 5,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet gross retail
floor area per establishment, primarily serving the local retail business
needs of the residents of the vicinity, including but not limited
to grocer, food, package, dry goods, clothing, hardware, florists
and drugstores.
RETAIL OPERATION, SMALL
Stores 5,000 square feet or less of gross retail floor area
per establishment, primarily servicing the local retail business needs
of the residents of the vicinity, including but not limited to grocer,
food, package, dry goods, clothing, hardware, florists and drugstores,
provided that such establishment does not provide drive-in retail
or drive-through window service for food or beverages and is not open
for business between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless
a special permit is granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
SATELLITE RECEIVING ANTENNA
A satellite receiving antenna is a device or instrument for
the reception of television or other electronic communications broadcast
or relayed from a satellite orbiting the earth.
SIGN AND SIGN AREA DEFINITIONS
The following definitions apply to these terms as used in
Section 5.3 of this chapter:
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The following definitions shall apply in this section:
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ABANDONED SIGN – A sign that no longer identifies or advertises
a location, product or activity conducted on the premises on which
the sign is located; a panel, box or cabinet in disrepair.
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ANIMATED SIGN – A sign employing actual motion or the
illusion of motion. They differ from changeable signs as follows:
|
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Environmentally Activated. Animated signs or devices motivated
by wind, thermal changes, or other natural input. Includes spinners,
pinwheels, pennant strings, and/or other devices that respond to natural
phenomena.
|
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Mechanically Activated. Animated signs characterized by repetitive
motion and/or rotation activated by a mechanical system, electric
motor or other mechanical means.
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Electrically Activated. Animated signs producing the illusion
of movement by means of electronic, electrical, or electromechanical
input and/or illumination capable of simulating movement through employment
of the classifications noted below:
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a.
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Flashing. Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose
illumination is characterized by a repetitive cycle in which the period
of illumination is either the same as or less than the period of nonillumination.
For the purposes of this chapter, "flashing" will not be defined as
occurring if the cyclical period between on-off phases of illumination
is 60 seconds or more.
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b.
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Patterned Illusionary Movement. Animated signs or animated portions
of signs whose illumination is characterized by simulated movement
through alternate or sequential activation of various illuminated
elements for the purpose of producing repetitive light patterns designed
to appear in some form of constant motion.
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ANNOUNCEMENT BOARD – See "bulletin board."
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APPURTENANCE – A device supporting or lighting a sign.
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ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTION – Any projection that is not
intended for occupancy and that extends beyond the face of an exterior
wall of a building but that does not include signs as defined here.
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AWNING – An architectural projection or a shelter or both
projecting from and supported by the exterior wall of a building and
composed of a covering of rigid material and/or fabric on a supporting
framework that may be either fixed or retractable.
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AWNING SIGN – A sign on or attached to a temporary retractable
shelter or permanent architectural projection that is supported entirely
from the exterior wall of building.
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BACKGROUND AREA OF SIGN – The entire area of a sign on
which copy and/or graphics could be placed.
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BACK-LIT AWNING – An awning whose covering material exhibits
the characteristic of luminosity obtained by means of a source of
illumination contained within its framework.
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BANNER – A flexible fabric material on which copy or graphics
may be displayed.
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BANNER SIGN – A sign utilizing a banner as its display
surface, generally composed of lightweight flexible material, sometimes
in a rigid frame.
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BELT SIGN – Any sign designed in the horizontal strip
part of a facade. See "storefront sign."
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BILLBOARD – See "off-premises sign." [Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
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BOX SIGN – See "freestanding sign."
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BUILDING NAME SIGN – A sign that indicates the name of
a building, normally made of stone, stainless steel, or other permanent
material.
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BULLETIN BOARD – A sign with nonelectronic changeable
sign copy.
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BUSINESS GOODS OR SERVICES SIGN – A sign that indicates
the goods or services available on the premises.
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BUSINESS HOURS SIGN – A sign that indicates the hours
and days of operation of a business.
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BUSINESS NAME SIGN – A sign that indicates the name of
a business.
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BUSINESS SALE SIGN – A temporary sign that indicates that
certain goods, services or products are being offered at a special
or reduced price or with other considerations.
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CANOPY, ATTACHED – A multi-sided structure or architectural
projection supported by attachment to a building on one or more sides
and either cantilevered from such building on one side or also supported
by columns at additional points.
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CANOPY, FREESTANDING – A multi-sided structure supported
by columns. The surface(s) and/or soffit of a freestanding canopy
may be illuminated by means of internal or external sources of light.
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CANOPY SIGN – A sign affixed to the visible surface(s)
of an attached or freestanding canopy. May be internally or externally
illuminated.
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CHANGEABLE SIGN – A sign with capability of content change
by means of manual or remote input. Includes these types:
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a.
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Manually Programmed. Changeable sign whose message copy or content
can be changed manually on a display surface.
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b.
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Electrically Programmed. Changeable sign whose message copy
or content can be changed by means of remote electrically energized
on-off switching combinations of alphabetic or pictographic components
arranged on a display surface. Illumination may be integral to the
components, such as characterized by lamps or other light-emitting
devices, or may be from an external light source designed to reflect
off of the changeable component display. See "electronic message sign."
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COMMERCIAL SIGN – A sign belonging to any private establishment,
office or place of business, where such business is conducted for
profit.
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COMPOSITE SIGN – Any freestanding sign listing the name
of a shopping center or complex and its establishments.
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CONSTRUCTION SIGN – A temporary sign that indicates the
name of architects, contractors, lenders and others involved in the
design, construction or financing of a building or structure or alteration
of such structure.
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COPY – The graphic content or message of a sign.
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COPY AREA OF SIGN – The actual area of the sign copy as
applied to any background. Copy area on any individual background
may be expressed as a mathematically or geometrically computed portion
area, regulated by law, to control the amount and size of letters,
words, graphics or logos. In the case of freestanding signs, and where
a sign has a background color, surface or finish material which is
different from the building or window face, the area shall include
that surface on which all message, symbols or other graphic designs
are displayed, but does not include the supporting framework and bracing.
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CORNICE – Any prominent, continuous, horizontally projecting
feature surmounting a wall or other portion of a building.
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CORNICE SIGN – A sign which is affixed to the visible
surface of a cornice. May be internally or externally illuminated.
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DATE SIGN – A sign indicating date of initial construction
or alteration of a building.
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DIMENSIONAL LETTERS – Individually attached letters cut
so as to allow visibility of their spatial qualities of width, height
and length.
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DIRECTIONAL SIGN – Any sign whose content informs the
viewer, pedestrian or vehicular traffic, how to proceed to locate
a particular premises, activity or facility.
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DIRECTORY SIGN – A sign that lists the businesses within
a building.
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DOUBLE-FACED SIGN – A sign with two faces, commonly back
to back.
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EASEL SIGN – A freestanding sign mounted on a tripod,
often single-sided, or a sandwich board type A-frame sign, generally
two-sided.
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ELECTRIC SIGN – Any sign activated by means of electrical
energy.
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ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN – An electrically activated changeable
sign whose variable message capability can be electronically programmed.
The copy must remain in a stationary position.
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ENTRY SIGN – Any sign located at a recessed building entry.
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EVENT SIGN – A temporary sign indicating a public event.
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EXTERIOR SIGN – Any sign placed on the outside of a building
or on the premises.
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FACADE – The separate face of a building including parapet
walls. Where separate faces are oriented in the same direction, they
are to be considered as a single facade.
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FASCIA – Flat horizontal band or member between moldings
or between vertical elements on a facade, usually above doors and
windows on a storefront.
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FASCIA SIGN – See "wall sign."
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FLAG SIGN – Any sign mounted on a flagpole or similar
support. See regulations for banners. Flying the flag of the United
States of America is not subject to a permit.
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FOR SALE/FOR RENT/FOR LEASE SIGN – See "real estate sign."
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FREESTANDING SIGN – Any sign attached to or part of a
completely self-supporting structure which is connected to the ground
and not attached to any building or other structure.
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FRONTAGE, BUILDING – The length of an exterior building
wall or structure of a single premises along either a public way or
other properties that it faces. Commonly, the street address side.
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FRONTAGE, PROPERTY – The length of the property line(s)
of any single premises along either a public way or other properties
on which it borders.
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GOOD REPAIR – A physical condition required of both permanent
and temporary signs; signs which do not contain rust, decay, broken
or dangling parts, cracked, peeling or flaking paint, ripped, torn
or faded materials, with clean sign copy that is not obscured.
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GROUND SIGN – See "freestanding sign."
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HISTORICAL COMMISSION – The duly established Historical
Commission of the City of Quincy.
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HISTORIC COMMERCIAL DISTRICT – A duly established historic
commercial district of the City of Quincy.
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HISTORIC DISTRICT – The duly established historic district
of the City of Quincy.
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HISTORIC MARKER – A sign that provides information on
the history or architecture of a building or structure located within
the historic district or on a building which is listed on one of the
historic registers.
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IDENTIFICATION SIGN – A sign identifying the occupants
of a building. See "directory sign."
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ILLUMINATED SIGN – A sign characterized by the use of
electric light, either projecting through its surface(s) (internally
illuminated) or reflecting off its surface(s) (externally illuminated).
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INTERMEDIATE REMOVABLE SURFACE – A removable sign face.
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LOGO SIGN – A graphic-type sign indicating a business,
goods, services, product or activity.
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MANSARD – A roof-like facade comparable to, and part of,
an exterior building wall.
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MARQUEE – A permanent canopy or overhanging shelter projecting
from and entirely supported by the building to which it is attached.
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MARQUEE SIGN – A sign on or attached to a permanent overhanging
shelter that projects from the face of a building.
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MURAL – A sign or painting intended to function as a sign,
or just a painting executed on or affixed to the wall(s) or window(s)
of a building.
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NONCOMMERCIAL SIGN – A sign containing any noncommercial
message such as civic, philanthropic, charitable, religious, cultural,
political, or ideological or time, temperature and bus stop.
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OFF-PREMISES SIGN – A sign which advertises or announces
a use conducted or goods provided that are available elsewhere than
within the building or on the lot on which the sign is located.
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ON-PREMISES SIGN – A sign which advertises or announces
a use conducted or goods that are available within the building or
on the lot on which the sign is located. The sign bears a direct relationship
to the activities conducted on the premises.
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PARAPET – The extension of a building facade above the
line of the structural roof.
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PEDESTRIAN ORIENTATION – Description of area abutting
a roadway which is not a super highway and which indicates by its
layout that it has made accommodations for people to walk there.
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PERMANENT SIGN – A durable sign structure designed to
promote, advertise, and support a place of business, an office, or
an establishment for the duration of its existence. It is normally
stationary and affixed.
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POLE SIGN – See "freestanding sign."
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POLITICAL SIGN – Any temporary nonpremises sign which
refers only to the issues, causes or candidates involved in a political
election and is designed to influence the actions of voters.
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PORTABLE SIGN – Any sign not permanently attached to the
ground or to a building or building surface.
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PREMISES – A tract of land including its buildings and
other appurtenances.
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PRODUCT SIGN – A sign that indicates a product or goods.
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PROJECTING SIGN – A sign (other than a wall sign, an awning,
a canopy, a marquee or a V sign), including all of its mounting or
supporting devices, that is attached to or projects more than 12 inches
from a building face or wall over a public way or from a structure
whose primary purpose is other than the support of a sign. Projecting
signs under the two-square-foot limit and not mounted over a public
way are permitted.
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PUBLIC SAFETY DEVICE – For purposes of this chapter, a
traffic light, a traffic light pole, a sign or sign pole listing City
parking rules, directions, policies or announcements, or any other
device serving these municipal purposes.
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PUBLIC SIGN – A sign erected or maintained by a municipality
or other government entity.
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REAL ESTATE SIGN – A temporary sign advertising the sale,
lease, or rental of the property or premises upon which it is located.
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REMOVABLE FACADE SURFACE – A flat object that is attached
flush to and covers a portion of a building facade often becoming
the receiving surface for sign copy.
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REVOLVING SIGN –A sign that revolves 360° about an
axis. See "animated sign."
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ROOFLINE – The edge of the roof or the top of the parapet,
whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette; for a pitched
roof, this shall mean the lower edge of the roof where it meets the
building wall. Where a building has several roof levels, that roof
level belonging to that portion of the building on whose wall the
sign is located.
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ROOF SIGN – A sign located on and attached to the roof
or above the roof line of a building, which is wholly or partially
supported by such building.
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SANDWICH BOARD SIGN – A freestanding, double-sided A-frame
sign.
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SECONDARY SIGN – A sign located on a building face other
than the one which is directed to the main stream of pedestrian or
vehicular traffic.
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SETBACK – That open portion of a lot which is located
between the property line and the building wall.
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SIGN – Any structure, device, letter work, symbols, banner,
logo, commercial flag or pennant, insignia, light, figure, picture,
message, plaque, poster, form or other representation (excluding displays
of merchandise) designed to be seen from outside a building and visible
from a public way, which is used to direct public attention to and/or
indicate the presence of any person, product, service or activity,
whose purpose is to convey a commercial or noncommercial message.
Such structure above shall include any removable facade surface used
for signage.
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SIGN AREA – The area of the smallest rectangle or circle
within which the entire sign can fit, including any portion of the
structural supports which contribute through shape, color, or otherwise
to the sign's message, and including any separate surface, board,
frame or shape on or within which the sign is displayed. For signs
the components of which are applied directly to a building or other
structure, the sign area shall include any background of a different
color, material, or appearance from the remainder of the wall or structure
and shall in any event enclose all letters, figures, or representations
related to the sign.
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SIGN BAND – That exterior portion of a retail or commercial
building which contains an area specifically designed to accommodate
signage, usually set off by architectural details or framing elements.
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SIGN ILLUMINATION – Any means of artificially lighting
a sign.
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SIGN MATERIALS – Any materials used to construct a sign.
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SIGN MOUNTING PANEL – That portion of a fascia which has
a surface to which a sign may be attached and which is generally set
off and framed. In a building with several storefronts, such panels
will generally be separate and distinct for each one. Sign mounting
panels would be considered to be abandoned when they meet the criteria
listed for abandoned signs or if they are left in disrepair.
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SIGN SUPPORT – Any pole, post, streetlight, cable or other
structural fixture necessary to hold and secure a sign.
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SLOGAN – A catch phrase used in advertising or promotion.
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STOREFRONT – That portion of a ground floor building front
occupied by a separate and distinct use and at which a major entrance
is located.
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STOREFRONT SIGN – A graphic design which may or may not
incorporate words, symbols, or letters painted on or applied as surface
material to a large unbroken expanse of blank wall.
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TEMPORARY SIGN – A poster, sign or sign card lacking a
permanent support structure and intended to be displayed for only
a specified period of time.
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TIME/TEMPERATURE SIGN – A sign indicating the time and
temperature that may contain the ability to transmit other information.
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TRADEMARK – A name, symbol or other device identifying
a product officially registered and legally restricted to the use
of the owner or manufacturer.
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UNDER CANOPY OR UNDER MARQUEE SIGN – A sign attached to
the underside of a canopy or marquee.
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V SIGN – A sign containing two faces of equal size, positioned
at an angle of less than 179° at the point of juncture of the
individual faces.
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WALL SIGN – A flat sign mounted against a flat wall, with
the exposed face parallel to the exterior plane of the building to
which it is affixed. It projects not more than 18 inches from the
building or structure wall. It also includes signs affixed to architectural
projections provided the copy area of such signs remains on a parallel
plane to the face of the building facade or to the face of the architectural
projection to which it is affixed.
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WINDOW SIGN – A permanent sign erected, applied and located
so as to be visible through a window and placed in the interior surface
of a window with its message intended to be visible to the exterior
environment.
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STORY
A basement or cellar, the ceiling of which extends more than
four feet above the finished grade measured at the average grade plane
at six feet from the foundation; also that part of a building between
a floor and the floor or roof next above.
STREET LINE
The boundary line of the lot separating it from a public
street or private way.
STRUCTURE
A combination of materials assembled at a fixed location
to give support or shelter, such as a building, bridge, tower, framework,
retaining wall, tank, tunnel, clothesline, stadium, platform, bin,
fence, sign or the like.
TOD DESIGN GUIDELINES
The guidelines developed by the City of Quincy Department
of Planning and Community Development intended to enhance the connectivity
between street networks and adjoining uses located at or near transit
stations in the City. These guidelines address landscape design, sidewalks
and pathways, signage, building facade treatments, parking strategies,
and a variety of land uses.
[Added 11-21-2016 by Ord.
No. 2016-249]
TOD PERMITTED USES
Any of the following: retail uses (all); restaurant uses
(all); multifamily dwellings; mixed use; essential public services;
municipal office or administrative facilities; municipal parking lot;
public market; miscellaneous commercial uses (all except for those
uses included in TOD prohibited uses); drive-in uses (all); laboratory
or research facility; public transportation terminal and parking facilities
related thereto; swimming pool or tennis court; nonresidential accessory
uses (all except for those uses included in TOD prohibited uses);
and parking area or garage or structure for the parking of passenger
cars of employees, customers or guests of establishments or of residents
of a multifamily dwelling.
[Added 11-21-2016 by Ord.
No. 2016-249]
TOD PROHIBITED USES
Any of the following: lodging house; municipal waste disposal
area operated by the City or under contract to the City; adult use
establishments; body art establishment; marina; funeral home or crematorium;
motor vehicle uses; warehouse, wholesale and storage uses (all); industrial
uses (all except for those uses included in TOD permitted uses); transportation
related uses (all except for those uses included in TOD permitted
uses); residential accessory uses; and storage or display or abandonment
of more than one cubic yard of the materials described in Section
L of the Table of Use Regulations.
[Added 11-21-2016 by Ord.
No. 2016-249; amended 6-1-2020 by Order No. 2020-012]
URBAN RENEWAL PLAN
The Quincy Center District Urban Revitalization and Development
Plan dated May 7, 2007, as amended, and the Quincy Center District
Design Guidelines dated November 2005, as amended.
URBAN RENEWAL USE
A use that is: A) one or more of the following: i) allowed
as set forth in Section 8.3.2; ii) a municipal parking garage; iii)
a sales place for flowers, plants, garden supplies, or agricultural
produce, conducted partly or wholly indoors; or iv) a combination
of more than one of the preceding uses in a single building or structure;
and B) for which a certification of consistency has been granted by
the Planning Board pursuant to the Urban Renewal Plan.
WAREHOUSE
A structure designed or used for the storage of goods.
WHOLESALE
The sale of goods in large quantity for the purpose of resale
and completely enclosed in a building. Such uses shall not include
the sale or transfer of flammable liquids, gas, explosives or other
potentially hazardous materials.
WIND FACILITIES
The following definitions shall apply with regard to Section
6.7:
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DIRECTOR – Director of Inspectional Services
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HEIGHT – The height of a wind turbine measured from natural
grade to the tip of the rotor blade at its highest point, or blade-tip
height.
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PERMIT GRANTING AUTHORITY – The Planning Board shall be
the site plan review permit granting authority and the special permit
granting authority.
|
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RATED NAMEPLATE CAPACITY – The maximum rated output of
electric power production equipment. The manufacturer typically specifies
this output with a nameplate on the equipment.
|
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WIND FACILITY – A facility where the primary use of the
facility is the conversion of wind to electricity, including but not
limited to the wind turbine(s) and all the equipment and/or machinery
required for the generation, storage, and transmission of such electricity.
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WIND MONITORING OR METEOROLOGICAL TOWER – A temporary
tower equipped with devices to measure wind speeds and direction,
used to determine how much wind power a site can be expected to generate.
|
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WIND TURBINE – A device that converts kinetic wind energy
into rotational energy that drives an electrical generator. A wind
turbine typically consists of a support tower, nacelle body, and a
rotor with two or more blades.
|
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
The following definitions shall apply with regard to Section
6.6:
|
PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICE FACILITIES – Facilities for
the provision of personal wireless services.
|
|
PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICES – Commercial mobile services,
unlicensed wireless services, and common carrier wireless exchange
access services.
|
|
UNLICENSED WIRELESS SERVICE – The offering of telecommunications
service using duly authorized devices which do not require individual
licenses, but does not mean the provision of direct-to-home satellite
services.
|
|
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY – A personal wireless
service facility.
|
YARD
The open area at the front, sides and rear of a building
between the exterior walls of the building and the boundaries of the
lot upon which it stands.