Except as specifically provided herein:
A. No land, building or premises, or part thereof, shall
hereafter be used and no building or part thereof or other structure
shall be constructed, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, moved or
altered except in conformity with the regulations herein prescribed
for the zone in which it is located.
B. No part of any yard or other open space required about
any building by the provisions of these regulations may be included
as part of a yard or other open space required for any other building.
C. No building containing a residential use shall be erected, altered, enlarged, or maintained in the rear of any building on the same lot, and no building shall be erected, enlarged, or maintained in front of a building containing a residential use, except as expressly permitted in §
315-10.
D. No lot shall be so reduced in area or changed in dimensions
that any required yard or other open space will be smaller than prescribed
by the Zoning Regulations.
E. No structure shall be erected or altered, except in
accordance with these regulations, on any lot nearer to the street
than the building line.
F. No building or zoning permit shall be issued for any structures or land use unless the lot for which the permit is sought has the required frontage on a public street, with the exception of the conditions described in §
315-8 below.
G. Prior to filing any map in the Town Clerk's office depicting a lot
line revision or free split, the map shall be reviewed by the Planning
and Zoning Department to verify that the proposed lot(s) will conform
to all applicable requirements of the Zoning Regulations.
[Added 1-4-2019]
The lot frontage and lot area requirements of
these regulations or amendments thereto shall not prevent construction
of a permitted building or establishment of a permitted use on a lot
that:
A. Was owned separately from any adjoining land prior
to June 15, 1954, as evidenced by deed recorded in the Suffield land
records, and has not merged with a contiguous lot, or was shown on
a valid, filed plan of subdivision approved by the Commission prior
to the effective date of these regulations.
B. Has its frontage on a public street, and sanitary
sewage disposal and a potable water supply can be assured without
hazard to public health, and the side and rear yards conform to the
regulations that were in existence on the date immediately prior to
the effective date of these regulations.
In the case of a lot of record lying in more
than one district, the provision of the less restrictive district
may be applied for a distance of not more than 30 feet into a more
restrictive district, provided that such lot has frontage on a street
in the less restrictive district.
No structures or projections from structures
shall be permitted in any required yard except as follows:
A. No structure shall be erected between the building line and the street line, except for signs according to Article
IX of these regulations, a farm stand, and a wall or fence not over four feet in height and not more than 1/2 solid, with the exception of a stone wall which may be a maximum of three feet in height.
B. Walls or fences, not exceeding eight feet in height
measured above the adjoining finished grade, are allowed only in any
required side or rear yard. Minor variations of less than one foot
in elevation of the adjoining finished grade shall not affect the
measurement of the height of such fence or wall.
C. All fences, except those used for agricultural purposes,
shall be erected so that the finished side of the fence faces the
abutting property.
D. Minor projections of structures, such as window or
door frames and sills, belt courses, cornices or other architectural
features, may project no more than one foot into any required yard.
E. Major projections of structures such as chimneys,
bay windows not longer than 25% of the wall from which they project,
eaves, roofs over doorways, hatchways, areaways and fire escapes may
project not more than four feet into any required yard, provided that
they shall not be closer than four feet to any lot line.
F. In any rear yard accessory buildings shall be permitted,
provided that they shall not occupy more than 25% of the required
rear yard.
G. An attached solar greenhouse on the southerly side
of the main structure may project up to 10 feet into a required setback
yard.
All lots shall provide for an adequate healthful
water supply and for proper sewage disposal for the use intended.
Where a private water system and/or sewage disposal is planned on
a lot, the system or systems to be installed shall have the written
approval of North Central District Health Department before a certificate
of occupancy may be issued.
These regulations permit the keeping of horses/ponies
for pleasure, but not for any commercial purpose, under the following
conditions:
A. The lot shall contain not less than two acres for up to two horses or ponies and one additional acre for each two additional horses or ponies. The provisions of §
315-54 shall apply for more than 10 horses.
B. Buildings housing animals shall be not less than 150
feet from an existing dwelling under separate ownership or from a
stream. Concentrations of waste shall be stored on any premises at
a point farthest from houses under separate ownership, or from a stream,
but not less than 150 feet, and such concentration on any premises
shall not exceed two cubic yards in bulk.
C. Animal corrals shall not be within 20 feet of side property lines within 150 feet of a street line. Beyond such point corrals may be placed along the property line, but shall not be within 100 feet of an existing dwelling located on adjacent land. (See also §
315-12E.)
In accordance with Connecticut Public Act No.
82-296, as amended, regulations are hereby established in the
Town of Suffield for an area generally described as lying between
Connecticut Route 159 and the Connecticut River and extending from
the Massachusetts state line southerly to the Windsor Locks town line.
Said area is delineated on the Zoning Map as an overlay zone. Requirements
in the overlay zone are in addition to underlying district requirements,
and include application by the applicant with authorization of Town
staff to the Connecticut River Assembly.
A. Purpose. The minimum standards for the preservation
and usage of land within the conservation zone are designed to promote
development practices which will support the following program goals:
(1) Protecting and improving the water quality of the
Connecticut River;
(2) Preserving the flood storage capacity of floodplains;
(3) Preserving unique natural, historic and scenic areas
and natural topography of riverfront land;
(4) Encouraging the development of agricultural land uses
which contribute to conservation of the area's soil and water resources
and which increase long-term food producing capacity;
(5) Promoting the recreational potential of the river
area and public access to the riverfront which is consistent with
the ability of the land and the river to support such use;
(6) Influencing the visual impact of riverfront development;
and
(7) Encouraging the preservation and rehabilitation of
the Connecticut River greenbelt.
B. Minimum standards for the preservation and usage of
land within the Conservation Zone. The standards apply to land use
within the conservation zone. They focus on measures to control nonpoint
sources of pollution, such as erosion and sedimentation, and limit
destruction of the natural environment. All standards are not listed
in this section since standards having universal application may be
found under appropriate categories in other sections of these regulations
(such as flood hazards, erosion control, etc.).
(1) Floodplain use.
(a)
Purpose. The purpose of this minimum standard
for floodplain use is to preserve the necessary flood storage capacity
of the Connecticut River floodplain and its tributary floodplains;
to promote public health, safety and general welfare through minimizing
flood losses in floodplain areas; and to promote floodplain use which
is compatible with beneficial floodplain values and goals of the Connecticut
River Assembly Program.
(b)
Activities permitted as of right. The floodplain use guidelines contained in Subsection
B(1)(d) below shall not be deemed to restrict agricultural or farming uses, including the building of fences, provided that this section shall not apply to farm buildings and farm structures.
(c)
Permitting of regulated activities. No obstruction or encroachment shall be placed in the floodplain by any person, firm or corporation, public or private, unless authorized by the Zoning Enforcement Officer, who shall consider the use guidelines contained in Subsection
B(1)(d) below when making a decision to deny or issue a permit. Nothing in Subsection
B(1)(d) shall be construed as constituting approval or disapproval of any activity prior to the decision on a permit.
(d)
Use guidelines for regulated activities.
[1]
The following activities may be generally compatible
with floodplain values under certain conditions:
[a] Conservation activities which do
not require significant physical alteration of watercourses and floodplains,
i.e., wildlife and nature preserves, game farms, fish hatcheries,
etc.
[b] Parks and recreation areas provided
that:
[i] The placement of small piers, catwalks,
floats, docks, piles and other similar structures, including trails
and pedestrian access routes, that:
[A] Do not involve dredging or filling
of the watercourses and do not require significant physical alteration
of floodplains;
[B] Are elevated on low-impact pile
foundations;
[C] Do not interfere with or obstruct
navigation; and
[D] Do not restrict circulation.
[ii] The repair, relocation and/or
rearrangement of floating docks, open pile docks, and similar structures
within an established marina or boat basin involves no disturbance
of the watercourse or floodplain other than removing or relocating
anchors or pilings.
[iii] Accessory structures and amenities
(such as picnic tables) are anchored and built to withstand flooding.
[2]
The following activities are generally incompatible
with floodplain values:
[a] Activities which require incremental
filling of the floodplain, where incremental fill shall mean fill,
including any material or structure, which would have the effect of
displacing water or the flood storage capacity of the property. Changing
existing land elevations without the addition of new fill from off
site and which does not reduce the existing flood storage capacity
of the subject property is not considered incremental fill.
[b] Construction of any structure whose
lowest floor, including basement, is lower than the base flood elevation
of a one-hundred-year storm event unless floodproofed.
[c] Construction of any structure which
is not anchored to prevent flotation, collapse or lateral movement.
[d] Construction of waste disposal
systems which are not floodproofed to avoid impairment to them or
contamination from them during flooding.
[e] Construction of industrial facilities
using, producing or storing hazardous or toxic substances (nuclear
power plants, chemical factories, oil storage tanks, etc.) which are
not protected against a flood of rare occurrence.
(e)
Cutting of timber. No trees, shrubs or ground
cover shall be destroyed, cut or removed within the one-hundred-year
flood hazard area unless dead or diseased. Within the Conservation
Zone no trees over 10 inches in caliper, unless dead or diseased,
shall be removed until a cutting plan has been provided and approved.
(f)
Removal of soil and earth materials. The removal
of soil and earth materials shall require a special permit from the
Commission except for:
[1]
Foundation, trench and related site excavation
performed after the issuance of a building permit;
[2]
Removal in connection with the landscaping and
grading of land for the purpose for which a building permit is not
required, provided that such removal shall not exceed 300 cubic yards
of material; and
[3]
Earth moving or excavation related to farm management
techniques or farm building construction.
(g)
Dumping and storage of refuse. No dumping or
storage of refuse shall be permitted within the Conservation Zone
nor shall any new public solid waste disposal facility be established
in the area. Transfer station operations used to store small amounts
of refuse for brief periods pending final lawful disposition shall
be prohibited in the floodplain and discouraged in the remainder of
the Conservation Zone.
The purpose of these regulations is to provide
specific outdoor lighting standards in order to maximize the effectiveness
of site lighting, to enhance public safety and welfare, to raise public
awareness of energy conservation, to avoid upward illumination, to
reduce glare, and to avoid light trespass onto adjacent properties
and public streets. These regulations shall apply to the installation
or replacement of outdoor lighting fixtures. Subsections A and B shall
apply to all nonresidential land uses located in the commercial and
industrial zoning districts, and for special permits issued in a residential
zoning district. Subsection C shall apply to all uses in residential
zones. Subsection D applies to all zoning districts.
A. Submission of lighting plan. Applicants proposing
the installation of outdoor lighting shall file with the Commission
a lighting plan subject to site plan review, unless waived by the
Commission. Said plan shall be designed in accordance with the lighting
standards and requirements, and shall contain the following:
(1) The location, height, and type of outdoor lighting
luminaires, including building mounted.
(2) The luminaire manufacturer's specification data, including
lumen output and photometric data showing cutoff angles.
(3) The type of lamp, i.e., metal halide, compact fluorescent,
high-pressure sodium, etc.
(4) An isodiagram or photometric plan showing the intensity
of illumination expressed in footcandles at ground level, including
at adjacent property lines, if required by the Commission.
(5) Hours of business operation and when lighting will
be turned off.
B. Lighting standards and requirements.
(1) Outdoor lights and illuminated signs shall be designed,
located, installed, shielded and directed to prevent direct light
at (and glare across) the abutting property lines and the public right-of-way
or street. The "maintained horizontal illuminance recommendations"
as set by the Illumination Engineering Society of North America shall
not be exceeded.
(2) Outdoor lighting shall be full cut-off type fixtures,
defined as a luminaire or light fixture that by design of the housing
does not allow any light dispersion or direct glare to shine above
a ninety-degree horizontal plane from the base.
(3) Outdoor lighting fixtures shall be limited to a maximum
of 14 feet in height, unless otherwise designated by special permit.
(4) All lighting in connection with signs shall be constructed according to Article
IX of these regulations.
C. Properties located in residential zoning districts.
(1) Illumination of signs, spotlighting or floodlighting
shall be so shielded that the light source cannot be seen from adjacent
properties or the street.
(2) Lighting of outdoor recreation facilities is subject
to the approval of the Commission.
D. Exemptions to this section include lighting for public
buildings, public monuments, flagpoles, stairs, ramps, or as determined
by the Zoning Officer.
In conjunction with an application for site
plan approval or a special permit the Commission may require the installation
of sidewalks up to eight feet in width with materials to be approved
by the Commission along a public road or within a site where it makes
a determination that such walk would:
A. Facilitate the movement of customers or patrons from
or to nearby residential or nonresidential uses.
B. Separate pedestrian movement from vehicular movement
for public safety and welfare.
In residential zoning districts, commercial
vehicles requiring a CDL (commercial drivers license) shall not be
parked or stored overnight, except for farm equipment associated with
a farm on which said equipment is stored.
No structure shall be used, erected or expanded
and no land shall be graded or hard-surfaced unless provisions have
been made and expressly approved by the Town Engineer for the proper
disposal of drainage water.
The removal or destruction of topsoil of more
than 20 cubic yards on any lot shall not be permitted except in connection
with a bona fide permitted construction project. After completion
of such work, topsoil shall be replaced and seeded according to accepted
landscaping practices and the Connecticut Guidelines for Soil Erosion
and Sediment Control.