1.1.1 
Authority. As authorized by § 9.3.4 of the Zoning Bylaw and under the authority delegated to the Town of Lexington by Article 89 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, known as the "Home Rule Amendment," the Planning Board of the Town of Lexington (Board) adopts these Regulations governing those matters in its jurisdiction under the Zoning Bylaw.
1.1.2 
Title. These Regulations are known and may be cited as the "Planning Board Zoning Regulations" or as the "Zoning Regulations" or, in this document, as "these Regulations." These Regulations are gender neutral.
1.1.3 
Approval and Compliance Required.
1. 
No person may proceed with the improvement or sale of lots, units, or the construction of a street, an internal common driveway, or the installation of municipal services within them or undertake preliminary steps, such as the clearing of land, excavation, site preparation or other preparatory steps, leading to development of land for which requirements or standards are in these Regulations, unless all required approvals have been granted by the Planning Board and recorded in the Registry of Deeds or the Land Court, if applicable, and only then according to the conditions of approval and the procedures set out in these Regulations.
2. 
Issuance of Building Permits. The Building Commissioner may not issue any permit for the erection of a building or the development of land until first satisfied that there has been compliance with these Regulations and the Zoning Bylaw and that all other applicable requirements have been met.
1.2.1 
Purpose. The powers of the Town of Lexington and of the Board under MGL c. 40A and the Home Rule Amendment of the Massachusetts Constitution are exercised to promote the general welfare and convenience, and to protect the health and safety of the residents of Lexington and of adjoining communities by:
1. 
Identifying and securing, for present and future residents, the beneficial impacts of growth and development;
2. 
Identifying and avoiding the negative impacts of growth and development on the environment surrounding the development and the Town generally; and
3. 
Ensuring that future growth and development are of a type and design compatible with surrounding land uses and traffic and public services are not adversely impacted.
1.2.2 
Objectives. These Regulations are intended to achieve the aforementioned purposes by:
1. 
Lessening congestion in such streets and in the adjacent public streets;
2. 
Reducing danger to life and limb;
3. 
Securing safety in the case of fire, flood, panic and other emergencies;
4. 
Ensuring compliance with the Zoning Bylaw;
5. 
Securing adequate provision for water, sewerage, drainage, underground utility service, fire, police, and other services where necessary;
6. 
Facilitating a detailed review by Town officials and by the public of proposed developments to determine the adequacy of the facilities proposed to be provided and their effect on public facilities and services and on adjoining land; and
7. 
Creating a sequence of review that progresses from the general to the detailed to avoid unnecessary delay or expense to both the Town and the applicant.
1.3.1 
Consistency with State Law. In the case of conflict between MGL c. 40A (the Zoning Act) as it may be amended, and these Regulations, or for matters not covered by these Regulations, state law controls.
1.3.2 
Relationship to Zoning Bylaw. In cases where the Zoning Bylaw and these Regulations conflict, the Zoning Bylaw prevails.
1.3.3 
Separability. The provisions of these Regulations are separable. If any provision of these Regulations, or any decision or determination in the administration of them, is adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional, invalid, or void, the court's decision does not affect any other provision of these Regulations or the administration of them.
1.3.4 
Invalidation by Changes to State Law. Any part of these Regulations invalidated by a new state law, by amendment of existing law, or by a change to the Zoning Bylaw, must automatically conform to the new or amended law or bylaw and will be considered effective immediately, without recourse to the required procedures for amendment and repeal of these Regulations.
1.3.5 
Amendment. These regulations may be amended from time to time by a majority vote of the Board at any regularly scheduled public meeting.
1.3.6 
Effective Date. These Regulations and any amendments become effective on the date they are adopted. A copy of these Regulations must be filed with the Town Clerk within seven days of the date of adoption and made available for inspection on request.
Forms needed to administer development, and their contents, may be created, deleted, or revised by administrative action of the Planning Director. Forms are not part of these regulations.