Town of West Stockbridge, MA SECTION 1 Title, Authority and Purpose

1.1 Title.

This bylaw shall be known as the "Zoning Bylaw of the Town of West Stockbridge, Massachusetts", hereinafter referred to as "this bylaw".

1.2 Authority.

This bylaw is adopted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 40A of the General laws as amended to regulate the use of land, buildings, and structures to the full extent of the independent constitutional powers of cities and towns to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the present and future inhabitants of the Town.

1.3 Purpose.

The purpose of this bylaw is to achieve greater implementation of the powers granted to the municipalities under Article 89 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth in the general interests of public health, safety, and welfare, including, but not limited to, the following objectives:

a.) To prevent overcrowding of land, to secure safety from fire, flood, panic, and other dangers, to conserve health, and to lessen congestion in the streets;

b.) To facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water supply, drainage, sewerage, schools, parks, open space, and other public requirements;

c.) To conserve the value of land and buildings, including the conservation of natural resources and the prevention of blight and pollution of the environment;

d.) To preserve and increase amenities by the promulgation of regulations designed to:

▪	Protect the Town's significant environmental features such as: floodplains and flood-prone areas, wetlands, rivers, brooks, ponds, water resources, woodlands, areas of scenic beauty, and sites and structures of historic importance.
▪	Preserve the natural, scenic, and aesthetic qualities of the community.
▪	Minimize the adverse effects of developments on the Town's unique environmental and historic features.
▪	Further the objectives of the Town's Comprehensive Plan.
▪	Employ cooperatively the various measures taken by the Town's agencies, under diverse legislative authority, including the State Sanitary Code, Wetlands Protection Act, Subdivision Control Legislation, and the State Building Code, for the protection and enhancement of the Town's existing small-town character, open spaces, low density of population, and in the interests of the Town's orderly growth at a deliberate pace.