A. 
The site and all buildings thereon should be designed so as to enhance the use of sustainable energy principles, including the use of renewable energy (including solar energy, wind energy, and biofuels), the conservation of energy of all types, the limitation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas production, and enhancement of carbon absorption from the atmosphere. The Board will consider trade-offs in other areas when so doing will better accomplish these purposes.
B. 
Site/Building design shall preserve natural topography outside of the development footprint to reduce unnecessary land disturbance and to preserve natural drainage channels on the site.
C. 
Hilltops and/or scenic views within the Town of Winchendon shall be protected.
D. 
Wildlife habitat shall be protected.
E. 
Sites shall be designed in such a way as to avoid impacts to rare and endangered species and wildlife habitat on a site, and to maintain contiguous forested areas.
F. 
Open space and specimen trees on the site shall be preserved insofar as possible.
G. 
In the design of a development, priority shall be given to retention of existing stands of trees, trees at site perimeter, contiguous vegetation with adjacent sites (particularly existing sites protected through conservation restrictions), and specimen trees.
H. 
Whenever possible, forested areas shall be preserved if they are associated with:
(1) 
Significant forest communities as defined herein;
(2) 
Wetlands, water bodies and their buffers;
(3) 
Critical wildlife habitat areas;
(4) 
Slopes over 15%.
I. 
Cut and fill in site development shall be minimized.
J. 
Finished grades in disturbed areas should be limited to no greater than a 1:2 slope, while preserving, matching, or blending with the natural contours and undulations of the land to the greatest extent possible.
A. 
When the physical condition or width of the public ways by which a site will be accessed is inadequate for access to such site in the opinion of the Board, the Board may require the applicant to dedicate a strip of land for the purpose of widening the abutting public way to a width adequate to serve the needs of the uses proposed for the site while also providing access at the current level to such other land as the way serves and to make physical improvements to and within such public way(s) as may be necessary to adequately serve these uses. This may include drainage improvements, utility improvements, improvement of intersections, signage, signalization, or other amenities necessary for safety and orderly traffic flow. Any such dedication of land for the purpose of such a way and any such work performed within such public way(s) shall be made only with permission of the governmental agency having jurisdiction over such way, and all costs of any such widening or construction shall be borne by the applicant.
B. 
As an alternative to the applicant's making the actual required improvements, the Board may require the applicant to pay to the Town the estimated cost of such improvements, which money shall be used only toward the cost thereof. The timing of any such payment shall be as the Board directs.
A. 
Streets, driveways and walkways to provide safe travel. All streets, driveways, and walkways shown on the plan shall be designed so that, in the opinion of the Board, they will provide safe travel and be of sufficient design and construction to adequately handle the traffic loads anticipated. The Board requires, as a minimum, 12 inches of gravel and three inches of bituminous concrete paving laid in two courses on impervious areas.
B. 
Adequate means of egress from the site. All site plans shall show adequate means of egress from the site and from each building and use thereon. Sites showing buildings with more than 50,000 square feet of gross floor area or likely to have more than 100 persons on the site at a time shall have two or more exits to public ways. The public way(s) used for such access shall also provide two or more exits. This provision is to ensure access for emergency vehicles in case an access is blocked.
C. 
Streets and driveways within a site. The Board will determine the design standards for streets, driveways and walkways within a site depending on the use(s) proposed for the site based on the prospective traffic load in number and types of vehicles and pedestrian use. These standards will be based on recommendations of the Institute of Transportation Engineers. Appropriate traffic control improvements may be required.
D. 
Curb specifications. Where curbing is required, whether it be granite or berms, it shall be installed in accordance with the specifications of the Department of Public Works. Where low-impact disposal of stormwater is provided, appropriate curb cuts for drainage shall be provided.
E. 
Walkways within a site. Walkways shall be provided within a site as may be necessary for convenient traffic flow and the safety of pedestrians within the site. All walkway and sidewalk specifications must be approved by the Board.
F. 
Accessibility. All streets, curb cuts, walkways, ramps, parking spaces, passenger loading zones and other outdoor improvements shall be designed to conform to the requirements of the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board as provided in 521 CMR. This includes making provision for accessible parking spaces.
G. 
Individual driveways. No principal building on a site shall be located so as to require principal access by a road or driveway longer than 500 feet measured from the serving road to the nearest point on the building, except by a waiver granted by the Board upon a finding that a shorter access is impracticable.
A. 
Open spaces. Before approval of a site plan, the Board may also, in proper cases, require the plan to show areas suitably located for playground or recreation purposes, or for providing light and air. The area(s) shall not be unreasonable in area in relation to the land in the site and to the prospective uses of such land. Such parks shall be conveniently located.
B. 
Site drainage. Site drainage should preferably follow best management practices for low-impact development, such as the use of swales or bioretention areas. The use of catch basins and underground piping will be approved only when no other stormwater management system is practical as determined by the Board.
C. 
Snow storage. Adequate provision for snow storage should be made and be shown on the plan. Such storage shall be accomplished in a manner that will eliminate or minimize polluted runoff or other hazards to the environment.
D. 
Wetlands protection.
(1) 
The Wetlands Protection Act, MGL c. 131, § 40, provides:
no person shall remove, fill, dredge, or alter any bank, beach, flat, marsh, meadow, or swamp bordering . . . on any . . . creek, river, stream, pond, or lake, or any land under said waters . . . without filing written notice of his intention to so remove, fill, dredge, or alter, including such plans as may be necessary to describe such proposed activity and its effect upon the environment, at least 60 days prior to any such removing, filling, dredging, or altering. Said notice shall be sent by certified mail to the Conservation Commission. No such notice shall be sent before all permits, variances, and approval required by local bylaw, with respect to the proposed activity have been obtained.
(2) 
The Board will condition its approval of the plan upon issuance of an order of conditions by the Conservation Commission if such an order is required. Applicants are reminded that the Conservation Commission will not conduct site visits when the land is obscured by snow.
E. 
Uses within the setback areas. The setback areas of a site are those provided by Table 7.2 of the Zoning Bylaw. Uses within those areas are regulated as follows:
(1) 
Roadways, driveways, walkways, retaining walls, and perimeter fences are allowed within the setback areas as necessary.
(2) 
Signs conforming to the Zoning Bylaw or allowed by special permit may be installed.
(3) 
Installation of underground or overhead utilities and drainage structures is allowed.
(4) 
Buildings and other structures, whether temporary or permanent, will be allowed only on a finding that such is the best location, that such location will not have a significant impact on the abutters, the neighbors or the community, and that such location is in accordance with the general intent of the Zoning Bylaw. Such a finding may also be made based on probable substantial hardship for the applicant.
(5) 
The outdoor storage or display of goods or materials in the setback areas, whether offered for sale or not, is not allowed unless a waiver for such storage or display is obtained from the Planning Board through site plan review.
F. 
Parking requirements. Parking shall be provided in accordance with the Zoning Bylaw. (See Zoning Bylaw, Article VIII.)
G. 
Utilities.
(1) 
Water supply. All sites being reviewed shall have a water supply adequate for the uses proposed. Since the water supply may be used for fire protection as well as normal on-site uses, connection to the public water supply will be preferred and may be required. Non-public water supplies shall require the approval of the Board of Health.
(2) 
Sanitary sewer. All sites being reviewed shall have sewage disposal adequate for the uses proposed, as determined by the Board of Health. Connection to the Town disposal system will be preferred.
H. 
Other utilities. Gas, electric, telephone, etc. shall, if situated in a flood-prone area, be floodproofed and approved by the Department of Public Works or the Board's consulting engineer. Applicants will be encouraged and may be required to install utility services, including electricity, telephone and cable antenna television services, underground, and will be required to follow an approved distribution plan. Any associated overhead structures shall be in conformity with Town standards. Any related equipment, such as transformers, switching mechanisms, or other vital components, shall, if situated in a flood-prone area, be floodproofed and approved by the Department of Public Works or the Board's consulting engineer.
I. 
Stormwater disposal. Insofar as possible, stormwater disposal shall be accomplished through the use of structures and facilities that return the stormwater to the soil as expeditiously as possible, such as grassed swales or bioretention basins. Current state standards for low-impact development must be followed. The construction of systems that will discharge stormwater into a stream or wetland may be permitted only when no other feasible option is available.
(1) 
If catch basins and underground piping are allowed for stormwater disposal, catch basins shall be constructed in conformity with specifications of the Board of Public Works and shall be so located as to properly perform their function. Stormwater management systems, explanations of their operation, including methods of maintaining any existing drainage pattern, and explanation of how the proposed stormwater management system shall comply with the Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook.
(2) 
All stormwater disposal systems shall be designed and built so as to prevent the discharge of stormwater onto adjacent properties in greater amounts or at greater flow rates than existed prior to the development. Stormwater from the site shall not be discharged onto another lot so as to create a nuisance. Remediation of existing nuisances may be required.
J. 
School bus stops. If the site will include residential units and is in an area where transportation of school students may be required, the applicant shall consult with the School Department as to likely school bus stop locations and shall make sure such locations will provide safe access for students. Student shelter(s) may be required.
K. 
Exterior lighting. If parking areas are likely to be used after dark, adequate lighting of the parking areas shall be provided so that pedestrians can see and be seen.
(1) 
All parking areas which are proposed to be illuminated shall provide an illumination level of at least one footcandle at ground level. Descriptions and specifications for the proposed fixtures shall be provided.
(2) 
Walkways likely to be used after dark shall be adequately illuminated to provide pedestrian safety from pavement irregularities, obstructions, and other dangers.
(3) 
All exterior lighting shall be so designed that it will not shine onto public ways so as to blind oncoming drivers or onto other properties so as to create a nuisance. Fixtures shall be of a design that will aim the light downward or horizontally and be designed to prevent illumination of areas not intended for illumination including the sky. This is to prevent "light pollution."
(4) 
The use of light fixtures that reduce the use of electricity, including those that derive their energy directly from the sun (photovoltaics), and high-efficiency lamps, including light-emitting diode lamps, are strongly encouraged.
L. 
Site remediation. If the site has been found to contain environmental contamination (a brownfield site), the site plan shall provide for adequate protection of workers and adequate measures to prevent injury or damage to users of the finished site or to others. Contaminants shall be removed or contained as may be recommended by qualified environmental professionals and approved by the Board.
Land located within all overlay districts is subject to the provisions of the Winchendon Zoning Bylaw, which in general restricts the use of land in such district. The Board may modify these regulations as necessary for sites in those districts.
No natural feature wholly or partially within a road right-of-way or other property of the Town, such as trees, stonewalls, etc., may be removed or disturbed until approval is obtained by the Winchendon Tree Warden and the Department of Public Works or other appropriate Town department. If the road is designated as a scenic road, the permit and other requirements for work on scenic roads shall be followed.
A. 
Utility easements. Easements to the Town for utilities shall be provided where necessary and shall be at least 20 feet wide.
B. 
Stormwater easements. Where a site is traversed by a watercourse, drainage way, channel or stream, the Board may require that a stormwater easement to the Town be provided for a drainage right-of-way of adequate width that conforms substantially to the lines of such watercourse, and the boundary of which shall be no closer than 12 feet to the high water line, drainage way channel or stream, to provide for construction, repair, or other necessary purposes.
A. 
In general.
(1) 
All buildings thereon should be designed so as to enhance the use of sustainable energy principles, including the use of renewable energy (including solar energy, wind energy, and biofuels), the conservation of energy of all types, the limitation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas production, and enhancement of carbon absorption from the atmosphere. The Board will consider tradeoffs in other areas when so doing will better accomplish these purposes.
(2) 
Development envelopes for structures, driveways, wastewater disposal, lawn areas and utility work shall be designed to limit clearing and grading.
(3) 
Impacts to archaeological resources shall be avoided.
(4) 
Applicants shall submit a response from the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) regarding the potential for archaeological or historical resources on the site.
(5) 
Placement of buildings, structures, or parking facilities shall not detract from the site's scenic qualities and shall blend with the natural landscape. Building sites shall be directed away from the crest of hills, and foundations shall be constructed to reflect the natural terrain.
(6) 
Buildings shall be designed, insofar as possible, to harmonize with other buildings in the area and with the natural environment. Special consideration shall be given to making buildings complement any nearby historic buildings or an historic area in which it is located.
(7) 
Adequate access to each building shall be provided for pedestrians and vehicles. Adequate building separation and fire lanes shall be provided as designated by the Fire Chief.
B. 
Basement drainage. If any building which will have a basement is to be erected or expanded, the means of basement drainage shall be specified. It shall be so designed that neither will it empty into the sanitary sewer nor will the occupant be likely to change it so that it empties into the sanitary sewer.
C. 
Fire protection.
(1) 
A fire alarm system shall be provided according to the provisions of § 420-5.6.
(2) 
A water supply for fire protection shall be provided according to the provisions of § 420-5.7.