Definitions for words or terms used in this chapter are given in Article
XI.
Except as hereinafter provided, no land, building, structure
or premises shall hereafter be used and no building or part thereof
or other structure shall be located, erected, reconstructed, extended,
enlarged, converted, altered or moved except in conformity with the
regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located.
No yard space or minimum area required for a building or use shall
be considered as any part of the yard space or minimum area for another
building or use.
The conversion of any building into a dwelling or the conversion
of any dwelling so as to accommodate an increased number of dwelling
units or families shall be permitted only within a district in which
a new building for similar occupancy would be permitted under this
chapter, and only when the resulting occupancy will comply with the
requirements governing new construction in such district with respect
to minimum lot size, lot area per dwelling unit, percentage of lot
coverage, dimensions of yards and other open spaces, and off-street
parking. Each conversion shall be subject also to such further requirements
as may be specified hereinafter with the article applying to such
district.
The nonconforming use of land not involving any principal building
or structure existing on the effective date of this chapter may be
continued for a period of not more than three years; provided, however,
that no such nonconforming use of land shall in any way be expanded
or extended either on the same or adjoining property. If such nonconforming
use of land or any portion thereof is discontinued or changed, any
future use of such land shall be in conformity with the provisions
of this chapter.
Nothing herein contained shall require any change in the overall
layout, plans, construction, size or designated use of any development,
building, structure, or part thereof, for which official approval
and required permits have been granted, or where no approvals or permits
are necessary, where construction has been legally started before
the enactment of this chapter, and completed within a one-year period.
In all districts except the industrial districts, no building
in the rear of a principal building on the same lot shall be used
for residence purposes unless it conforms to the open space requirements
of this chapter, and for the purpose of determining the front yard
in such case, the rear line of the required rear yard for the principal
building in front shall be considered the front lot line for the building
in the rear. In addition, there must be provided for any such rear
dwelling an unoccupied and unobstructed accessway not less than 15
feet wide to a road, and there shall not be more than one dwelling
housing not more than two families for each such easement, except
that a common easement of access at least 40 feet wide may be provided
for two or more dwellings housing any number of families.
No lot shall contain any dwelling unless it abuts at least 20 feet on a public street, or unless it conforms to the easement of access required in §
231-209 of this chapter.
On any corner lot in any district, no fence, structure or planting
shall be erected or maintained within 20 feet of the "corner" so as
not to interfere with traffic visibility across the corner.
No zoning permit for construction, erection, or alteration of
any building or structure or part thereof, or for signs or outdoor
advertisements, or part thereof, shall be valid for more than one
year unless work at the site has commenced within such period.
The Zoning Officer shall be given at least 24 hours' notice
by owner or applicant prior to commencement of work at site under
zoning permits.
If a case is disapproved by the Zoning Hearing Board of Plymouth,
thereafter the Zoning Hearing Board shall take no further action on
another case for substantially the same proposal on the same property
until one year after the date of such disapproval. If a case before
the Zoning Hearing Board is advertised, and thereafter withdrawn by
the applicant before or at the meeting of the Zoning Hearing Board,
he shall be precluded from filing another application for substantially
the same proposal on the same premises for six months, and the case
shall be readvertised.