A.
For purposes of these Regulations, a "rear lot" shall
be a lot with less than 50 percent of the minimum lot width measured at the
street line, and for which the building line is located more than 150 feet
from the street line. A rear lot is typically characterized by a long narrow
driveway access strip leading to a larger area of land located a considerable
distance from the street line. Rear lots are often located one lot depth from
the street, behind the rear property line of another lot, in a "stacked" manner.
B.
The Commission may approve the creation of new rear lots
as an integrated part of an overall subdivision design, where such rear lots
can provide suitable building sites. Rear lots may be appropriate at the end
of a proposed cul-de-sac street in order to reduce the overall length of the
street, thereby avoiding unnecessary future road maintenance and reducing
stormwater runoff. Rear lots may also be appropriate where the character of
a site is such that a suitable building site can be established at least one
lot depth from the street without detriment to conventional lots located on
the street.
C.
Rear lots must meet the following criteria:
(1)
The minimum width of a driveway access strip shall be
20 feet throughout its entire length.
(2)
The area of a driveway access strip shall not be included
in calculating the minimum required area of the lot.
(3)
"Stacking" or "nesting" of rear lots, one behind the
other, is generally discouraged.
(4)
No more than two driveway strips may be located adjacent
to one another. Rear lots shall be laid out and suitably spaced along streets
so as to minimize traffic congestion. The maximum number of rear lots shall,
in general, not exceed 20% of the total number of lots in any subdivision.
(5)
The Commission shall determine that the character of
the property to be subdivided is such that the soils, topography and configuration
of the property is suitable for rear lots. Rear lots shall not be approved
if the Commission determines that the use of rear lots creates a hazard to
public health or safety, or does not contribute to a more efficient and less
environmentally detrimental subdivision layout than would result without the
use of rear lots.
(6)
No rear lot driveway access strip shall be located so
as to impede future development or use of land through which it passes.
(9)
The Commission may impose other such conditions as it
finds necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare, including
but not limited to the establishment of a minimum sight line at the driveway
access point, requiring combining individual driveway entrances, establishing
a maximum total length of the driveway access strip, and increased frontage
where necessary to assure adequate separation between individual driveway
entrances.
A nonresidential subdivision shall be subject to all other requirements
of these Regulations. In addition, the applicant shall demonstrate to the
satisfaction of the Commission that the following requirements are met:
A.
Streets: Street rights-of-way and pavement shall be adequate
to accommodate the type and volume of traffic anticipated to be generated
thereupon and special requirements may be imposed by the Town with respect
to street, curb, gutter, and sidewalk design and construction.
B.
Utilities and drainage: Special requirements may be imposed
by the Town with respect to the installation of public utilities, including
water, sewer and stormwater drainage.
C.
Extension of streets: Streets carrying nonresidential
traffic, especially truck traffic, shall not normally be extended to the boundaries
of adjacent, existing or potential residential areas.
