The purpose of this article is to:
A. Promote and coordinate commercial growth in town.
B. Promote highway traffic safety and protect the capability of state and local roads to conduct traffic smoothly and efficiently.
C. Protect the rural character, visual aesthetic qualities and property values of neighboring properties and the town.
D. Discourage unlimited commercial strip developments and minimize curb cuts along Belchertown's highways and encourage commercial growth in planned clusters.
E. Provide local protection from those particular nuisances which are not adequately governed by state law or regulations.
Commercial developments shall be permitted in accord with §
145-11, Schedule of Use
Regulations, Article
VI, General
Regulations, §
145-27, Site Plan Approval, and with the additional requirements specified herein.
The rate of surface water runoff from a site shall not be increased after construction. If needed to meet this requirement and to maximize groundwater recharge, increased runoff from impervious surfaces shall be recharged on site by being diverted to vegetated surfaces for infiltration or through the use of detention or retention ponds. Stormwater runoff mitigation shall comply with §
270-29 of Chapter
270, Subdivision of Land, as amended. Oil, grease and sediment traps shall be used to facilitate removal of contaminants. Dry wells shall be used only where other methods are infeasible.
[Amended 5-12-2014 ATM by Art. 20]
Architectural design shall be compatible with the rural/historic character and scale of buildings in the neighborhood and the Town through the use of appropriate building materials, screening, breaks in roof and wall lines and other architectural techniques. Variations in detail, form and siting shall be used to provide visual interest and avoid monotony. Proposed buildings shall relate harmoniously to each other, with adequate light, air, circulation and separation between buildings. Commercial development must also adhere to Commercial Development and Architectural Design Guidelines.