Final Draft 7 26 12 - Springfield

[Pages:295]Zoning Ordinance

City of Springfield, Massachusetts

TEXT ENACTED APRIL 22, 1971 TEXT AS AMENDED TO TBD AN ORDINANCE

AMENDING AN ORDINANCE FOR CONSOLIDATING AND ARRANGING, ENLARGING, MODIFYING AND AMENDING THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY RESTRICTING BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES AND PREMISES ACCORDING TO THEIR USE OR CONSTRUCTION TO SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE CITY. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AS FOLLOWS:

Springfield Zoning Ordinance

DRAFT

JULY 2012

Table of Contents

ARTICLE 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................3

ARTICLE 2 DEFINITIONS ...............................................................................................13

ARTICLE 3 DISTRICTS ....................................................................................................61

ARTICLE 4 USE REGULATIONS ...................................................................................71

ARTICLE 5 DIMENSIONAL AND INTENSITY REGULATIONS ...........................119

ARTICLE 6 SPECIAL USE REGULATIONS...............................................................135

ARTICLE 7 SITE REGULATIONS ................................................................................163

ARTICLE 8 OVERLAY DISTRICTS .............................................................................181

ARTICLE 9 SIGN REGULATIONS ...............................................................................201

ARTICLE 10 NONCONFORMING USES, STRUCTURES, AND LOTS....................239

ARTICLE 11 ADMINISTRATION ...................................................................................247

ARTICLE 12 SPECIAL PERMIT AND SITE PLAN REVIEWS..................................255

ARTICLE 13 PROCEDURE FOR AMENDMENTS ......................................................283

INDEX

285

Page ii

Springfield Zoning Ordinance

DRAFT

JULY 2012

Table of Contents ? Expanded

ARTICLE 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................3 SECTION 1.0 PURPOSE ................................................................................................................3 SECTION 1.1 TITLE .....................................................................................................................3 SECTION 1.2 AUTHORITY............................................................................................................3 SECTION 1.3 INTRODUCTION AND USER GUIDE ..........................................................................3 SECTION 1.4 ORGANIZATION ......................................................................................................7 SECTION 1.5 LAND USE REGULATIONS IN OTHER ORDINANCES.................................................8 SECTION 1.6 APPLICABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ORDINANCE.................................9 SECTION 1.7 USE OF GRAPHICS AND ILLUSTRATIONS .................................................................9

ARTICLE 2 DEFINITIONS ...............................................................................................13 SECTION 2.0 PURPOSE OF DEFINITIONS ....................................................................................13 SECTION 2.1 GENERAL .............................................................................................................13 SECTION 2.2 GENERAL TERMS DEFINED ..................................................................................14

ARTICLE 3 DISTRICTS ....................................................................................................61 SECTION 3.0 PURPOSE ..............................................................................................................61 SECTION 3.1 ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS ............................................................................61 SECTION 3.2 PURPOSE OF ZONING DISTRICTS...........................................................................62 SECTION 3.3 ZONING MAP........................................................................................................66 SECTION 3.4 INTERPRETATION OF DISTRICT BOUNDARIES .......................................................67

ARTICLE 4 USE REGULATIONS ...................................................................................71 SECTION 4.0 PURPOSE ..............................................................................................................71 SECTION 4.1 GENERAL PROVISIONS .........................................................................................71 SECTION 4.2 TIERED REVIEW LEVELS ......................................................................................71 SECTION 4.3 USE REGULATIONS...............................................................................................76 SECTION 4.4 SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL USES......................................95 SECTION 4.5 HOME BASED BUSINESS.....................................................................................103

Page iii

Springfield Zoning Ordinance

DRAFT

JULY 2012

SECTION 4.6 SPECIAL STANDARDS FOR RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, AND CHILD CARE USES ..................................................................................................................108

SECTION 4.7 SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR CERTAIN USES.......................................................109

ARTICLE 5 DIMENSIONAL AND INTENSITY REGULATIONS ...........................119 SECTION 5.0 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................119 SECTION 5.1 GENERAL PROVISIONS .......................................................................................119 SECTION 5.2 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS ....................................................................................121 SECTION 5.3 BUSINESS DISTRICTS..........................................................................................129 SECTION 5.4 INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.......................................................................................131 SECTION 5.5 USABLE OPEN SPACE FOR APARTMENT BUILDINGS ...........................................131 SECTION 5.6 EXCEPTIONS TO MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT ..................................................132

ARTICLE 6 SPECIAL USE REGULATIONS...............................................................135 SECTION 6.0 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................135 SECTION 6.1 CAMPUS MASTER PLAN REVIEW .......................................................................135 SECTION 6.2 WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES .........................................................138 SECTION 6.3 ADULT ENTERTAINMENT ...................................................................................155

ARTICLE 7 SITE REGULATIONS ................................................................................163 SECTION 7.0 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................163 SECTION 7.1 OFF-STREET PARKING ........................................................................................163 SECTION 7.2 OFF-STREET LOADING .......................................................................................172 SECTION 7.3 ACCESS AND CIRCULATION................................................................................172 SECTION 7.4 FENCING, LANDSCAPING, AND SCREENING ........................................................174

ARTICLE 8 OVERLAY DISTRICTS .............................................................................181 SECTION 8.0 PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY............................................................................181 SECTION 8.1 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL DESIGN OVERLAY DISTRICT.............................181 SECTION 8.2 WEST COLUMBUS URBAN RENEWAL DISTRICT OVERLAY .................................189 SECTION 8.3 REGIONAL SHOPPING CENTER OVERLAY DISTRICT ...........................................192 SECTION 8.4 FLOODPLAIN OVERLAY DISTRICT ......................................................................194 SECTION 8.5 SMART GROWTH OVERLAY DISTRICT [RESERVED] ...........................................197

Page iv

Springfield Zoning Ordinance

DRAFT

JULY 2012

ARTICLE 9 SIGN REGULATIONS ...............................................................................201 SECTION 9.0 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................201 SECTION 9.1 DEFINITIONS ......................................................................................................201 SECTION 9.2 SIGNS PROHIBITED IN ALL DISTRICTS ................................................................209 SECTION 9.3 GENERAL SIGN REGULATIONS ...........................................................................210 SECTION 9.4 SIGNS WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE A SIGN PERMIT ...............................................217 SECTION 9.5 SIGN PERMITS ....................................................................................................219 SECTION 9.6 SIGN REGULATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS .............................................220 SECTION 9.7 RESERVED..........................................................................................................221 SECTION 9.8 SIGN DESIGNS AND DIMENSIONS .......................................................................221 SECTION 9.9 NON-ACCESSORY SIGNS (ALSO KNOWN AS BILLBOARDS) .................................228 SECTON 9.10 SPECIAL EVENT SIGNS .......................................................................................232 SECTION 9.11 NONCONFORMING SIGNS ...................................................................................233 SECTION 9.12 SIGNS REQUIRING A SPECIAL PERMIT FROM THE PLANNING BOARD..................234 SECTION 9.13 SUBSTITUTION OF NON-COMMERCIAL SIGN COPY .............................................236

ARTICLE 10 NONCONFORMING USES, STRUCTURES, AND LOTS....................239 SECTION 10.0 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................239 SECTION 10.1 NONCONFORMING STRUCTURES AND USES........................................................239 SECTION 10.2 NONCONFORMING LOTS.....................................................................................241 SECTION 10.3 PRE-EXISTING SPECIAL PERMIT USES ................................................................243

ARTICLE 11 ADMINISTRATION ...................................................................................247 SECTION 11.0 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................247 SECTION 11.1 ADMINISTRATION...............................................................................................247 SECTION 11.2 BOARD OF APPEALS ...........................................................................................249

ARTICLE 12 SPECIAL PERMIT AND SITE PLAN REVIEWS..................................255 SECTION 12.0 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................255 SECTION 12.1 APPLICABILITY AND GENERAL PROVISIONS.......................................................255 SECTION 12.2 ADMINISTRATIVE SITE PLAN REVIEW (TIER 1) ..................................................258 SECTION 12.3 PLANNING BOARD SITE PLAN REVIEW (TIER 2).................................................262

Page v

Springfield Zoning Ordinance

DRAFT

JULY 2012

SECTION 12.4 PLANNING BOARD SPECIAL PERMIT REVIEW (TIER 3)........................................268 SECTION 12.5 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL PERMIT REVIEW (TIER 4) ..............................................271 SECTION 12.6 SPECIAL PERMIT FOR DIMENSIONAL VARIATIONS .............................................276 SECTION 12.7 SITE PLAN REVIEW OF EXEMPT RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, AND CHILD CARE

USES ..................................................................................................................278 SECTION 12.8 HISTORIC RESOURCE PROPERTIES......................................................................279

ARTICLE 13 PROCEDURE FOR AMENDMENTS ......................................................283 SECTION 13.0 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................283 SECTION 13.1 INITIATION OF ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS ...........................................283 SECTION 13.2 CITY COUNCIL TRANSMITTAL TO PLANNING BOARD.........................................283 SECTION 13.3 PUBLIC HEARING ...............................................................................................283 SECTION 13.4 ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS ..............................................................................284

INDEX

285

Page vi

Springfield Zoning Ordinance

DRAFT

JULY 2012

Figures

Figure 2-1 Figure 2-2 Figure 2-3 Figure 2-4 Figure 2-5 Figure 2-6 Figure 2-7 Figure 2-8 Figure 5-1 Figure 5-2 Figure 7-1 Figure 8-1 Figure 8-2 Figure 9-1 Figure 9-2 Figure 9-3 Figure 9-4 Figure 9-5 Figure 9-6 Figure 9-7 Figure 9-8 Figure 9-9 Figure 9-10

Building Coverage .......................................................................................... 18 Building Height............................................................................................... 19 Multi-Family Townhouse Elevation and Plan View ...................................... 27 Lots ................................................................................................................. 36 Interior Lot with Lot Lines ............................................................................. 37 Lot Width Measurement ................................................................................. 38 Principal Building ........................................................................................... 45 Yards ............................................................................................................... 56 Front Yard Exception.................................................................................... 126 Sight Triangle................................................................................................ 128 Buffer Planting Strip ..................................................................................... 170 Pedestrian Amenities .................................................................................... 184 Cornice Design.............................................................................................. 188 Display Area of Wall Sign ............................................................................ 203 Display Area of Internally Lit Wall Sign...................................................... 204 Display Area of Ground Sign ....................................................................... 205 Display Area of Ground Sign with Changing Image Sign ........................... 206 Halo Lettering ............................................................................................... 213 Back-lit Canopy ............................................................................................ 213 Internal Illumination with Channel Letters................................................... 214 Certain Display Area Measurements ............................................................ 215 Projecting Sign.............................................................................................. 224 Awning Sign ................................................................................................. 225

Page vii

Springfield Zoning Ordinance

DRAFT

JULY 2012

Diagrams

Diagram 2-1 Diagram 4-1 Diagram 12-1

Tiered Review Categories............................................................................... 52 Types of Tiered Review.................................................................................. 73 Sequence of Review Process ........................................................................ 256

Tables

Table 3-1

List of Zoning Districts ................................................................................... 61

Table 3-2

Purpose of Zoning Districts ............................................................................ 63

Table 4-1

Description of Tiered Review ......................................................................... 74

Table 4-2

Tiered Review Thresholds .............................................................................. 75

Table 4-3

Key for Use Table ........................................................................................... 76

Table 4-4

Use Table ........................................................................................................ 79

Table 5-1

Dimensional and Intensity Regulations ? Residential Districts.................... 121

Table 5-2

Maximum Building Coverage ? Residential Districts .................................. 124

Table 5-3

Lot Frontage, Width and Yards for Large Buildings in Residential A-1, A

and B Districts................................................................................................................. 124

Table 5-4

Dimensional and Intensity Regulations ? Business Districts ....................... 129

Table 5-5

Maximum Residential Density ? Business Districts..................................... 130

Table 5-6

Dimensional Requirements ? Industrial Districts ......................................... 131

Table 7-1

Presumptive Required Off-street Parking ..................................................... 165

Table 7-2

Dimensional Requirements for Parking Drive Aisles................................... 167

Table 7-3

Buffer Screening between districts ............................................................... 177

Table 9-1

Projecting Signs ............................................................................................ 223

Table 9-2

Ground Signs ................................................................................................ 226

Table 12-1

Standards for Dimensional Variations by Special Permit............................. 276

Page viii

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download