[Amended 8-9-2004 by Ord. No. 04-184A; 12-19-2005 by Ord. No. 06-017]
A. 
The Board of Appeals, upon written application duly made to the Board, may grant special permits as hereinafter prescribed. Said special permits may be issued only for uses which are in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this chapter and shall be subject to general and specific provisions hereinafter stated, and such permits may also impose conditions, safeguards and limitations on time or use.
(1) 
Special permits as prescribed in § 235-63 in locations and for uses designated "S" in the Table of Use and Parking Regulations[1] and special permits or conditions allowed elsewhere in this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Table of Use and Parking Regulations is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(2) 
Variances from the terms of this chapter as prescribed in § 235-64.
(3) 
Special permits for uses accessory to activities permitted as a matter of right, which activities are necessary in connection with scientific research or scientific development or related production, whether or not on the same parcel as activities permitted as a matter of right, provided that the Board of Appeals finds that the proposed accessory use does not substantially derogate from the public good.
B. 
The Planning Board, upon written application, may grant special permits as hereinafter prescribed.
(1) 
Special permits as prescribed in § 235-65 for multifamily residential use in nonresidentially zoned areas.
(2) 
Special permits providing for density incentives allowed in the BA-1 and BA-2 Districts in § 235-66.
[Amended 6-7-2021 by Order No. 2021-96]
(3) 
Special permits providing for cluster developments as prescribed in § 235-67.
(4) 
Special permits providing for planned unit developments and planned business developments as prescribed in § 235-68 through 235-71.
(5) 
Special permits under the affordable housing incentive program prescribed in § 235-73.1 of this chapter.
(6) 
Special permits as prescribed for in §§ 235-73.3 and 235-73.4 for marijuana-related uses.
[Amended 3-18-2019 by Order No. 2019-31]
(7) 
Special permits as prescribed for in § 235-73.3 for registered marijuana dispensaries.
[Added 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-129]
(8) 
Special permits for an increase in the number of compact parking spaces as prescribed in § 235-41.
[Added 6-7-2021 by Order No. 2021-96]
[Amended 5-1-1995 by Ord. No. 95-189; 2-19-2002 by Ord. No. 02-066C]
A. 
Application. Applications shall be filed with the City Clerk, and a copy of said application, including the date and time of filing certified by the City Clerk, shall be filed forthwith by the petitioner with the special permit granting authority indicated heretofore. The application shall be filed on such forms and with such accompanying materials and in such manner as prescribed in the rules of the special permit granting authority placed on file with the City Clerk by said special permit granting authority.
B. 
Public hearing. A public hearing shall be conducted by the special permit granting authority within 65 days of the filing of an application. The time and place of said hearing shall be fixed by the special permit granting authority, which will give notice, and said notice shall include the name of the petitioner, a description of the area or premises, the street address, if any, or other adequate identification of the area or premises which is the subject of the hearing, the date, time and place of the hearing, the subject matter sufficient for identification and the nature of the action or relief requested.
C. 
Notice. Notice of the public hearing shall appear in a newspaper of general circulation in the City. The first notice shall appear at least 14 days before the scheduled hearing date, and the second notice shall appear in the following week. In addition, notice of the hearing shall be posted in a conspicuous place in City Hall for 14 days prior to the scheduled hearing. Mail notice is required to be sent to abutters as they appear on the most recent tax list of Melrose and of adjoining cities and towns if applicable, to owners of land directly opposite on any public or private street or way as they appear on the most recent tax list, to owners of land within 300 feet of the property line, to the Melrose Planning Board and to the planning boards of adjoining cities and towns.
D. 
Record. The public hearing shall be open to the public and shall be conducted in a manner consistent with rules published by the special permit granting authority. The special permit granting authority shall cause to be made a detailed record of its proceedings and shall include the vote of each member on each question, including whether absent or not voting. The record shall state in detail the reasons for the decisions made and shall record any limitations or conditions, if any. A copy of the record shall be filed with the City Clerk within 14 days of the decision.
E. 
Decision. The decision must be made within 90 days after the date of the public hearing, and failure to take final action upon an application for a special permit within 90 days following the date of the public hearing shall be deemed to be a grant of the permit applied for. A notice of the decision shall be mailed to the petitioner, abutters, owners of land directly opposite on any public or private street or way, owners of land within 300 feet of property line, even if in adjoining cities or towns, the Melrose Planning Board, the planning boards of adjoining cities or towns and to persons present at the hearing so requesting notice of the decision. Notice of the decision shall inform recipients of appellate rights under Section 14 of the Zoning Act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See MGL c. 40A, § 14.
F. 
Vote. A concurring vote of all but one of the members of the Board of Appeals is required to grant a special permit or variance by said Board, and two-thirds concurring vote of the Planning Board is required to grant a special permit by said Board, except when only a simple majority is required for multifamily housing, mixed-use development in centers of commercial activity within a municipality, and reduced parking space to residential unit ratio requirement, all pursuant to the specifications in Section 9 of the Zoning Act.[2]
[Amended 4-18-2023 by Order No. 2023-86]
[2]
Editor's Note: See MGL c. 40A, § 9.
G. 
Certification and recording of special permit or variance. Any special permit or variance granted by a special permit granting authority shall be certified by said authority and show the name and address of the landowner or applicant if other than the owner. The notice of special permit shall identify the land affected, set forth compliance with statutory prerequisites and state that a special permit has been granted and certify that copies of the decision and all plans referred to in the decision have been filed with the City Clerk and the Planning Board. No variance or special permit, or any extension, modification or renewal thereof, shall take effect until a copy of the decision bearing the certification of the City Clerk that 20 days have elapsed and no appeal has been filed or, if such appeal has been filed, that it has been dismissed or denied is recorded in the Registry of Deeds with the date and time of such recording and indexed in the grantor index under the name of the owner of record or is recorded and noted on the owner's certificate of title. A special permit granted under this chapter shall lapse in three years, which shall not include such time required to pursue or await the determination of an appeal, from the grant thereof, if a substantial use thereof has not sooner commenced except for good cause or, in the case of permit for construction, if construction has not begun by such date except for good cause.
[Amended 4-18-2023 by Order No. 2023-86]
H. 
Reconsideration of unfavorable action. Reconsideration of unfavorable action of a special permit granting authority shall be made pursuant to Section 16 of the Zoning Act[3] and as noted in § 235-60C of this chapter.
[3]
Editor's Note: See MGL c. 40A, § 16.
I. 
Appeal. Appeal from the decision of a special permit granting authority shall be made only pursuant to Section 17 of the Zoning Act[4] and as noted in § 235-60C of this chapter.
[4]
Editor's Note: See MGL c. 40A, § 17.
J. 
Conclusive nature of grant of special permit. Notwithstanding defect in notice, appeal in accordance with Section 17 of the Zoning Act shall constitute the exclusive remedy for complaint against the granting of a special permit. In the case of defect in notice, complaint must be commenced within 90 days from the time the decision is filed in the City Clerk's office.
[Amended 5-4-1987 by Ord. No. 1650]
A. 
Before granting an application for a special permit, as allowed in § 235-61, the special permit granting authority, with due regard to the nature and condition of all adjacent structures and uses and the district within which the same is located, shall find all of the following general conditions to be fulfilled:
(1) 
The use requested is listed in the Table of Use and Parking Regulations as a special permit in the district for which application is made or is so designated elsewhere in this chapter.
(2) 
The requested use is essential or desirable to the public convenience or welfare.
(3) 
The requested use will not create undue traffic congestion or unduly impair pedestrian safety.
(4) 
The requested use will not overload any public water, drainage or sewer system or any other municipal system to such an extent that the requested use or any developed use in the immediate area or in any other area of the City will be unduly subjected to hazards affecting health, safety or the general welfare.
(5) 
Any special regulations for the use set forth in this article are fulfilled.
(6) 
The requested use will not impair the integrity or character of the district or adjoining districts nor be detrimental to the health, morals or welfare.
B. 
The special permit granting authority shall also impose, in addition to any applicable conditions specified in this chapter, such additional conditions as it finds reasonably appropriate to safeguard the neighborhood or otherwise serve the purposes of this chapter, including but not limited to the following: front, side or rear yards greater than the minimum required by this chapter; screening buffers or planting strips, fences or walls as specified by the special permit granting authority; modification of the exterior appearance of the structures; limitation upon the size, number of occupants, method and time of operation, time duration of permit or extent of facilities; and regulation of number and location of driveways or other traffic features beyond the minimum required by this chapter. Such conditions shall be imposed in writing, and the applicant may be required to post bond or other security for compliance with said conditions in an amount satisfactory to the special permit granting authority.
C. 
In order that the special permit granting authority may determine that the above-mentioned restrictions are to be met, a site plan or revised site plan shall be submitted, in duplicate, to the special permit granting authority by the applicant. Said site plan shall show, among other things, all existing and proposed buildings, structures, parking spaces, driveway openings, driveways, service areas and other open uses, all facilities for sewage, refuse and other waste disposal and for surface water drainage and all landscape features, such as fences, walls, planting areas and walks. The special permit granting authority shall, within 10 days after receipt thereof, transmit one copy of such plan to the Planning Board or, in the case where the Planning Board is the special permit granting authority, to the Board of Appeals. Said Board may, in its discretion, investigate the case and report in writing its recommendation to the special permit granting authority.
D. 
The special permit granting authority shall not take final action on said plan until it has received a report thereon from the Planning Board (or from the Board of Appeals where the Planning Board is the special permit granting authority) or until said Planning Board (or Board of Appeals) has allowed 35 days to elapse after receipt of such plan without submission of a report thereon.
A. 
As allowed in § 235-61A, the Board may authorize a variance for a particular use or parcel of land or to an existing building thereon from the terms of this chapter where, owing to conditions especially affecting such parcel or such building but not affecting generally the district in which it is located, a literal enforcement of the provisions of this chapter would involve substantial hardship, financial or otherwise, to the appellant and where desirable relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without nullifying or substantially derogating from the intent or purpose of this chapter.
B. 
Before any variance is granted, the Board must find all of the following conditions to be present:
(1) 
Conditions and circumstances are unique to the applicant's lot, structure or building and do not apply to the neighboring lands, structures or buildings in the same district.
(2) 
Strict application of the provisions of this chapter would deprive the applicant of reasonable use of the lot, structure or building in a manner equivalent to the use permitted to be made by owners of their neighborhood lands, structures or buildings in the same district.
(3) 
The unique conditions and circumstances are not the result of actions of the applicant taken subsequent to the adoption of this chapter.
(4) 
Relief, if approved, will not cause substantial detriment to the public good or impair the purpose and intent of this chapter.
(5) 
Relief, if approved, will not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitations upon other properties in the district.
[Amended 4-6-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-90; 6-7-2021 by Order No. 2021-96]
A. 
General. Multifamily residential use may be authorized by special permits where the public good would be served after a finding by the Planning Board that such nonresidentially zoned area would not be adversely affected by such a residential use and that permitted uses in such a zone are not noxious to a multifamily use. In addition to this finding, the Board will also make the necessary special permit findings as set forth in § 235-63 and in particular impose conditions regarding open space. The Planning Board may require the preservation of open space through placing of parking within or under the building, the preservation of open space in its natural state, insofar as practicable, the minimizing of tree and soil removal and the maintenance of change of grade in keeping with the general appearance of neighboring developed areas or, in areas where changes are required, the provision of landscaping of parking areas and of the site.
B. 
Location. Special permits for multifamily residential use may be applied for only within the BA-1, BA-2 and BB-1 Districts.
C. 
Dimensional and density regulations. The following dimensional increases may be allowed pursuant to the grant of a special permit under this § 235-65. Except as otherwise set forth below, all other provisions of this chapter shall apply.
(1) 
BB-1 District:
(a) 
Lots under 20,000 square feet: not applicable.
(b) 
Lots 20,000 to 30,000 square feet: Article VI, Dimensional and Density Regulations, for UR-C Districts shall apply, with the exception of minimum lot area per dwelling unit and maximum stories, which shall be as determined by the Planning Board, but not exceeding a floor area ratio of 1.5 and further not exceeding a height of 62 feet.
(c) 
Lots over 30,000 square feet: Article VI, Dimensional and Density Regulations, for UR-C Districts shall apply, with the exception of minimum lot area per dwelling unit and maximum stories, which shall be as determined by the Planning Board, but not exceeding a floor area ratio of 1.75 and further not exceeding a height of 62 feet.
(2) 
BA-1 District and BA-2 District:
(a) 
Lots under 20,000 square feet: not applicable.
(b) 
Lots 20,000 to 50,000 square feet: Article VI, Dimensional and Density Regulations, for UR-C Districts shall apply, with the exception of minimum lot area per dwelling unit and maximum stories, which shall be as determined by the Planning Board, but not exceeding a floor area ratio of 2.0 and further not exceeding a height of 62 feet.
(c) 
Lots over 50,000 square feet: Article VI, Dimensional and Density Regulations, for UR-C Districts shall apply, with the exception of minimum lot area per dwelling unit and maximum stories, which shall be as determined by the Planning Board, but not exceeding a floor area ratio of 3.0 and further not exceeding a height of 62 feet.
[Added 6-7-2021 by Order No. 2021-96[1]]
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to allow for an increase in density in the BA-1 and BA-2 Districts where such density is deemed appropriate for projects that provide community benefits or amenities beyond what is otherwise required in this chapter.
B. 
Applicability.
(1) 
The allowance of the density incentives require a special permit granted by the Planning Board at their discretion for developments in the BA-1 and BA-2 Districts.
(2) 
The Planning Board, in exercising its discretion relative to the grant of the special permit, shall make the necessary findings as set forth in § 235-63 and shall also make a finding that the value of the community benefits and/or amenities offered as part of the development support the granting of the dimensional incentives. Applicants seeking a special permit pursuant to this § 235-66 shall be required to submit a financial analysis comparing the value of the community benefits and/or amenities offered in relation to the value of the incentives. To determine the value of the incentives, the applicant shall calculate the cost paid to acquire the additional development space or rights on the open market. The Board may also consider the intrinsic value of community benefits that may not have a financial value. These include but are not limited to social and public health benefits, reduced energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and meeting other goals in the City's Master Plan.
C. 
Incentives.
(1) 
The following modifications to the dimensional and density requirements in the zoning district may be permitted:
(a) 
Building height may be increased up to 65 feet and five stories in the BA-2 District.
(b) 
Floor area ratio may be increased to a maximum of 3.5.
(c) 
Open space requirement may be satisfied by instead providing areas for roof decks, balconies, green roofs, and/or plazas.
(2) 
In connection with the approval of any increase in allowable height or FAR, the Planning Board may require that upper floors be stepped back from the facade of the floor below on one or more sides of the building to minimize the appearance of the building from the perspective of pedestrians or in consideration of the heights, massing and uses of surrounding buildings.
D. 
Community benefits and/or amenities. Following is a list of benefits and/or amenities that will be considered by the Planning Board as part of an application seeking the development incentives under this § 235-66. The list is not intended to be an exhaustive list, and other amenities may be offered which will be considered at the discretion of the Planning Board.
(1) 
Required:
(a) 
Contribution to the City's Streetscape Improvement Fund.
[1] 
Upon receiving a building permit for any residential or commercial space for the project, a contribution to the City's Streetscape Improvement Fund shall be made in the amount of $1,100 per dwelling unit and $1 per gross square foot for all other uses.
(b) 
Inclusion of green building and sustainable design practices.
[1] 
The development must include a package of green building and sustainable design practices. Example measures include but are not limited to high-performance building envelopes and insulation, electrification, air or ground source heat pumps, green roofs, solar panels, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Certification by a recognized green building program is encouraged and will ensure compliance with this standard.
(2) 
Additionally, other options to be provided individually or in combination:
(a) 
Green infrastructure and other stormwater mitigation measures that are either on-site and capture considerable stormwater from surrounding sites or off-site at a location identified by the City of Melrose's Engineering Division as needing additional mitigation measures.
(b) 
On- or off-site bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and/or enhanced transportation demand management techniques beyond what is required in the site plan review regulations.
(c) 
Parking within or under the building.
(d) 
Increased amount of on- or off-site open space and tree planting above the minimum required that is programmed for public use. Plantings shall be of species native to the region. Open space could be in the form of an active or passive park, restoring or creating new natural areas, paths or nature trails accessible to the public.
[1]
Editors Note: This order also repealed former § 235-66, Design review permits authorized by Planning Board, as amended 4-6-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-90.
[Amended 12-2-1974 by Ord. No. 18566]
For single-family residential development in a cluster pattern in the SR, SR-A and SR-B Districts, subject to dimensional and density regulation less than the minimum required for development of an individual lot in the same district, the following conditions shall apply:
A. 
The tract of land in a single or consolidated ownership at the time of application shall be at least 15 acres in size and the plan of which shall be subject to approval by the Planning Board under the Melrose Land Subdivision Regulations.
B. 
A site plan shall be presented to the Planning Board for the entire tract.
C. 
Each individual lot in the SR, SR-A and SR-B Districts shall be subject to all requirements for a one-family detached dwelling in the UR-A District.
D. 
The total number of proposed lots in the development within the SR District shall not exceed the number of lots which could be developed under normal application requirements of the SR District. The total number of proposed lots in the development within the SR-A District shall not exceed the number of lots which could be developed under normal application requirements of the SR-A District. The total number of proposed lots in the development within the SR-B District shall not exceed the number of lots which could be developed under normal application of the requirements of the SR-B District. For purposes of this subsection, it shall be assured that a maximum of 80% of the total tract area could be utilized to meet lot area requirements.
E. 
The proposed plan shall be in accordance with the Melrose Future Land Use Plan as last revised.
F. 
The development shall be served by both public water and public sewerage systems.
G. 
The minimum open space requirement shall be 50% of the total tract area. A portion of the open space land, amounting to at least 10% of the total tract area, shall be set aside as common land covenanted to be maintained as permanent open space in private or cooperative ownership. The form of covenant covering such common land shall provide for its permanent ownership and maintenance and shall be subject to the approval of the Planning Board and the City Solicitor. (With the consent of the Council this common land may be deeded to the City.) This common land shall be of such a physical character and appropriately planned so as to be of use to the residents of the cluster development.
H. 
Such common land shall be deeded to the City or permanently covenanted simultaneously with the Planning Board's approval of the definitive subdivision plan.
I. 
Such common land shall be restricted to open space recreational uses, such as tot-lot, park, playground, play field, golf course or conservation area.
J. 
Such common land shall have suitable access to a street.
For development in a planned unit concept in the SR-A District for uses including, among others, residential, business and institutional and not subject to the Table of Dimensional and Density Regulations, the following conditions shall apply:
A. 
The tract shall be in single or consolidated ownership, and the plan for the tract shall be subject to the approval by the Planning Board under the Melrose Land Subdivision Regulations. The tract shall be at least 30 contiguous acres, which may be intersected by a street or streets.
B. 
The development may be totally new development or it may incorporate existing development either in its present form or as altered through rehabilitation.
C. 
The following uses shall be permitted: residential, including townhouses and multifamily dwellings; community facilities (religious or educational; membership club for exclusive use of the residents of the planned unit development; public recreation or open space; fire station); public transportation terminal facility; and business establishments selling convenience goods such as food, drugs and proprietary goods; general merchandise such as dry goods, apparel and accessories, hardware, home furnishings and similar items; personal and consumer services establishments; and medical, other professional and business offices, including financial, insurance and real estate offices.
D. 
A maximum of 5% of the total residential gross floor area at any one time may be devoted to business gross floor area.
E. 
The minimum open space requirements shall be as follows: percent of total tract area: 60%; percent of developed area: 20%. A portion of the open space land, amounting to at least 10% of the total tract area, shall be set aside as common land covenanted to be maintained as permanent open space in private or cooperative ownership. The form of covenant covering such common land shall provide for its permanent ownership and maintenance and shall be subject to the approval of the Planning Board and the City Solicitor. (With the consent of the Council, this common land may be deeded to the City.) This common land shall be of such a physical character and appropriately planned so as to be of use to the residents and patrons of the development.
F. 
The remaining land area may be developed for residential, community facilities and business uses. In considering the application, the Planning Board should determine the need for sites for community facilities such as schools, playgrounds, fire stations and the like. Where such a need is found, appropriate sites within the development shall be set aside.
G. 
The residential density shall not exceed 20 dwelling units per acre of the total tract area.
H. 
The locations of buildings shall be governed by the following:
(1) 
All buildings shall be at least one foot from any lot line for each foot of building height, but in no case shall any building be closer than 15 feet to any lot line.
(2) 
All principal buildings shall be at least 24 feet apart, except that where building heights exceed 40 feet, these distances shall be increased by one foot for each foot of height over 40 feet.
(3) 
All principal buildings shall be at least 15 feet from any common parking area.
I. 
Buildings of greater height than eight stories may be allowed only as long as the minimum distances required in Subsection H(1) and (2) above are increased by one foot for each two feet of height over 80 feet.
J. 
The development shall be served by both public water and public sewerage systems.
K. 
The principal streets shall be offered for acceptance as public ways. Where retained as private ways, they shall be posted as such by standard street signs.
L. 
A location plan at a scale of one inch equals 650 feet shall be submitted.
M. 
A site plan for the entire tract at a scale of one inch equals 40 feet, prepared by a recognized land planner, registered architect or registered professional engineer, shall be submitted to the Planning Board in duplicate and shall show, in addition to other items as may be required by the Planning Board, at least the following:
(1) 
Two-foot contours on the tract and within 50 feet thereof.
(2) 
The location and acreage of areas to be devoted to specific uses.
(3) 
Existing and proposed streets, parking, drainage and utility systems.
(4) 
Proposed residential density of development in terms of dwelling units per acre and type and proposed business uses in square footage and types.
(5) 
A separate plan showing the location of parks, open recreation areas and other open spaces, schools and other public community uses.
(6) 
A plan for landscaping, including existing natural features and proposed landscaping, prepared by a registered landscape architect.
N. 
The development plan shall be consistent with the Melrose Future Land Use Plan as last revised.
O. 
Signs shall be governed by the regulations of Article VII as applied to the use in the planned unit development, except that projecting signs shall not be permitted.
For development in a planned unit concept in the UR-B, UR-C and UR-D Districts for uses including, among others, residential, business and institutional and not subject to the Table of Dimensional and Density Regulations, the following conditions shall apply:
A. 
The tract shall be in single or consolidated ownership, and the plan for the tract shall be subject to the approval by the Planning Board under the Melrose Land Subdivision Regulations. The tract shall be at least five contiguous acres, which may be intersected by a street or streets.
B. 
The development may be totally new development or it may incorporate existing development either in its present form or as altered through rehabilitation.
C. 
The following uses shall be permitted: residential, including townhouses and multifamily dwellings; community facilities (religious or educational; membership club for exclusive use of the residents of the planned unit development; public recreation or open space; fire station); public transportation terminal facility; and business establishments limited to the following business uses: retail establishments selling convenience goods such as food, drugs and proprietary goods; general merchandise such as dry goods, apparel and accessories, hardware, home furnishings and similar items; personal and consumer services establishments; and medical, other professional and business offices, including financial, insurance and real estate offices.
D. 
A maximum of 5% of the total residential gross floor area at any one time may be devoted to business floor area.
E. 
For a planned unit development where the tract includes land in both the residential districts and the business districts under § 235-70, the proportion of any type of development at any one time shall be computed by applying the limits of Subsection D above to that portion of the total tract in the residential district and by applying the limits of § 235-70D to that portion of the total tract in the business district. However, the location of each type of use shall not be restricted by the zoning boundary.
F. 
The minimum open space requirements shall be as follows: percent of total tract area: 20%; percent of developed area: 10%. A portion of the open space land, amounting to at least 10% of the total tract area, shall be set aside as common land covenanted to be maintained as permanent open space in private or cooperative ownership. The form of covenant covering such common land shall provide for its permanent ownership and maintenance and shall be subject to the approval of the Planning Board and the City Solicitor. (With the consent of the Council, this common land may be deeded to the City.) This common land shall be of such a physical character and appropriately planned so as to be of use to the residents and patrons of the development.
G. 
The remaining land area may be developed for residential, community facilities and business uses. In considering the application, the Planning Board should determine the need for sites for community facilities such as schools, playgrounds, fire stations and the like. Where such a need is found, appropriate sites within the development shall be set aside.
H. 
The residential density shall not exceed 60 dwelling units per acre of the total tract area.
I. 
The locations of buildings shall be governed by the following:
(1) 
All buildings shall be at least one foot from any lot line for each foot of building height, but in no case shall any building be closer than 15 feet.
(2) 
All principal buildings shall be at least 24 feet apart, except that where building heights exceed 40 feet, these distances shall be increased by one foot of height over 40 feet.
(3) 
All principal buildings shall be at least 15 feet from any common parking area.
J. 
Buildings of greater height than eight stories may be allowed only as long as the minimum distances required in Subsection I(1) and (2) above are increased by one foot for each two feet of height over 80 feet.
K. 
The development shall be served by both public water and public sewerage systems.
L. 
The principal streets shall be offered for acceptance as public ways. Where retained as private ways, they shall be posted as such by standard street signs.
M. 
A location plan at a scale of one inch equals 650 feet shall be submitted.
N. 
A site plan for the entire tract at a scale of one inch equals 40 feet, prepared by a recognized land planner, registered architect or registered professional engineer, shall be submitted to the Planning Board in duplicate and shall show, in addition to other items as may be required by the Planning Board, at least the following:
(1) 
Two-foot contours on the tract and within 50 feet thereof.
(2) 
The location and acreage of areas to be devoted to specific uses.
(3) 
Existing and proposed streets, parking, drainage and utility systems.
(4) 
Proposed residential density of development in terms of dwelling units per acre and type and proposed business uses in square footage and types.
(5) 
A separate plan showing the location of parks, open recreation areas and other open spaces, schools and other public community uses.
(6) 
A plan for landscaping, including existing natural features and proposed landscaping, prepared by a registered landscape architect.
O. 
The development plan shall be consistent with the Melrose Future Land Use Plan as last revised.
P. 
The off-street parking requirements may be reduced where a common parking area(s) serves a cluster(s) of business development. However, reduction in parking space requirements shall not exceed more than 10% of those required under normal application of the requirements set forth elsewhere in this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. VIII, Off-Street Parking and Loading.
Q. 
Signs shall be governed by the regulations of Article VII as applied to the use in the planned unit development, except that projecting signs shall not be permitted.
[Amended 4-6-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-90]
For development in a planned unit concept in the BA-1, BA-2, BB, BB-1, BC and BD Districts for uses including, among others, residential, business and institutional and not subject to the Table of Dimensional and Density Regulations, the following conditions shall apply:
A. 
The tract shall be in single or consolidated ownership, and the plan for the tract shall be subject to the approval by the Planning Board under the Melrose Land Subdivision Regulations. The tract shall be at least five contiguous acres, which may be intersected by a street or streets.
B. 
The development may be totally new development or it may incorporate existing development either in its present form or as altered through rehabilitation.
C. 
The following uses shall be permitted: residential, including townhouses and multifamily dwellings; community facilities (religious or educational; membership club for exclusive use of the residents of the planned unit development; public recreation or open space; fire station); public transportation terminal facility; and business establishments limited to the following business uses: retail establishments selling convenience goods such as food, drugs and proprietary goods; general merchandise such as dry goods, apparel and accessories, hardware, home furnishings and similar items; personal and consumer services establishments; and medical, other professional and business offices, including financial, insurance and real estate offices.
D. 
A maximum of 20% of the total land area at any one time may be devoted to residential use.
E. 
For a planned unit development where the tract includes land in both business districts and the residential districts under § 235-69, the proportion of any type of development at any one time shall be computed by applying the limits of Subsection D above to that portion of the total tract in the business district and by applying the limits of § 235-69D to that portion of the total tract in the residential district. However, the location of each type of use shall not be restricted by the zoning district boundary.
F. 
The minimum open space requirements shall be as follows: percent of total tract area: 10%; percent of developed area: 5%. A portion of the open space land, amounting to at least 10% of the total tract area, shall be set aside as common land covenanted to be maintained as permanent open space in private or cooperative ownership. The form of covenant covering such common land shall provide for its permanent ownership and maintenance and shall be subject to the approval of the Planning Board and the City Solicitor. (With the consent of the Council, this common land may be deeded to the City.) This common land shall be of such a physical character and appropriately planned so as to be of use to the residents and patrons of the development.
G. 
The remaining land area may be developed for residential, community facilities and business uses. In considering the application, the Planning Board should determine the need for sites for community facilities such as schools, playgrounds, fire stations and the like. Where such a need is found, appropriate sites within the development shall be set aside.
H. 
The residential density shall not exceed 60 dwelling units per acre of the portion of the total land area devoted to residential use.
I. 
The locations of buildings shall be governed by the following:
(1) 
All buildings shall be at least one foot from any lot line for each foot of building height, but in no case shall any building be closer than 15 feet.
(2) 
All principal buildings shall be at least 24 feet apart, except that where building heights exceed 40 feet, these distances shall be increased by one foot for each foot of height over 40 feet.
(3) 
All principal buildings shall be at least 15 feet from any common parking area.
J. 
Buildings of greater height than eight stories may be allowed only as long as the minimum distances required in Subsection I(1) and (2) above are increased by one foot for each two feet of height over 80 feet.
K. 
The development shall be served by both public water and public sewerage systems.
L. 
The principal streets shall be offered for acceptance as public ways. Where retained as private ways, they shall be posted as such by standard street signs.
M. 
A location plan at a scale of one inch equals 650 feet shall be submitted.
N. 
A site plan for the entire tract at a scale of one inch equals 40 feet, prepared by a recognized land planner, registered architect or registered professional engineer, shall be submitted to the Planning Board in duplicate and shall show, in addition to other items as may be required by the Planning Board, at least the following:
(1) 
Two-foot contours on the tract and within 50 feet thereof.
(2) 
The location and acreage of areas to be devoted to specific uses.
(3) 
Existing and proposed streets, parking, drainage and utility systems.
(4) 
Proposed residential density of development in terms of dwelling units per acre and type and proposed business uses in square footage and types.
(5) 
A separate plan showing the location of parks, open recreation areas and other open spaces, schools and other public community uses.
(6) 
A plan for landscaping, including existing natural features and proposed landscaping, prepared by a registered landscape architect.
O. 
The development plan shall be consistent with the Melrose Future Land Use Plan as last revised.
P. 
The off-street parking requirements may be reduced where a common parking area(s) serves a cluster(s) of business development. However, reduction in parking space requirements shall not exceed more than 10% of those required under normal application of the requirements set forth elsewhere in this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art VIII, Off-Street Parking and Loading.
Q. 
Signs shall be governed by the regulations of Article VII as applied to the use in the planned unit development, except that projecting signs shall not be permitted.
[Amended 5-4-1987 by Ord. No. 1650; 4-6-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-90]
For the planned business development of land in the BA-1, BA-2, BB, BB-1, BC, BD, UR-C and UR-D Districts, the development shall be subject to all regulations of this chapter, except that the following shall be allowed through grant of a special permit for the planned business development by the Planning Board: building coverage greater than the maximum building coverage permitted in the Table of Density and Dimensional Regulations, parking requirements less than the parking requirements contained in Article VIII and additional uses as provided for below, provided that:
A. 
The tract in single or consolidated ownership at the time of application shall be at least three contiguous acres in size. A development plan shall be presented for the entire tract.
B. 
Regardless of the zone in which a planned business development is located, all of the uses listed in the Table of Use and Parking Regulations under the categories "community facilities," "retail service commercial," "wholesale, transportation and industrial" and "accessory use" shall be permitted in a planned business development provided the specific uses are approved by the Planning Board when the development plan for the planned business development is approved.
C. 
Uses may be contained in one continuous building or in groupings of buildings. The Planning Board shall review the site plan with respect to safety of the users of the development and further with respect to the overall intent of this section. The development of one continuous building or the development of a grouping of buildings may be served by one common parking area and by common exit and entrance areas, in which case a reduction in the parking area may be allowed.
D. 
The minimum open space requirement shall be 5%.
E. 
As part of the approval of any planned business development, the Planning Board shall review plans and may issue a special permit for accessory parking for compliance with Article VIII of this chapter. Where conditions unique to a planned business development so justify, the Planning Board may grant a maximum of a ten-percent reduction of the parking space requirements indicated in the Table of Off-Street Parking Regulations.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 235-32.
F. 
A site plan shall be presented for the entire tract showing two-foot finished contours, existing and proposed drainage, sewerage, water, parking and street access. A separate plan for landscaping shall be presented.
G. 
The development plan shall be consistent with the Melrose Future Land Use Plan as last revised.
H. 
The development shall be served by both public water and public sewerage systems, both of which must be adequate to accept the proposed development.
I. 
Signs shall be governed by the regulations of Article VII, except that projecting signs shall not be permitted.
J. 
The plan shall provide for adequate access in relation to the anticipated traffic generation by the proposed development.
K. 
The plan shall be evaluated with respect to its impact upon the neighborhood, its effect on City services such as fire protection and its overall demands on the City. The design of each building in a planned business development shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Board to ensure that it is reasonably appropriate in relation to the approved plan.
[Added 4-7-2008 by Ord. No. 08-128; amended 7-21-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-146]
A. 
Purpose. The purposes of the Smart Growth District are:
(1) 
To promote economic development and neighborhood revitalization through the redevelopment and reuse of industrial buildings and related sites;
(2) 
To provide housing options which are sufficient to meet the needs of households at varying income levels and different stages of life;
(3) 
To promote high-quality, sustainable design that reinforces and enhances neighborhood identity and minimizes negative impacts on the environment;
(4) 
To create a pedestrian-friendly environment that promotes walking, bicycling and transit use, and encourages reduced vehicle ownership; and
(5) 
To promote a mix of compatible uses.
B. 
Definition and applicability.
(1) 
A "Smart Growth District project" ("SGD project") is a development that complies with all the provisions of this § 235-71.1, including provisions relating to uses, density, site and building dimensions, off-street parking, building design, lighting, and signs.
(2) 
This § 235-71.1 includes use, dimensional and other regulations that may modify the requirements of the underlying district(s) for an SGD project. Any requirement of the Zoning Ordinance that is not specifically modified by this § 235-71.1 shall remain in effect for an SGD project.
(3) 
The provisions of this § 235-71.1 shall apply only to an SGD project. Any building, structure or use of land that is not part of an SGD project shall conform to the regulations and requirements applicable to the underlying districts without modification by this § 235-71.1.
(4) 
An SGD project shall be subject to site plan review under § 235-16.1. Site plan review approval for an SGD project is contingent upon the Planning Board, acting as the Site Plan Review Committee, finding that the requirements of this § 235-71.1 are met in addition to the site plan review criteria described in § 235-16.1.
C. 
Establishment of Smart Growth District.
(1) 
The Smart Growth District (SGD) is established as an overlay district that may be applied to land in the Industrial A District as described herein, which is referred to herein as the "underlying district." When a parcel is placed within the SGD, it also remains in the underlying Industrial A District and must comply with the regulations of the Industrial A District except as specifically modified by this § 235-71.1.
(2) 
The Smart Growth District includes the following parcels, identified by Assessors' Map and lot numbers as of January 1, 2007. This list of parcels is intended to include all properties shown on the Melrose Zoning Map as the Industrial A District located on lower Washington Street.
Map
Lots
B1
5
B2
16-18, 17, 19, 20, 21, 35, 36, 37
B3
57, 58, 58A, and the private way known as Stone Place
D. 
Permitted uses.
(1) 
An SGD project may include, and shall be limited to, the following permitted uses, alone or in combination:
(a) 
Multifamily residential, including townhouses and apartment buildings and including accessory uses thereto.
(b) 
Retail establishments selling convenience goods such as food, drugs and proprietary goods, or general merchandise such as dry goods, apparel and accessories, hardware, home furnishings and similar items, provided that no individual establishment, except such businesses in existence in the Industrial A District at the time of the effective date of this § 235-71.1, shall exceed 15,000 square feet gross floor area.
(c) 
Retail food establishment with a floor area of less than 3,000 square feet in conjunction with an off-premises liquor license.
(d) 
Personal and consumer services establishments, including beauty and barber shops, clothing rental, dry cleaning pickup shops, garment repair, tailors, and similar businesses providing frequent or recurrent services related to personal needs, and including accessory retail sales of products related to the services offered at such consumer services establishments.
(e) 
Professional and business offices, including but not limited to medical, legal, insurance, architects, engineers, and real estate offices. This does not include banks and financial institutions or substance abuse treatment centers.
(f) 
Restaurants, coffee shops, and similar establishments selling prepared food to be consumed on or off site.
(g) 
Studios of artists or artisans, including persons engaged in the application, teaching, or performance of fine arts such as but not limited to drawing or painting, sculpture, vocal or instrumental music, or writing, and including the accessory sale of art produced on the premises.
(h) 
Live/work space, combining a dwelling unit with an integrated work space principally used by one or more of the residents of the unit.
(i) 
Brewery without distribution.
[Added 9-21-2023 by Order No. 2024-4]
(2) 
An SGD project may include more than one principal structure on a single lot, provided that the Planning Board finds through the site plan review process that safe and convenient access will be provided to all structures.
(3) 
An SGD project shall not include any use which consists of drive-through service, whereby a product or service is provided to a person who remains in a vehicle.
E. 
Dimensional and density regulations.
(1) 
Lot area and frontage. An SGD project shall have a minimum lot area of 0.5 acre and a minimum frontage on a public way of at least 100 feet.
(2) 
Yards.
(a) 
Minimum yards. Each lot within the SGD project shall comply with the following requirements:
[1] 
Minimum front yard: 15 feet from the lot line.
[2] 
Minimum side yard: 12 feet from the lot line.
[3] 
Minimum rear yard:
[a] 
Abutting a residential zoning district: 20 feet from the lot line.
[b] 
Not abutting a residential zoning district: 15 feet from the lot line.
(b) 
Maximum front yard.
[1] 
In order to define a consistent building line along the street, new buildings shall not be set back more than 20 feet from the front property line.
[2] 
The maximum front yard may be increased to 30 feet provided that the additional yard area incorporates a courtyard or sitting area at least 1,500 square feet in area and at least 20 feet deep that adjoins and is open on one or more sides to the public sidewalk; is open to the public for exclusive use by pedestrians; contains pedestrian amenities such as seating; and is landscaped to create a separation from the street, to provide shade, to reduce noise, and to mitigate fumes.
[3] 
At least 60% of the front side of a lot facing a public street, measured in percentage of linear feet of the frontage, shall be occupied by buildings or open space.
(c) 
The Planning Board may require, on the basis of site plan review, an accessway to improve pedestrian circulation and for public safety access.
(3) 
Building separation. Buildings on a single lot shall be at least 18 feet apart to provide adequate separation for emergency access.
(4) 
Development intensity.
(a) 
The maximum residential density of an SGD project shall be 35 dwelling units per acre.
(b) 
The maximum floor area ratio (FAR) of an SGD project shall be 1.25, plus 0.05 for each 1.0% of total floor area devoted to commercial uses, but shall not exceed a maximum FAR of 2.0.
(5) 
Open space.
(a) 
An SGD project shall include open space at least equal to the percentage of total lot area as set forth below:
[1] 
An SGD project that involves only the rehabilitation of an SGD landmark building, as defined in Subsection G(2), provided that there is no increase in the footprint of the building and the gross floor area is increased by no more than 50%: 10%.
[2] 
An SGD project that involves the rehabilitation of an SGD landmark building, regardless of increase in footprint or floor area, and may include new construction: 25%.
[3] 
Any other SGD project: 35%.
(b) 
The open space requirement shall apply to the SGD project as a whole, regardless of whether the SGD project consists of a single lot or multiple lots.
(c) 
In recognition of the increased open space and recreation demands that will result from new residential development, an SGD project shall also contribute to the City's off-site public open space as follows:
[1] 
Upon receiving a building permit for any residential units in an SGD project, the applicant shall make a contribution to the City's Open Space Fund in the amount of $1,100 per dwelling unit.
[2] 
The Open Space Fund contribution per dwelling unit shall be decreased by 5% for each 1% by which the open space on the lot exceeds the minimum requirement stipulated in Subsection E(5)(a).
(6) 
Building and structure height.
(a) 
The maximum permitted height for buildings in an SGD project shall be 60 feet, except as follows:
[1] 
No part of a building that is less than 40 feet from a front lot line shall exceed a height of 50 feet.
[2] 
No part of a building that is less than 40 feet from a side lot line abutting a residential district shall exceed a height of 50 feet.
[3] 
No part of a building that is less than 50 feet from a rear lot line abutting a residential district shall exceed 40 feet. No part of a building that is less than 100 feet from a rear lot line abutting a residential district shall exceed a height of 50 feet.
[4] 
No part of a building shall have a height that is greater than its distance to the front lot line of any residentially zoned property on the opposite side of the street, less 25 feet. [For example, if the street right-of-way is 45 feet and the building in an SGD project is set back 15 feet from the property line, the maximum height at that point shall be (45+15)-25 = 35 feet.]
(b) 
The height of a building or structure in the SGD shall be defined as the vertical distance from the average grade of Washington Street, along the frontage of the lot/s of the SGD project at the time of the site plan review application, to the top of the structure of the highest roof beams of a flat roof, the deck of a mansard roof or the mean level of the highest gable or slope of a hip roof. This shall supersede the definition of "height" in § 235-5 for an SGD project.
(c) 
A roof appurtenance enclosing mechanical equipment may exceed the applicable maximum building height established by Subsection E(6)(a) above, provided that:
[1] 
It is no more than 10 feet above the roof surface;
[2] 
It is no less than 10 feet from the exterior wall of the building; and
[3] 
The total horizontal area of all such appurtenances does not exceed 20% of the building footprint.
(d) 
Parking structures not integrated into a building primarily for human occupation shall be no more than 28 feet in height to the deck of the highest parking area.
(7) 
Building coverage. The maximum permitted coverage by all buildings in an SGD project shall be 50%. This requirement shall apply to the SGD project as a whole, regardless of whether the SGD project consists of a single lot or multiple lots.
(8) 
Existing nonconforming buildings. An SGD project may include a building in existence on the effective date of this § 235-71.1 which does not conform to the requirements set forth in Subsection E relating to minimum or maximum front yard, minimum side yard, maximum building height, or minimum building separation. No change shall be made to lot lines, building footprint or building height that further increases any such nonconformity unless the Planning Board determines, based on site plan review, that such change is necessary for structural or access reasons or to meet the design standards of this section.
F. 
Off-street parking.
(1) 
Off-street parking spaces shall be provided as follows:
Use
Spaces Required
Residential
1.0 space per studio or 1-bedroom dwelling unit
1.5 spaces per 2-bedroom dwelling unit
2.0 spaces per 3-bedroom dwelling unit
1.0 visitor space per 10 residential units
Office and retail
Ground floor
1.0 space per 350 square feet gross floor area
Floors above ground level
1.0 space per 500 square feet gross floor area
(2) 
Notwithstanding Subsection F(1), the overall off-street parking requirement (total parking spaces divided by total dwelling units) may be less than 1.5 per unit but shall not be less than 1.25 per unit.
(3) 
On-street parking on public streets and internal ways may be permitted within the Smart Growth District provided all necessary approvals are obtained, but on-street parking on public streets shall not be used to meet the minimum requirements for off-street parking.
(4) 
The Planning Board may allow shared or reduced parking requirements for uses having different peak times of parking demand requirements or if a use needs a lesser number of parking spaces than is required. Evidence which supports these shared or reduced parking requirements shall be produced in a report from a traffic engineer engaged by the applicant and approved by the Planning Board as part of site plan review. Where shared parking is to serve uses on separate lots, documentation shall be provided establishing the permanent legal right for such shared use. Factors that the Planning Board may consider include but are not limited to:
(a) 
Proximity to available public parking with demonstrated availability to support the project.
(b) 
Characteristics of the occupants that create less parking demand, such as age or household income.
(c) 
Provision of a mix of uses on site with offset peak parking demand times.
(d) 
A shared parking agreement with proximate properties with offset parking demand times.
(e) 
Dedication of spaces for car-sharing services (e.g., Zipcar).
(f) 
Employers who provide transit incentives for their employees.
(5) 
Parking setbacks.
(a) 
Surface parking areas shall conform to the following minimum setback requirements:
[1] 
From a public street: 30 feet.
[2] 
From an internal way (not to include parking lot drive aisles): 10 feet.
[3] 
From a structure: 10 feet.
[4] 
From a side or rear lot line where the abutting property is within the SG District notwithstanding any other setback provision within this Subsection F(5)(a): five feet.
[5] 
From a lot line abutting the railroad right-of-way: five feet.
[6] 
From any other side or rear lot line: 10 feet.
(b) 
Parking structures shall conform to the following minimum setback requirements:
[1] 
From an internal way: 10 feet.
[2] 
From a public street: 30 feet.
[3] 
From a side lot line: 12 feet.
[4] 
From a rear lot line:
[a] 
Abutting a residential zoning district: 20 feet.
[b] 
Not abutting a residential zoning district: 15 feet.
(c) 
No surface parking area or parking structure shall be closer to a public street than the closest principal building.
(d) 
The provisions of Subsection F(5)(a), (b), and (c) above shall not apply to SGD projects that are limited to the rehabilitation of a building or buildings in existence at the time of adoption of this amendment and that do not include the construction of new buildings.
(6) 
Bicycle parking facilities or storage shall be provided as follows, assuming one space accommodates one bicycle:
Use
Bicycle Parking Required
Residential
1.0 space per 20 dwelling units
Office
2.0 spaces per 10,000 square feet gross floor area
Retail
2.0 spaces per 10,000 square feet gross floor area
G. 
Design standards. All SGD projects shall comply with the following design standards, unless the Planning Board finds, through site plan review, any standard to be inappropriate for the proposed use.
(1) 
Building design.
(a) 
New buildings shall be designed to be compatible with SGD landmark buildings, as defined in Subsection G(2) herein, in terms of their massing, size, scale, and architectural features.
(b) 
Exterior materials that are primarily associated with domestic residential buildings, such as wood clapboards and shingles, or that are relatively impermanent, such as exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), plywood, aluminum and vinyl, are discouraged.
(c) 
Building facades shall articulate the line between the ground and upper levels with a cornice, canopy, balcony, arcade, or other visual device.
(d) 
Building facades facing public streets or Stone Place, or within 30 feet of main entrances, shall reflect a high level of detail refinement.
(e) 
Building facades more than 50 feet in length shall be divided into shorter segments by means of changes in materials, varying rooflines or other architectural treatments.
(f) 
Rooftop building systems, such as mechanical and electrical equipment and antennas, shall be screened with appropriate architectural elements from all key observation points.
(g) 
New buildings and renovations shall incorporate sustainable design and construction practices as governed by the Energy Star and WaterSense Programs to the extent reasonable, and developers are strongly encouraged to achieve United States Green Building Council LEED certification for their building or its reasonable equivalent.
(h) 
For new buildings containing commercial uses, at least 60% of the street-facing building facade between two feet and eight feet in height shall be comprised of clear windows that allow views of indoor space or product display areas. This requirement shall not apply to buildings accessory to residential uses and not open to the general public, such as clubhouses.
(i) 
Buildings or building facades shall not be designed primarily according to themes or architectural styles defined by or associated with corporate chains or franchises. The Planning Board may prohibit designs that it finds to be inconsistent with this provision.
(2) 
Historic preservation.
(a) 
The following buildings or portions of buildings, identified in Figure 1, are designated "SGD landmark buildings":
A - 78 Stone Place
B - 111 Washington Street/72 Stone Place
C - 99 Washington Street
D - 99B Washington Street
(b) 
No SGD landmark building shall be demolished.
(c) 
Any alteration or addition to a SGD landmark building shall not modify its architectural features in such a way as to impair or detract from the building's historic character.
(d) 
The Planning Board may prohibit alterations or additions to SGD landmark buildings that it finds to be materially inconsistent with this provision.
(3) 
Landscaping.
(a) 
Landscape materials shall be sustainable, requiring minimal maintenance, irrigation or fertilizer, and shall be planted with species that are native to the area, tolerant of salt, and capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions.
(b) 
Street trees shall be planted by the developer along all public streets and internal ways within and abutting the property.
[1] 
Trees shall be planted at intervals of no more than 40 feet along both sides of the roadway. If the Planning Board determines through site plan review that such spacing is not feasible, it may alter the spacing or determine that up to the equivalent number of trees shall be planted elsewhere on the site.
[2] 
Trees shall be of a species common to the area, and shall be appropriate species to provide summer shade, winter light, and year-round visual interest.
[3] 
Trees shall be 2.5 inches caliper at four feet above grade and reach a height of at least 30 feet at maturity.
(c) 
All dumpsters and utility/service areas shall be screened with adequate plantings and/or landscape structures appropriate to the scale and character of the neighborhood.
(d) 
A landscaped buffer strip at least 10 feet in width shall be provided along any lot line that abuts a residential zoning district. The buffer strip shall contain a vegetative screen not less than three feet wide and six feet high relative to the lot line, designed and maintained to provide a dense screen year round. The screen shall be planted with trees or shrubs no more than three feet on center. At least 50% of the plantings shall consist of evergreens, distributed along the length of the buffer strip.
(4) 
General site design.
(a) 
Roadways, sidewalks and other infrastructure shall be designed in accordance with the City of Melrose's Subdivision Regulations, and with the additional standards set forth below.
(b) 
Sidewalks, crosswalks, walkways, or other pedestrian access shall be provided to allow for safe and convenient access to adjacent properties and between individual buildings, parking areas and other points of interest within a development. Sidewalks and walkways shall be constructed of cementitious concrete and shall be minimally broken by vehicular access.
(c) 
Pedestrian amenities such as benches, planters, trash receptacles, walkways and gardens, etc., shall be provided along the sidewalks of public streets and in open space plazas.
(d) 
All utilities servicing an SGD project shall be placed underground, unless prohibited by a utility company. All utilities on new internal roadways servicing an SGD project shall be placed underground. All utility and drainage requirements shall be approved as part of the site plan review process and not subject to any other sections of the Zoning Ordinance.
(e) 
Off-street parking and loading spaces, internal ways, and maneuvering areas shall be designed to provide for adequate drainage, snow storage and removal, maneuverability and curb cuts.
(f) 
Granite curbing shall be used along all roads and private internal ways. Cementitious concrete curbing may be substituted for granite curbing in all other locations.
(g) 
The number of driveway curb cuts along Washington and Pleasant Streets shall be kept to a minimum.
(h) 
Driveways shall be consolidated and aligned with existing intersections as feasible.
(i) 
Appropriate traffic control devices, including signage, shall be installed at driveways.
(j) 
Adequate sight distance shall be provided at driveways.
(5) 
Parking.
(a) 
Surface lots shall be screened along all public streets by a landscaped buffer not less than six feet in depth, or by walls or fencing at least three feet high and compatible with the adjacent architecture, and shall be designed to ensure that lights from cars within the surface lots do not spill into adjacent streets and properties. These provisions shall not apply to SGD projects that are limited to the rehabilitation of a building or buildings in existence at the time of the effective date of this § 235-71.1 and do not include the construction of new buildings.
(b) 
Parking structures and lots shall have well-designed and marked pedestrian walkways and connections to the sidewalk system.
(c) 
Parking structures shall be designed to be compatible with adjacent buildings and architecture. All structured parking shall be designed so that the only openings at street level are those to accommodate vehicle ingress and egress and pedestrian access to the building. All openings shall be designed so that vehicles are not visible from the sidewalk on a public street.
(d) 
Parking and loading areas shall be screened from view from public ways. They may be located at the side or rear of a lot or in concealed structures and shall be suitably screened both visually and acoustically from the street and abutters. Any views into parking structures shall be minimized through use of landscaping or architectural treatment.
(6) 
Site lighting.
(a) 
Broad area lighting shall be avoided.
(b) 
Parking lot pole lighting shall not exceed a height of 18 feet.
(c) 
Lighting shall be installed along roadways, driveways, pedestrian walkways and sidewalks.
(d) 
Lighting shall not create overspill onto adjacent properties or into the night sky and shall meet the following requirements:
[1] 
Any luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 1,800 lumens (and any flood or spot luminaires of more than 900 lumens) shall be of fully shielded (cutoff) design and shall not emit any direct light above a horizontal plane passing through the lowest part of the light-emitting luminaire.
[2] 
Luminaires, regardless of lumen rating, shall be equipped with whatever additional shielding, lenses, or cutoff devices are required to eliminate light trespass onto any abutting lot or parcel and to eliminate glare perceptible to persons on abutting land.
[3] 
Building facades may be illuminated with soft lighting of low intensity that does not draw attention to the building. The light source for the building facade illumination shall be concealed. Building entrances may be illuminated using recessed lighting in overhangs and soffits or by use of spotlighting focused on the building entrances with the light source concealed (e.g., in landscaped areas). Direct lighting of limited exterior building areas is permitted when necessary for security purposes.
[4] 
A flood or spot luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at 900 lumens or less may be used without restriction to light distribution, provided that it is aimed, directed, or focused so as not to cause direct light from the luminaire to be directed toward buildings on adjacent or nearby land or to create glare perceptible to persons operating motor vehicles on public ways.
(e) 
Lamp type shall be selected to provide a natural uniform quality of light, rather than a strong color such as yellow or blue.
(f) 
The style of light poles and fixtures shall be compatible with the character of the area and any existing City standards.
(g) 
Parking and pedestrian light fixtures shall be compatible with the building lighting to provide for a consistent appearance of the project.
(7) 
Infrastructure.
(a) 
Smart Growth District projects shall demonstrate that adequate water supply and pressure are available, adequate sewerage capacity is available, adequate stormwater management is provided, traffic circulation on site is safe and convenient and the traffic flow and circulation at nearby intersections is preserved, pursuant to the criteria stipulated in § 235-16.1. Analysis and documentation of compliance with these standards shall be prepared by registered engineers and/or other appropriate professionals. When the size and complexity of a proposal for an SGD project warrants an independent review of the impacts, the applicant will be responsible for funding such independent peer review.
(b) 
In cases where a specific SGD project would not otherwise meet the above criteria, the developer shall implement mitigation measures, including but not limited to improvements to public infrastructure, to adequately address any deficiency.
(8) 
Signs.
(a) 
An SGD project shall comply with the provisions of this section, which supersede the provisions of §§ 235-27 through 235-30 for SGD projects only.
(b) 
An SGD project may have up to two standing signs complying with the following standards:
[1] 
Maximum height above the sidewalk: six feet.
[2] 
Maximum sign area: 40 square feet per sign face.
[3] 
Minimum setback from front lot line: 10 feet.
[4] 
Minimum setback from side lot line: 30 feet.
[5] 
Minimum distance between two standing signs on the same lot: 300 feet.
(c) 
Within an SGD project, each business that has an exterior public entrance may have one wall sign, attached and parallel to the facade containing said entrance, as follows:
[1] 
Maximum sign area: 50 square feet or 10% of the area of the facade occupied by the business, whichever is less.
[2] 
Maximum projection from building wall: six inches.
[3] 
No sign shall be mounted above the first floor of a building.
(d) 
Within an SGD project, each business that has an exterior public entrance may have one projecting (blade) sign, attached and perpendicular to the facade containing said entrance, as follows:
[1] 
Maximum height above grade: 15 feet.
[2] 
Minimum clearance above grade: eight feet.
[3] 
Maximum sign area: six square feet per side.
[4] 
Maximum projection from building wall: four feet.
(e) 
Signs in display windows may be permitted provided that such signage shall not cover more than 10% of the display window area and shall be lighted only by building illumination (stationary white light).
(f) 
Signs may be illuminated only by an external source of steady, stationary white light, of reasonable intensity, shielded and directed solely at the sign, and not casting direct or reflected light off the premises. No sign shall be illuminated internally or from behind a translucent sign face. All light fixtures shall either be decorative (such as goose-neck lights) or camouflaged. Wiring should be concealed within building molding and lines.
(g) 
The following additional signs are permitted in an SGD project:
[1] 
Any traffic or directional sign owned and installed by a governmental agency.
[2] 
One unlighted temporary sign offering premises for sale or lease for each parcel in one ownership, provided that it shall not exceed six square feet in surface area and it shall be set back at least 10 feet from the street lot line.
[3] 
One unlighted temporary sign of an architect, engineer or contractor erected during the period such person is performing work on the premises on which such sign is erected, provided that it shall not exceed four square feet in surface area and it shall be set back at least 10 feet from the street lot line.
(h) 
Additional sign regulations.
[1] 
The limitations as to the number of signs permitted does not apply to traffic or directional signs which are necessary for the safety and direction of residents, employees, customers and visitors, whether in a vehicle or on foot, of any business, industry or residence. Such signs shall not carry the name of any business or product.
[2] 
The supporting members for any sign shall be in acceptable proportion to the size of the sign.
[3] 
Any sign attached to a building shall not extend above the height of the roof of the building.
[4] 
No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct any door, window or fire escape on a building.
[5] 
Signage should employ colors and type faces that complement the primary architectural style of the building.
[6] 
Signs should be made of durable materials compatible with the materials of the building served.
[7] 
Signage shall be integrated into the architecture. Signage that covers or obscures significant architectural details of the building shall be avoided.
[8] 
In a multiple storefront building, the signage should be of a size, location, material and color that relates harmoniously between bays.
[9] 
Neon signs, reader boards, LED lights, or other similar signs shall not be permitted.
H. 
Affordable housing.
(1) 
An SGD project shall be subject to the affordable housing incentive program under § 235-73.1, as modified by Subsection H(2) through (5) below.
(2) 
In an SGD project, the affordable units (as defined in § 235-73.1A) shall qualify for inclusion on the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development's Chapter 40B Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) or any successor inventory. Failure to maintain compliance with the criteria for inclusion on the SHI, or removal of an affordable unit from the SHI for any reason, shall be deemed to be noncompliance with this § 235-71.1.
(3) 
Unless otherwise required for inclusion on the SHI, the rent price, including utilities, of an affordable unit in an SGD project shall be established using the income of households making 80% of the median household income in the Metropolitan Area Boston-Cambridge-Quincy HMFA Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, adjusted for family size, and shall not exceed 30% of the income of said median household.
(4) 
Unless otherwise required for inclusion on the SHI, the sale price of an affordable unit in an SGD project shall be established using the income of households making 80% of the median household income in the Metropolitan Area Boston-Cambridge-Quincy HMFA Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, adjusted for family size. The mortgage payment, assuming 5% down payment and including hazard insurance, real estate taxes, condominium fees and, where applicable, private mortgage insurance, shall not exceed 30% of the income of said median household.
(5) 
Regardless of the rent or sales price limitations in the previous subsections, the developer of an SGD project may choose to reduce the rent or sales price of the affordable unit/s.
I. 
Ownership and maintenance of common facilities.
(1) 
All internal streets, ways, and parking areas shall be privately owned. The maintenance of all such private streets, ways and parking areas, including but not limited to snowplowing, patching and repaving, shall remain the responsibility of the owner. All deeds conveying any portion of the land containing private streets, ways, or parking areas shall note this private responsibility of maintenance.
(2) 
In order to ensure that any proposed common open space and common facilities within the development will be properly maintained, any SGD project in which dwelling units shall be offered for sale shall have a residents' association, which shall be in the form of a corporation, nonprofit organization or trust established in accordance with appropriate state law by a suitable legal instrument or instruments recorded at the Registry of Deeds or Registry District of the Land Court. As part of the site plan review, the applicant shall supply to the Planning Board copies of such proposed instrument.
J. 
Development phasing.
(1) 
An SGD project may be developed in phases and may be developed under one or more building permits and occupancy permits. Phasing of the development and associated infrastructure shall be specified in the site plan approval.
(2) 
Lot area coverage, open space, affordable housing, off-street parking and required mitigation shall correspond with the sequence of development implemented in the SGD project, so that at all times such requirements shall be met as applied only to those portions of the SGD project for which building permits have been issued. Such requirements shall be met prior to the issuance of certificates of occupancy for such buildings.
[Added 7-21-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-146; amended 4-6-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-90]
A. 
Purpose. The purposes of the Rail Corridor Overlay District are:
(1) 
To promote economic development and neighborhood revitalization through the redevelopment of underutilized structures and sites;
(2) 
To provide housing options which are sufficient to meet the needs of households at varying income levels and different stages of life;
(3) 
To promote high-quality, sustainable design that reinforces and enhances neighborhood identity and minimizes negative impacts on the environment;
(4) 
To create a pedestrian-friendly environment that promotes walking, bicycling, and transit use and encourages reduced vehicle ownership; and
(5) 
To promote a mix of compatible uses.
B. 
Definition and applicability.
(1) 
A "Rail Corridor Overlay District project" ("RCOD project") is a development that complies with all the provisions of this § 235-71.2, including provisions relating to uses, density, site and building dimensions, off-street parking, building design, lighting, and signs.
(2) 
This § 235-71.2 includes use, dimensional and other regulations that may modify the requirements of the underlying district(s) for an RCOD project. Any requirement of the Zoning Ordinance that is not specifically modified by this § 235-71.2 shall remain in effect for an RCOD project.
(3) 
The provisions of this § 235-71.2 shall apply only to an RCOD project. Any building, structure or use of land that is not part of an RCOD project shall conform to the regulations and requirements applicable to the underlying districts without modification by this § 235-71.2.
(4) 
An RCOD project shall be subject to site plan review under § 235-16.1. Site plan review approval for an RCOD project is contingent upon the Planning Board, acting as the Site Plan Review Committee, finding that the requirements of this § 235-71.2 are met in addition to the site plan review criteria described in § 235-16.1.
C. 
Establishment of Rail Corridor Overlay District.
(1) 
The Rail Corridor Overlay District (RCOD) is established as an overlay district that may be applied to land in the Extensive Business (BB-1) District as described herein, which is referred to herein as the "underlying district." When a parcel is placed within the RCOD, it also remains in the underlying district and must comply with the regulations of the underlying district except as specifically modified by this § 235-71.2.
(2) 
The Rail Corridor Overlay District includes the following parcels, identified by Assessors' Map and lot numbers as of March 1, 2014. This list of parcels is intended to include all properties shown on the Melrose Zoning Map in the Extensive Business (BB-1) Districts located on Tremont Street and Essex Street.
Map
Lots
B9
105, 1067A8 (106, 107A, 108), and 109
B10
64, 65-66+, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, and 73-74
B11
70, 71, 72, 74, 75, and 76
C7
55 and 56
C8
1, 2-3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10+, 12, 14, 40, and 48
C11
1-1A, 2, 126 and 127
D. 
Permitted uses.
(1) 
An RCOD project may include, and shall be limited to, the following permitted uses, alone or in combination:
(a) 
Multifamily residential, including townhouses and apartment buildings and including accessory uses thereto;
(b) 
Retail establishments selling convenience goods such as food, drugs and proprietary goods, or general merchandise such as dry goods, apparel and accessories, hardware, home furnishings, and similar items, provided that no individual establishment shall exceed 10,000 square feet of gross floor area;
(c) 
Personal and consumer services establishments, including beauty and barber shops, clothing rental, dry cleaning pickup shops, garment repair, tailors, and similar businesses providing frequent or recurrent services related to personal needs, and including accessory retail sales of products related to the services offered at such consumer services establishments;
(d) 
Professional and business offices, including but not limited to medical, legal, insurance, architects, engineers, and real estate offices. This does not include banks and financial institutions or substance abuse treatment centers;
(e) 
Veterinary hospitals, provided that no individual establishment shall exceed 10,000 square feet of gross floor area;
(f) 
Restaurants, coffee shops, and similar establishments selling prepared food to be consumed on or off site;
(g) 
Studios of artists or artisans, including persons engaged in the application, teaching, or performance of fine arts such as but not limited to drawing or painting, sculpture, vocal or instrumental music, or writing, and including the accessory sale of art produced on the premises; and
(h) 
Assisted living facilities.
(i) 
Brewery without distribution.
[Added 9-21-2023 by Order No. 2024-4]
(2) 
An RCOD project may include more than one principal structure on a single lot, provided that the Planning Board finds through the site plan review process that safe and convenient access will be provided to all structures.
(3) 
An RCOD project shall not include any use which consists of drive-through service, whereby a product or service is provided to a person who remains in a vehicle.
E. 
Dimensional and density regulations.
(1) 
Lot area and frontage. An RCOD project shall have a minimum lot area of 10,000 square feet and a minimum frontage on a public way of at least 50 feet.
(2) 
Lot depth. An RCOD project shall have a minimum lot depth of 90 feet.
(3) 
Yards.
(a) 
Minimum yards. Each lot within the RCOD project shall comply with the following requirements:
[1] 
Minimum front yard: 10 feet from the lot line.
[2] 
Minimum side yard: five feet from the lot line.
[a] 
Abutting a UR-B Zoning District: 12 feet from the lot line.
[3] 
Minimum rear yard: 10 feet from the lot line.
[a] 
Abutting a UR-B Zoning District: 15 feet from the lot line.
[4] 
Corner lots shall have a minimum rear yard setback of five feet.
(b) 
Maximum front yard.
[1] 
In order to define a consistent building line along the street, new buildings shall not be set back more than 15 feet from the front property line.
[2] 
The maximum front yard may be increased to 25 feet, provided that the additional yard area incorporates a courtyard or sitting area at least 1,500 square feet in area and at least 20 feet deep that adjoins and is open on one or more sides to the public sidewalk; is open to the public; contains pedestrian amenities such as seating; and is landscaped to create a separation from the street, to provide shade, to reduce noise, and to mitigate fumes.
[3] 
At least 60% of the front side of a lot facing a public street, measured in percentage of linear feet of the frontage, shall be occupied by buildings or open space.
(c) 
The Planning Board may require, on the basis of site plan review, an accessway to improve pedestrian circulation and for public safety access.
(4) 
Building separation. Buildings on a single lot shall be at least 18 feet apart to provide adequate separation for emergency access.
(5) 
Development intensity.
(a) 
The maximum residential density of an RCOD project shall be 35 dwelling units per acre, except for assisted living facility projects which shall be permitted up to 60 dwelling units per acre.
(b) 
The maximum floor area ratio (FAR) of an RCOD project shall be 1.5.
(6) 
Open space and streetscape enhancements.
(a) 
An RCOD project shall include open space at least equal to 10% of the total lot area.
(b) 
The open space requirement shall apply to the RCOD project as a whole, regardless of whether the RCOD project consists of a single lot or multiple lots.
(c) 
In recognition of the need for streetscape improvements that will result from new development, an RCOD project shall also contribute to the City's Streetscape Improvement Fund as follows: upon receiving a building permit for any residential or commercial space in an RCOD project, the applicant shall make a contribution to the City's Streetscape Improvement Fund in the amount of $1,100 per dwelling unit and $1 per gross square foot for all other uses.
(7) 
Building and structure height.
(a) 
The maximum permitted height for buildings and structures in an RCOD project shall be four stories and 50 feet, except as follows:
[1] 
Buildings may be permitted up to five stories and 62 feet in height at the Planning Board's discretion, when appropriate, given site constraints and/or unusual site characteristics and provided that all portions of the building above 50 feet are set back at least 20 feet from all property boundaries and shall be stepped back a minimum of 10 feet from each facade of the floor below, except for those facades which face the commuter rail right-of-way where no upper level step back is required.
[2] 
Rail Corridor Overlay District projects that exceed four stories and 50 feet in height shall provide additional public amenities in excess of the minimum 10% open space requirement for the RCOD. In the additional public amenity area, projects shall incorporate a courtyard or sitting area that adjoins and is open on one or more sides to the public sidewalk; is open to the public; contains pedestrian amenities such as seating; and is landscaped/hardscaped to create a separation from the street, to provide shade, to reduce noise, and to mitigate fumes.
(b) 
The height of a building or structure in the RCOD shall be defined as the vertical distance from the average grade of Tremont Street or Essex Street (whichever the property has frontage on), along the frontage of the lot/s of the RCOD project at the time of the site plan review application, to the top of the structure of the highest roof beams of a flat roof, the deck of a mansard roof or the mean level of the highest gable or slope of a hip roof. This shall supersede the definition of "height" in § 235-5 for an RCOD project.
(c) 
A roof appurtenance enclosing mechanical equipment may exceed the applicable maximum building height established by Subsection E(7)(a) above provided that:
[1] 
It is no more than 10 feet above the roof surface;
[2] 
It is no less than 10 feet from the exterior wall of the building; and
[3] 
The total horizontal area of all such appurtenances does not exceed 20% of the building footprint.
(8) 
Building coverage. There shall be no maximum permitted coverage for buildings in an RCOD.
F. 
Off-street parking.
(1) 
Off-street parking spaces shall be provided as follows:
Use
Spaces Required
Residential
1.0 space per dwelling unit.
1.0 visitor space per 10 residential units
Office, retail, and other uses
1.0 space per 500 square feet gross floor area
Assisted living facility
1.0 space per 4 dwelling units plus 1 space per employee on largest shift
(2) 
On-street parking on public streets and internal ways may be permitted within the Rail Corridor Overlay District provided all necessary approvals are obtained, but on-street parking on public streets shall not be used to meet the minimum requirements for off-street parking.
(3) 
The Planning Board may allow shared or reduced parking requirements for uses having different peak times of parking demand requirements or if a use needs a lesser number of parking spaces than is required. Evidence which supports these shared or reduced parking requirements shall be produced in a report from a traffic engineer engaged by the applicant and approved by the Planning Board as part of site plan review. Where shared parking is to serve uses on separate lots, documentation shall be provided establishing the permanent legal right for such shared use. Factors that the Planning Board may consider include but are not limited to:
(a) 
Proximity to available public parking with demonstrated availability to support the project.
(b) 
Characteristics of the occupants that create less parking demand, such as age or household income.
(c) 
Provision of a mix of uses on site with offset peak parking demand times.
(d) 
A shared parking agreement with proximate properties with offset parking demand times.
(e) 
Dedication of spaces for car-sharing services (e.g., Zipcar).
(f) 
Employers who provide transit incentives for their employees.
(4) 
Parking setbacks.
(a) 
Surface parking areas shall conform to the following minimum setback requirements:
[1] 
From a public street: 20 feet.
[2] 
From an internal way (not to include parking lot drive aisles): five feet.
[3] 
From a structure: five feet.
[4] 
From a side or rear lot line where the abutting property is within the RC Overlay District notwithstanding any other setback provision within this Subsection F(4)(a): five feet.
[5] 
From a lot line abutting the railroad right-of-way: five feet.
[6] 
From any other side or rear lot line: 10 feet.
(b) 
No surface parking area or parking structure shall be closer to a public street than the closest principal building.
(5) 
Bicycle parking facilities or storage shall be provided as follows, assuming one space accommodates one bicycle. Except for assisted living facilities, RCOD projects with 20 or more residential units shall provide covered bicycle parking facilities or storage with protection from the elements for at least 1/2 of the required number of bicycle parking spaces.
Use
Bicycle Parking Required
Residential
1.0 space per 5 dwelling units
Assisted living facility
1.0 space per 5 vehicle parking spaces
All other uses
1.0 space per 1,000 square feet gross floor area
G. 
Design standards. All RCOD projects shall comply with the following design standards, unless the Planning Board finds, through site plan review, any standard to be inappropriate for the proposed use.
(1) 
Building design.
(a) 
Exterior materials that are primarily associated with domestic residential buildings, such as wood clapboards and shingles, or that are relatively impermanent, such as exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), plywood, aluminum, and vinyl, are strongly discouraged.
(b) 
Building facades shall articulate the line between the ground and upper levels with a cornice, canopy, balcony, arcade, or other visual device.
(c) 
Building facades facing public streets or within 30 feet of main entrances shall reflect a high level of detail refinement.
(d) 
Building facades more than 50 feet in length shall be divided into shorter segments by means of changes in materials, varying rooflines or other architectural treatments.
(e) 
Rooftop building systems, such as mechanical and electrical equipment and antennas, shall be screened with appropriate architectural elements from all key observation points.
(f) 
New buildings and renovations shall incorporate sustainable design and construction practices as governed by the Energy Star and WaterSense Programs to the extent reasonable, and developers are strongly encouraged to achieve United States Green Building Council LEED certification for their building or its reasonable equivalent.
(g) 
For new buildings containing commercial uses, at least 60% of the street-facing building facade between two feet and eight feet in height shall be comprised of clear windows that allow views of indoor space or product display areas. This requirement shall not apply to buildings accessory to residential uses and not open to the general public, such as clubhouses.
(h) 
Buildings or building facades shall not be designed primarily according to themes or architectural styles defined by or associated with corporate chains or franchises. The Planning Board may prohibit designs that it finds to be inconsistent with this provision.
(2) 
Landscaping.
(a) 
Landscape materials shall be sustainable, requiring minimal maintenance, irrigation or fertilizer, and shall be planted with species that are native to the area, tolerant of salt, and capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions.
(b) 
Street trees shall be planted by the developer along all public streets and internal ways within and abutting the property.
[1] 
Trees shall be planted at intervals of no more than 30 feet along both sides of the roadway. If the Planning Board determines through site plan review that such spacing is not feasible, it may alter the spacing or determine that up to the equivalent number of trees shall be planted elsewhere on the site.
[2] 
Trees shall be of a species common to the area, and shall be appropriate species to provide summer shade, winter light, and year-round visual interest.
[3] 
Trees shall be 2.5 inches caliper at four feet above grade and reach a height of at least 30 feet at maturity.
(c) 
All dumpsters and utility/service areas shall be screened with adequate plantings and/or landscape structures appropriate to the scale and character of the neighborhood.
(d) 
A landscaped buffer strip at least 10 feet in width shall be provided along any lot line that abuts a residential zoning district. The buffer strip shall contain a vegetative screen not less than three feet wide and six feet high relative to the lot line, designed and maintained to provide a dense screen year round. The screen shall be planted with trees or shrubs no more than three feet on center. At least 50% of the plantings shall consist of evergreens, distributed along the length of the buffer strip.
(3) 
General site design.
(a) 
Roadways, sidewalks and other infrastructure shall be designed in accordance with the City of Melrose's Subdivision Regulations and with the additional standards set forth below.
(b) 
Sidewalks, crosswalks, walkways, or other pedestrian access shall be provided to allow for safe and convenient access to adjacent properties and between individual buildings, parking areas and other points of interest within a development. Sidewalks and walkways shall be constructed of cementitious concrete and shall be minimally broken by vehicular access.
(c) 
Pedestrian amenities such as benches, planters, trash receptacles, walkways and gardens, etc., shall be provided along the sidewalks of public streets and in open space plazas.
(d) 
All utilities servicing an RCOD project shall be placed underground, unless prohibited by a utility company. All utilities on new internal roadways servicing an RCOD project shall be placed underground. All utility and drainage requirements shall be approved as part of the site plan review process and not subject to any other sections of the Zoning Ordinance.
(e) 
Off-street parking and loading spaces, internal ways, and maneuvering areas shall be designed to provide for adequate drainage, snow storage and removal, maneuverability and curb cuts.
(f) 
Granite curbing shall be used along all roads and private internal ways. Cementitious concrete curbing may be substituted for granite curbing in all other locations.
(g) 
The number of driveway curb cuts along Tremont and Essex Streets shall be kept to a minimum.
(h) 
Driveways shall be consolidated and aligned with existing intersections as feasible.
(i) 
Appropriate traffic control devices, including signage, shall be installed at driveways.
(j) 
Adequate sight distance shall be provided at driveways.
(4) 
Parking.
(a) 
Surface lots shall be screened along all public streets by a landscaped buffer not less than six feet in depth, or by walls or fencing at least three feet high and compatible with the adjacent architecture, and shall be designed to ensure that lights from cars within the surface lots do not spill into adjacent streets and properties.
(b) 
Parking structures and lots shall have well-designed and marked pedestrian walkways and connections to the sidewalk system.
(c) 
Parking structures shall be designed to be compatible with adjacent buildings and architecture. All structured parking shall be designed so that the only openings at street level are those to accommodate vehicle ingress and egress and pedestrian access to the building. All openings shall be designed so that vehicles are not visible from the sidewalk on a public street.
(d) 
Parking and loading areas shall be screened from view from public ways. They may be located at the side or rear of a lot or in concealed structures and shall be suitably screened both visually and acoustically from the street and abutters. Any views into parking structures shall be minimized through use of landscaping or architectural treatment.
(5) 
Site lighting.
(a) 
Broad area lighting shall be avoided.
(b) 
Parking lot pole lighting shall not exceed a height of 18 feet.
(c) 
Lighting shall be installed along roadways, driveways, pedestrian walkways and sidewalks.
(d) 
Lighting shall not create overspill onto adjacent properties or into the night sky and shall meet the following requirements:
[1] 
Any luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 1,800 lumens (and any flood or spot luminaires of more than 900 lumens) shall be of fully shielded (cutoff) design and shall not emit any direct light above a horizontal plane passing through the lowest part of the light-emitting luminaire.
[2] 
Luminaires, regardless of lumen rating, shall be equipped with whatever additional shielding, lenses, or cutoff devices are required to eliminate light trespass onto any abutting lot or parcel and to eliminate glare perceptible to persons on abutting land.
[3] 
Building facades may be illuminated with soft lighting of low intensity that does not draw attention to the building. The light source for the building facade illumination shall be concealed. Building entrances may be illuminated using recessed lighting in overhangs and soffits, or by use of spotlighting focused on the building entrances with the light source concealed (e.g., in landscaped areas). Direct lighting of limited exterior building areas is permitted when necessary for security purposes.
[4] 
A flood or spot luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at 900 lumens or less may be used without restriction to light distribution, provided that it is aimed, directed, or focused so as not to cause direct light from the luminaire to be directed toward buildings on adjacent or nearby land, or to create glare perceptible to persons operating motor vehicles on public ways.
(e) 
Lamp type shall be selected to provide a natural uniform quality of light, rather than a strong color such as yellow or blue.
(f) 
The style of light poles and fixtures shall be compatible with the character of the area and any existing City standards.
(g) 
Parking and pedestrian light fixtures shall be compatible with the building lighting to provide for a consistent appearance of the project.
(6) 
Infrastructure.
(a) 
Rail Corridor Overlay District projects shall demonstrate that adequate water supply and pressure are available, adequate sewerage capacity is available, adequate stormwater management is provided, traffic circulation on site is safe and convenient and the traffic flow and circulation at nearby intersections is preserved, pursuant to the criteria stipulated in § 235-16.1. Analysis and documentation of compliance with these standards shall be prepared by registered engineers and/or other appropriate professionals. When the size and complexity of a proposal for an RCOD project warrants an independent review of the impacts, the applicant will be responsible for funding such independent peer review.
(b) 
In cases where a specific RCOD project would not otherwise meet the above criteria, the developer shall implement mitigation measures, including but not limited to improvements to public infrastructure, to adequately address any deficiency.
(7) 
Signs.
(a) 
An RCOD project shall comply with the provisions of this section, which supersede the provisions of Article VII, Signs, for RCOD projects only.
(b) 
An RCOD project may have one standing sign complying with the following standards:
[1] 
Maximum height above the sidewalk: six feet.
[2] 
Maximum sign area: 40 square feet per sign face.
[3] 
Minimum setback from front lot line: 10 feet.
[4] 
Minimum setback from side lot line: 15 feet.
(c) 
Within an RCOD project, each business that has an exterior public entrance may have one wall sign, attached and parallel to the facade containing said entrance, as follows:
[1] 
Maximum sign area: 50 square feet or 10% of the area of the facade occupied by the business, whichever is less.
[2] 
Maximum projection from building wall: six inches.
[3] 
No sign shall be mounted above the first floor of a building.
(d) 
Within an RCOD project, each business that has an exterior public entrance may have one projecting (blade) sign, attached and perpendicular to the facade containing said entrance, as follows:
[1] 
Maximum height above grade: 15 feet.
[2] 
Minimum clearance above grade: eight feet.
[3] 
Maximum sign area: six square feet per side.
[4] 
Maximum projection from building wall: four feet.
(e) 
Signs in display windows may be permitted provided that such signage shall not cover more than 10% of the display window area and shall be lighted only by building illumination (stationary white light).
(f) 
Signs may be illuminated only by an external source of steady, stationary white light, of reasonable intensity, shielded and directed solely at the sign, and not casting direct or reflected light off the premises. No sign shall be illuminated internally or from behind a translucent sign face. All light fixtures shall either be decorative (such as goose-neck lights) or camouflaged. Wiring should be concealed within building molding and lines.
(g) 
The following additional signs are permitted in an RCOD project:
[1] 
Any traffic or directional sign owned and installed by a governmental agency.
[2] 
One unlighted temporary sign offering premises for sale or lease for each parcel in one ownership, provided that it shall not exceed six square feet in surface area and it shall be set back at least 10 feet from the street lot line.
[3] 
One unlighted temporary sign of an architect, engineer, or contractor erected during the period such person is performing work on the premises on which such sign is erected, provided that it shall not exceed four square feet in surface area and it shall be set back at least 10 feet from the street lot line.
(h) 
Additional sign regulations.
[1] 
The limitations as to the number of signs permitted does not apply to traffic or directional signs which are necessary for the safety and direction of residents, employees, customers, and visitors, whether in a vehicle or on foot, of any business, industry, or residence. Such signs shall not carry the name of any business or product.
[2] 
The supporting members for any sign shall be in acceptable proportion to the size of the sign.
[3] 
Any sign attached to a building shall not extend above the height of the roof of the building.
[4] 
No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct any door, window or fire escape on a building.
[5] 
Signage should employ colors and type faces that complement the primary architectural style of the building.
[6] 
Signs should be made of durable materials compatible with the materials of the building served.
[7] 
Signage shall be integrated into the architecture. Signage that covers or obscures significant architectural details of the building shall be avoided.
[8] 
In a multiple storefront building, the signage should be of a size, location, material and color that relates harmoniously between bays.
[9] 
Neon signs, reader boards, LED lights, or other similar signs shall not be permitted.
H. 
Affordable housing.
(1) 
An RCOD project shall be subject to the affordable housing incentive program under § 235-73.1, as modified by Subsection H(2) through (5) below.
(2) 
In an RCOD project, the affordable units (as defined in § 235-73.1A) shall qualify for inclusion on the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development's Chapter 40B Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) or any successor inventory. Failure to maintain compliance with the criteria for inclusion on the SHI, or removal of an affordable unit from the SHI for any reason, shall be deemed to be noncompliance with this § 235-71.2.
(3) 
Unless otherwise required for inclusion on the SHI, the rent price, including utilities, of an affordable unit in an RCOD project shall be established using the income of households making 80% of the median household income in the Metropolitan Area Boston-Cambridge-Quincy HMFA Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, adjusted for family size, and shall not exceed 30% of the income of said median household.
(4) 
Unless otherwise required for inclusion on the SHI, the sale price of an affordable unit in an RCOD project shall be established using the income of households making 80% of the median household income in the Metropolitan Area Boston-Cambridge-Quincy HMFA Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, adjusted for family size. The mortgage payment, assuming 5% down payment and including hazard insurance, real estate taxes, condominium fees and, where applicable, private mortgage insurance, shall not exceed 30% of the income of said median household.
(5) 
Regardless of the rent or sales price limitations in the previous subsections, the developer of an RCOD project may choose to reduce the rent or sales price of the affordable unit/s.
I. 
Ownership and maintenance of common facilities.
(1) 
All internal streets, ways, and parking areas shall be privately owned. The maintenance of all such private streets, ways and parking areas, including but not limited to snowplowing, patching and repaving, shall remain the responsibility of the owner. All deeds conveying any portion of the land containing private streets, ways, or parking areas shall note this private responsibility of maintenance.
(2) 
In order to ensure that any proposed common open space and common facilities within the development will be properly maintained, any RCOD project in which dwelling units shall be offered for sale shall have a residents' association, which shall be in the form of a corporation, nonprofit organization or trust established in accordance with appropriate state law by a suitable legal instrument or instruments recorded at the Registry of Deeds or Registry District of the Land Court. As part of the site plan review, the applicant shall supply to the Planning Board copies of such proposed instrument.
J. 
Development phasing.
(1) 
An RCOD project may be developed in phases and may be developed under one or more building permits and occupancy permits. Phasing of the development and associated infrastructure shall be specified in the site plan approval.
(2) 
Lot area coverage, open space, affordable housing, off-street parking and required mitigation shall correspond with the sequence of development implemented in the RCOD project, so that at all times such requirements shall be met as applied only to those portions of the RCOD project for which building permits have been issued. Such requirements shall be met prior to the issuance of certificates of occupancy for such buildings.
[Added 12-16-1996 by Ord. No. 97-38]
For adult use consisting of adult bookstore, adult club, adult motion-picture theater, adult paraphernalia store or adult video store, the following conditions shall apply:
A. 
Adult uses shall be permitted only when located outside the area circumscribed by a circle which has a radius consisting of the following distances from the specified use or zoning district:
(1) 
Three hundred feet from any residential district (SR, SR-A, SR-B, UR-A, UR-B, UR-C and UR-D).
(2) 
Three hundred feet from any school, park or playground.
(3) 
Three hundred feet from any place of religious worship or assembly.
B. 
The radius distance shall be measured by following a straight line, without regard to intervening buildings or structures, from the nearest point of the property parcel upon which the proposed use is to be located to the nearest point of the parcel of property for the land use district boundary line from which the proposed adult use is to be separated.
C. 
Adult uses shall be permitted only when located 300 feet from any other adult use.
D. 
Nothing in this chapter is intended to authorize, legalize or permit the establishment, operation or maintenance of any business, building or use which violates any City ordinance or statute of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding public nuisances, sexual conduct, lewdness or obscene or harmful matter or the exhibition or public display thereof.
[Added 1-4-1999 by Ord. No. 99-021]
For a wireless communications service facility (WCSF), in addition to the applicable conditions contained in this chapter and conditions specifically imposed by the Board of Appeals, the following conditions shall apply:
A. 
An applicant proposing a WCSF must demonstrate that there are no other adequate WCSF reasonably available to accommodate the new or additional WCSF equipment. To the extent feasible, all service providers shall co-locate on a single facility. The intent of this requirement is to reduce the number of facilities that will be required within the community.
B. 
The only freestanding WCSF allowed is a monopole.
C. 
No freestanding facility shall exceed more than 80 feet in height above grade.
D. 
Facilities mounted on buildings may not extend more than 10 feet above the height of the building or more than 12 inches beyond the face of walls or exterior surfaces in the case of structures that do not have walls. For purposes of this subsection, height of a building shall mean "height" as defined in Article II of this chapter.
E. 
Roof-mounted facilities must be stepped back from the front facade to limit the impact on building silhouette and, where possible, concealed from public view.
F. 
Trees and vegetation shall be used as a buffer zone for freestanding WCSF. Such buffer zone shall measure at least five feet in height and shall be maintained in healthy condition. It is not intended to interfere with the operation of the facility. In cases where vegetation already exists efforts will be made to preserve such vegetation or replace with similar vegetation. In areas where buffer zones of trees and vegetation must be implanted, the Planning Board shall review and recommend what trees and vegetation shall be implanted on the property.
G. 
The color of the facilities shall be painted a neutral color or such color that will blend and minimize the facility's appearance.
H. 
Fencing shall be used to control access and shall be aesthetically compatible with the area. Razor wire, barbed wire or a similar wire shall not be allowed.
I. 
Night and other lighting shall be prohibited except as required by the FAA. Any emergency or repair lighting shall be shielded from abutting properties and only used for a reasonable time as necessary for such emergency or repair.
J. 
There shall be no advertising permitted on or in the vicinity of the facilities, except for no trespassing signs. An unlighted sign no more than one square foot in surface area shall be displayed with a name and telephone number of a contact person to call for twenty-four-hour maintenance.
K. 
Traffic associated with the facility and accessory facilities and structures shall not adversely affect abutting ways.
L. 
Certification by a licensed structural professional engineer of the integrity of the facility and, when installed on an existing building or facility, certification as to the capability of the structure to accept the added load being installed.
M. 
Stormwater runoff shall be contained on site or discharged to the City stormwater system.
N. 
A wireless communications service facility shall not generate noise in excess of the levels permitted under the Chapter 164, Noise, of this Code or in excess of 50 decibels, whichever is less.
O. 
A freestanding facility shall not be erected nearer to any property line than a distance equal to the vertical height of the facility measured at the mean finished grade of the facility plus five feet.
P. 
All facilities shall be designed to be constructed at the minimum height necessary to accommodate the anticipated and future use.
Q. 
Structures are to be aesthetically consistent with the area in which they are located.
R. 
An applicant proposing a WCSF in a residential zoning district shall demonstrate that the facility must be located at the proposed site due to technical, topographical or other unique circumstances.
S. 
Special permits under this section shall be for a term of five years from the date of the decision approving the special permit. An applicant for a special permit may reapply at any time after the fourth anniversary of the date of the decision approving the special permit. In the event a renewal of a special permit is granted, it shall run for a period of five years commencing on the date of expiration of the prior special permit.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Art. XVI, Wireless Communications Service Facilities.
[Added 8-9-2004 by Ord. No. 04-184A; amended 2-19-2019 by Order No. 2019-30]
A. 
Purposes. The purposes of this section are to promote the public health, safety and welfare by encouraging the expansion and upgrading of the City's housing stock; to provide for a full range of housing choices throughout the City for households of all incomes, ages and sizes in order to meet the City's goal of preserving diversity; to increase the production of affordable housing units to meet existing and anticipated housing and employment needs within the City; to ensure addition of affordable units on the Commonwealth's Chapter 40B Subsidized Housing Inventory; to provide a mechanism by which residential development contributes in a direct way to increasing the supply of affordable housing; and to establish standards and guidelines for such contributions.
B. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AFFORDABLE UNIT
A dwelling unit that is regulated by this section of the Zoning Ordinance.
DEVELOPER
Any individual, corporation, business trust, real estate trust, partnership or association, or any other entity or combination thereof applying for, constructing, and/or managing a development to which this section applies.
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING INVENTORY
Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) Chapter 40B Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI), as set forth in 760 CMR 56.
C. 
Applicability and requirements.
(1) 
Development applicability: The provisions of this section shall apply to any residential or mixed-use development containing five or more dwelling units by new construction, redevelopment of a structure or substantial rehabilitation of existing units, including lodging and rooming house dwellings, planned developments and phased projects. "Phased projects" are any development at one or more adjoining sites in common ownership or under common control developed within a period of three years. "Developed within a period of three years" shall mean that no more than three years elapse between the issuance of an occupancy permit for one site and the filing for a zoning permit or building permit for the adjoining site(s). These provisions shall apply with respect to developments in all zoning districts of the City, provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply to any development which has previously received a special permit or variance from the relevant permit granting authority containing conditions requiring the inclusion of affordable housing in such development, nor to any such development which is subsequently modified in accordance with the provisions of this section, provided that such affordable housing inclusion conditions remain substantially unchanged as a result of any such modification.
(2) 
Number of units to be provided: A developer subject to these provisions shall provide 15% of the total number of dwelling units as affordable units. Where the application of that formula results in a fraction, a fraction of 1/2 or more shall be rounded up to the next whole number. Where the application of that formula results in a fraction of less than 1/2 a monetary contribution to the Melrose Affordable Housing Trust is required for the fractional amount. For an ownership unit, the monetary contribution shall be equal to the fraction multiplied by the difference between the fair market value of a comparable market-rate unit recently sold within the City of Melrose and the price of an affordable unit in the development. For a rental unit, the monetary contribution will be calculated using the same procedure as for an ownership unit, assuming the value of the unit if it was sold rather than rented. A developer is allowed to provide an additional affordable unit that complies with the regulations in the section instead of providing the monetary contribution.
(3) 
Income limits: Affordable units shall serve eligible households whose annual incomes do not exceed 80% of the median income of households in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy MSA/HMFA adjusted for family size and whose assets do not exceed those allowed by DHCD for the unit to be eligible for inclusion on the SHI.
(4) 
Cost: The monthly rent payment, including utility allowances, charged for a rental affordable unit shall not exceed an amount equal to 30% of the maximum monthly income of an eligible household. The monthly housing costs for an ownership affordable unit (inclusive of principal, interest, private mortgage insurance, hazard insurance, real estate taxes, and condominium fees) shall not exceed 38% of monthly income for a household earning 80% of area median income, adjusted for household size. The terms of the loan, the amount of the down payment, and interest rates are taken into consideration in setting the precise income requirements for each for-sale affordable unit.
(5) 
Relationship to the SHI: The affordable units shall qualify as local action units in compliance with the provisions of the Local Initiative Program (LIP) regulations, 760 CMR 56.00, for inclusion on the Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) or any successor inventory. Failure to gain approval or maintain compliance with the criteria for inclusion on the SHI, or removal of an affordable unit from the SHI for any reason, shall be deemed to be noncompliance with this section.
(6) 
Location: Affordable units shall be provided on site unless the Planning Board by special permit allows the fulfillment of the requirement off-site in comparable units which may only occur when extraordinary circumstances exist.
(7) 
Payment-in-lieu: A development of five, six or seven units has the option of providing one affordable unit on-site or making a monetary contribution to the Melrose Affordable Housing Trust in lieu of providing the affordable unit on-site. The monetary contribution shall be equal to 3% of the total sale or market value of all the units in the development. The Melrose Affordable Housing Trust will use the funds exclusively to promote the City's affordable housing goals.
(8) 
Duration: Affordable units shall be maintained in perpetuity.
D. 
Incentives. To facilitate the objectives of this section, the following modifications to the dimensional and parking requirements in any zoning district may be permitted by special permit by the Planning Board for a development of eight or more units that provides affordable units on-site in accordance with Subsection C above.
(1) 
For every affordable unit required by Subsection C above, the developer may build one additional unit in the development, regardless of the minimum lot area required for the additional unit or units. Except for the resulting reduction in the minimum lot area, all other dimensional and density regulations shall apply to the development.
(2) 
The parking requirement for the development may be reduced by 0.5 space per unit but shall not be less than 1.0 space per unit. The developer shall provide evidence that supports the reduced parking requirements in a report for the Planning Board's consideration. The report may include but is not limited to: proximity to public transit, proximity to available public or shared parking with demonstrated availability to support the project; characteristics of the occupants that create less parking demand, such as age or household income; provision of a mix of uses on site with offset peak parking demand times; a shared parking agreement with proximate properties with offset parking demand times; dedication of spaces for car-sharing services (e.g., Zipcar); and the provision of transit passes for residents.
E. 
Standards for construction and occupancy of affordable units.
(1) 
Affordable units shall be dispersed throughout the development and shall be comparable in size, number of bedrooms, materials, interior finishes, amenities and parking to dwelling units in the neighborhood and in the development in which they are located. Exteriors of affordable units shall be consistent with and indistinguishable from the exteriors of other units in the project.
(2) 
Affordable units shall serve eligible households of diverse sizes based on the number of bedrooms in each affordable unit.
(3) 
The number of persons occupying the affordable units shall be consistent with the state sanitary code and the applicable state and federal guidelines.
(4) 
70% of the affordable units shall be offered initially to Melrose residents, persons employed within the City of Melrose, or households with children enrolled in the City of Melrose's schools, as allowed by DHCD.
(5) 
The rental or ownership of affordable units shall mirror the project as a whole. For example, affordable units should be sold, not rented, where a majority of units will be offered for sale.
F. 
Administration and enforcement.
(1) 
The affordable units shall be subject to proper deed restrictions consistent with Massachusetts General Law.
(2) 
The developer shall use the DHCD Local Initiative Program (LIP) Regulatory Agreement and, in the case of ownership units, the Universal Deed Rider, which shall, at a minimum, identify and describe the affordable dwelling units in the development, an inventory of the units, condition of the units, monitoring of eligibility and terms of their sale or lease.
(3) 
The developer is responsible for creating and implementing a marketing plan for the affordable units that is approved by DHCD and the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD). The plan must describe the household selection process, set forth a plan for affirmative fair marketing to protected groups underrepresented in the municipality, describe outreach efforts and include provisions for a lottery. OPCD will monitor the marketing process to ensure compliance with the approved marketing plan. When feasible, OPCD may opt to assist the developer in marketing the affordable units.
(4) 
The developer is responsible for the application process and lottery to establish tenants or buyers for the affordable units. The affordable housing lottery shall take place prior to the Inspectional Services Department issuing Certificates of Occupancy for the affordable units. When feasible, OPCD may assist with the lottery.
(5) 
The developer shall work with OPCD to submit an application to the DHCD LIP for inclusion of the affordable units on the City's SHI. The developer shall provide the information needed for the City to submit the LIP application before the issuance of the certificates of occupancy for the affordable units.
(6) 
Annually, the developer shall submit to OPCD and DHCD a proposed schedule of monthly rents and utility allowances for all rental affordable units in the project. Such schedule shall be subject to the approval of OPCD and DHCD for compliance with the requirements of the Regulatory Agreement. For ownership units, the owner of an affordable unit shall certify in writing annually to OPCD and DHCD that he/she continues to occupy the unit as a primary residence, the unit has not been refinanced and that it has been maintained in a manner consistent with the Regulatory Agreement and the Deed Rider. If the unit is resold, the owner must report to OPCD and DHCD that the purchase is being been done in compliance with all of the terms and provisions of the Deed Rider and Regulatory Agreement.
[Added 12-19-2005 by Ord. No. 06-017; amended 6-5-2006 by Ord. No. 06-224; 5-19-2008 by Ord. No. 06-224A]
A. 
Purpose.
(1) 
The purposes of this section shall be:
(a) 
To preserve and enhance the landscape by encouraging the maximum retention of natural topographic features, such as drainage swales, streams, slopes, ridge lines, rock outcroppings, vistas, natural plant formations and trees;
(b) 
To minimize the effects of grading to ensure that the natural character of steep slopes is retained;
(c) 
To minimize water runoff and soil erosion problems incurred in grading of steep slopes; and
(d) 
To encourage innovative architectural, landscaping, circulation and site design.
(2) 
For the purposes of this section, the term "natural" shall be defined as the condition of the ground surface as it exists on the date this section is adopted. No land may be regraded or filled in such manner as to circumvent this section.
B. 
Applicability.
(1) 
The provisions of this section shall be applicable to all zoning districts in the City of Melrose. Exempted from this section shall be:
(a) 
Alterations, extensions, and additions to existing single- and two-family dwellings and buildings accessory thereto that do not expand the building footprint by more than 500 square feet.
(b) 
Site improvements to existing single- and two-family dwellings that do not exceed 500 square feet.
(2) 
The provisions of this section shall not apply to a development which has received a street opening permit from the Engineering Division and has substantially completed construction at the time the notice of this amendment was published.
C. 
Use and dimensional regulations. The slope of land at any point, stated as a percentage, shall be defined as the change in elevation over a horizontal distance multiplied by 100: slope = (change in elevation ± horizontal distance measured perpendicular to horizon) x 100.
(1) 
All areas with natural slopes exceeding 25% over a horizontal distance of 30 feet on a tract or parcel of land intended or proposed for subdivision or development, or on a lot intended for building purposes, shall be excluded from the calculation of the minimum lot area required for the applicable zoning district.
(2) 
All natural slopes exceeding 25% over a horizontal distance of 30 feet are protected and shall remain in their natural state.
D. 
Special permit. The Planning Board may grant a special permit to utilize areas with natural slopes exceeding 25%, as prohibited in Subsection C(1) and (2), if the Board finds that the proposal satisfies the purposes set forth in Subsection A(1)(a) through (d) above as well as the findings in § 235-63 of this chapter.
(1) 
Applications.
(a) 
Applications for a special permit shall include the following:
[1] 
An executive summary and site plan generally describing the nature and location of the project and how it fulfills the purpose of this section and meets the requirements for issuance of a special permit under Article XI;
[2] 
Parcel lot lines for the proposed project and surrounding parcels;
[3] 
Location of existing and proposed buildings on the project site;
[4] 
Foundation lines of the proposed buildings, gross floor area, and building height;
[5] 
Existing and proposed topography and the location of all natural features such as wetlands, streams, water bodies, and exposed bedrock to be removed, if any;
[6] 
Areas subject to a one-hundred-year flood, if any;
[7] 
Provisions for the protection of abutting properties during construction, and site excavation, demolition, blasting, and site reclamation plans if appropriate;
[8] 
Proposed landscaping, including all screening and buffering of adjacent residential areas;
[9] 
An erosion prevention plan prepared by a registered/licensed professional, which includes calculations and measures to prevent erosion and undermining of the subject property and abutting properties. Include how slope protection will be achieved and details of all retaining walls if applicable;
[10] 
Drainage calculations prepared by a registered/licensed engineer demonstrating that following the proposed removal, the amount of runoff shall not exceed the amount of runoff prior to the removal;
[11] 
A stormwater management plan and installation of underground and surface drainage facilities in accordance with best management practices (BMPs) to prevent surface erosion, undermining, and post-development runoff that exceeds pre-development runoff; and
[12] 
Any other information requested by the Planning Board that will allow fair and full consideration of the special permit request.
(b) 
Any of the requirements of a slope protection special permit application may be waived by a majority vote of the SPGA. Waiver requests must be in writing.
(2) 
The Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) will distribute a set of the application materials to the City Engineer and Building Inspector for review. The Office of Planning and Community Development will provide notice of receipt of an application to the Board of Health, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Conservation Commission, City Solicitor, and Mayor. All departments shall report their comments, conditions, remedial measures and recommendations, in writing, to the Planning Board within 30 days.
(3) 
If an applicant receives a special permit pursuant to this section to utilize slopes exceeding 25%, then a variance from this chapter will not be necessary from the Board of Appeals for insufficient lot area, unless the entire lot area, including the area of slope exceeding 25%, is insufficient for building purposes under this chapter.
E. 
Special permit granting authority. For slope protection special permits the Planning Board is the special permit granting authority.
F. 
Relationship to site plan review. For the convenience of the applicant, site plan review and request for a special permit pursuant to this section may be acted upon concurrently to the degree feasible. The applicant will be responsible for submitting a request which meets all submission requirements, concurrently, in order to streamline notice and hearing requirements.
[Added 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-129]
A. 
Purpose.
(1) 
To allow for the establishment of registered marijuana dispensaries (RMDs) as they are authorized pursuant to state regulations set forth at 105 CMR 725.000, Implementation of an Act for the Humanitarian Medical Use of Marijuana.
(2) 
To minimize the adverse impacts of RMDs on adjacent properties, residential neighborhoods, schools and other places where children congregate, and other land uses potentially incompatible with said facilities.
(3) 
To regulate the siting, design, placement, security, safety, monitoring, modification, and removal of RMDs.
B. 
Applicability.
(1) 
The provisions of this section shall be applicable to all RMDs, unless it meets the requirements for an agricultural exemption under MGL c. 40A, § 3.
(2) 
Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede any state or federal laws or regulations governing the sale and distribution of narcotic drugs.
C. 
General requirements and conditions for all registered marijuana dispensaries.
(1) 
Location and operation.
(a) 
An RMD shall be located in, and conduct all operations within, an enclosed, permanent building.
(b) 
An RMD shall be limited to 5,000 square feet of gross floor area.
(c) 
All publicly accessible entrances shall be visible from a public way.
(d) 
Drive-through windows and/or any interactions or sales to customers within vehicles are prohibited.
(e) 
Registered marijuana dispensaries shall not be located inside a building containing residential dwelling units, including transient housing, group housing, hotels, motels, lodging houses, and/or dormitories.
(f) 
An RMD shall not be sited within a radius of 500 feet from a school, day-care center, or any facility in which children commonly congregate. The five-hundred-foot distance shall be measured in a straight line from the nearest point of the facility in question to the nearest point of the RMD.
(g) 
Hours of operation of RMDs shall be set by the special permit granting authority, but in no event shall an RMD be open to the public, performing deliveries, and/or otherwise operating between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
(h) 
There shall be no smoking, burning, or consumption of any product containing marijuana or marijuana-related products on the premises, including all buildings, accessory structures, parking lots or parking areas, walks and/or immediate surroundings located on the same lot/parcel as the RMD.
(i) 
All RMDs shall be ventilated in such a manner that no pesticides, insecticides or other chemicals or products used in cultivation or processing are dispersed into the outside atmosphere, and so that no odor from marijuana or its processing can be detected by a person with an unimpaired and otherwise normal sense of smell at the exterior of the RMD or at any adjoining use or property.
(2) 
Signage.
(a) 
All signs associated with RMDs shall comply with 105 CMR 725.000 and Article VII, Signs, of this Zoning Ordinance.
(b) 
Signs shall only identify the establishment by its registered name.
(c) 
Signs shall not utilize graphics related to marijuana or paraphernalia on the exterior of the building in which the RMD is located.
(d) 
At every publicly accessible entrance, there shall be at least one sign that includes the language "Registration card issued by the MA Department of Public Health required." The required text shall be a minimum of two inches in height.
(e) 
Signs shall not be illuminated after closing. Neon and flashing signage is prohibited.
(3) 
Security.
(a) 
Registered marijuana dispensaries shall provide the Melrose Police Department and Building Commissioner with the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of all management staff and key holders to whom one can provide notice if there are operating problems associated with the establishment and update that list whenever there is any change in management staff or key holders.
(b) 
Solid waste dumpsters or other waste containers shall be locked and enclosed by a screening enclosure so as not to be accessible to the public.
(c) 
Landscaping elements must be non-obtrusive. The placement of landscaping elements for the RMD must ensure landscaping elements, including trees, bushes, and other foliage, do not allow for a person or persons to conceal themselves at night.
(d) 
The exterior grounds, including the parking lot and landscaped areas, shall be lighted in such a manner that all areas are clearly visible at all times during business hours.
D. 
Special permit. For RMD special permits, the Planning Board is the special permit granting authority. The Planning Board may grant a special permit for an RMD in the BB and I Zoning Districts if the Board finds that the proposal satisfies the purposes set forth in Subsection A(1) through (3) above, the general requirements and conditions for all RMDs in Subsection C above, the findings in § 235-63 of the Zoning Ordinance, and the following statements, regulations, requirements, conditions, and limitations.
(1) 
Applications. Applications for a special permit shall include the following:
(a) 
The name and address of each owner of the establishment and property owner.
(b) 
Evidence of the applicant's right or intended right to use the site for the establishment, such as an executed or draft deed or lease.
(c) 
If the applicant is a business organization, a statement under oath disclosing all of its owners, shareholders, partners, members, managers, directors, officers, trustees or other similarly situated individuals and entities and their addresses. If any of the above are entities rather than persons, the applicant must disclose the identity of the owners of such entities until the disclosure contains the names of individuals.
(d) 
A narrative describing the type and scale of all activities that will take place on the proposed site, including but not limited to cultivating and processing of marijuana or marijuana-infused products, on-site sales, off-site deliveries, distribution of educational materials, and other programs or activities.
(e) 
A floor plan of the proposed RMD that identifies square footage available and describes the functional areas of the RMD, including areas for any preparation of marijuana-infused products.
(f) 
A site plan depicting the proposed development on the property, including the dimensions of the building, the layout of parking, the location of pedestrian and vehicular points of access and egress, the location and design of all loading, refuse and service facilities, the location, type and direction of all outdoor lighting on the site, and any landscape design.
(g) 
Architectural drawings of all exterior building facades and all proposed signage, specifying materials and colors to be used.
(h) 
Proposed security measures for the RMD, including lighting, fencing, video monitoring, gates and alarms, etc., to ensure the safety of persons and to protect the premises from theft.
(i) 
Traffic impact analysis including modeling the expected origin and frequency of client and employee trips to the site, the expected modes of transportation used by clients and employees, and the frequency and scale of deliveries to and from the site.
(j) 
Copies of registration materials for all required licenses and permits issued to the applicant by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and any of its agencies for the RMD.
(k) 
Letters from the Police Department and Board of Health indicating that the application materials were reviewed and safety and security measures of the RMD are adequate.
(l) 
Any other information requested by the Planning Board that will allow fair and full consideration of the special permit request.
(2) 
The Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) will distribute a set of the application materials to the Police Chief, Health Director, and Building Commissioner for review. The Office of Planning and Community Development will provide notice of receipt of an application to the City Engineer, Fire Chief, Conservation Commission, City Solicitor, City Council, and Mayor. All departments shall report their comments, conditions, remedial measures and recommendations, in writing, to the Planning Board within 30 days.
(3) 
Findings. In addition to the findings required by § 235-63, the Planning Board shall not issue a special permit for an RMD unless it finds that:
(a) 
The RMD meets a demonstrated local and regional need based on the proximity of other RMDs serving the City's qualifying patients;
(b) 
The RMD is designed to minimize any adverse visual or economic impacts on abutters and other parties in interest;
(c) 
The RMD meets all other applicable requirements of the Zoning Ordinance and the permitting requirements of all applicable agencies of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Melrose, and will otherwise comply with all applicable state and local laws and regulations;
(d) 
The RMD provides a secure indoor waiting area for patients;
(e) 
The RMD is designed to provide convenient, safe, and secure access and egress for clients and employees;
(f) 
The RMD addresses issues of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, circulation, parking and queuing, especially during peak periods at the RMD; and
(g) 
The RMD provides adequate security measures to ensure that no individual participants will pose a threat to the health or safety of other individuals, and that the storage and/or location of cultivation of marijuana is adequately secured in enclosed, locked facilities.
(4) 
Conditions. The Planning Board may impose conditions reasonably appropriate to improve site design, traffic flow, public safety, and air quality and preserve the character of the surrounding area and otherwise serve the purpose of this section.
E. 
Annual reporting. Each RMD permitted shall as a condition of its special permit file an annual report to the special permit granting authority, the Board of Health, the Building Commissioner, the Police Department, and the City Clerk no later than January 31, providing a copy of all current applicable state licenses for the RMD and/or demonstrate continued compliance with 105 CMR 725.000 as well as the conditions of the special permit.
F. 
Abandonment or discontinuance of use.
(1) 
A special permit granted under this section shall have a term limited to the duration of the applicant's operation of the premises as an RMD.
(2) 
An RMD shall be required to remove all material, plants, equipment, and other paraphernalia:
(a) 
If any required permit or license is revoked or suspended by the issuing authority;
(b) 
Prior to surrendering its state licenses or permits; or
(c) 
Within six months of ceasing operations, whichever comes first.
[Added 3-18-2019 by Order No. 2019-31]
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to permit state-licensed marijuana establishments to operate in select locations in the City of Melrose, pursuant to local requirements that seek to protect the health, safety, and public welfare of residents and in accordance with Chapter 94G of the Massachusetts General Laws, 935 CMR 500.000 ("Adult Use of Marijuana"), and regulations promulgated by the Cannabis Control Commission.
B. 
Applicability. The provisions of this section shall be applicable to all marijuana establishments in the City of Melrose, with the exception of registered marijuana dispensaries (RMDs). Regulations for RMDs can be found in § 235-73.3 of the Melrose Zoning Ordinance.
C. 
General requirements and conditions.
(1) 
Location and operation.
(a) 
Marijuana establishments are permitted as allowed in the Table of Use and Parking Regulations (§ 235-17).
(b) 
All marijuana establishments shall be located in, and conduct all operations within, an enclosed, permanent building.
(c) 
Marijuana establishments may cultivate, process, test, store and manufacture marijuana or marijuana products only within an area that is enclosed and secured in a manner that prevents access by persons not permitted by the marijuana establishment to access the area.
(d) 
No marijuana establishment shall allow cultivation, processing, manufacture, sale or display of marijuana or marijuana products to be visible from a public place without the use of binoculars, aircraft, or other optical aids.
(e) 
All marijuana establishments shall be ventilated in such a manner that no pesticides, insecticides or other chemicals or products used in cultivation or processing are dispersed into the outside atmosphere, and so that no odor from marijuana or its processing can be detected by a person with an unimpaired and otherwise normal sense of smell at the exterior of the marijuana establishment or at any adjoining use or property.
(f) 
There shall be no smoking, eating, or other forms of consumption of any product containing marijuana or marijuana-related products on the premises, including all buildings, accessory structures, parking lots or parking areas, walks and/or immediate surroundings located on the same lot/parcel as the marijuana establishment.
(g) 
Marijuana establishments shall not permit any disorder, disturbance, or illegality under state or local law of any kind on the premises, including all buildings, accessory structures, parking lots or parking areas, walks and/or immediate surroundings located on the same lot/parcel as the marijuana establishment.
(h) 
Hours of operation of marijuana establishments shall be set by the special permit granting authority.
(i) 
Drive-through windows and/or any interactions or sales to customers within vehicles are prohibited.
(j) 
Marijuana establishments are prohibited from use of on-site self-service displays, including vending machines, through which customers may select marijuana or marijuana products without assistance from an employee or store personnel.
(k) 
Delivery-only marijuana retailers shall be prohibited.
(l) 
All signs associated with marijuana establishments shall comply with 935 CMR 500.000 and Article VII, Signs, of the Melrose Zoning Ordinance. Signs shall only identify the marijuana establishment by its registered name and shall not utilize graphics related to marijuana or paraphernalia on the exterior of the building in which the establishment is located. Signs shall not be illuminated after closing and neon and flashing signage is prohibited.
(2) 
Additional location requirements.
(a) 
A marijuana establishment shall not be sited within a radius of 500 feet from schools that serve kindergarten through 12th grade, whether public or private. The 500-foot distance shall be measured in a straight line from the property line of the school in question to the property line of the marijuana establishment.
(b) 
Marijuana establishments shall not be located in a building that contains a pre-existing daycare center.
(c) 
Marijuana product manufacturing shall not be done in any building containing assembly, educational, health care, ambulatory health care, residential board and care, residential, or detention and correctional facilities.
(d) 
Marijuana transportation or distribution facilities shall not occupy street-level space.
(3) 
Security.
(a) 
Marijuana establishments shall provide the Melrose Police Department and Building Commissioner with the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of all management staff and key holders to whom one can provide notice if there are operating problems associated with the establishment and update that list whenever there is any change in management staff or key holders.
(b) 
Solid waste dumpsters or other waste containers shall be locked and enclosed by a screening enclosure so as not to be accessible to the public.
(c) 
Landscaping elements must be nonobtrusive. The placement of landscaping elements for the marijuana establishment must ensure landscaping elements, including trees, bushes, and other foliage, do not allow for a person or persons to conceal themselves at night.
(d) 
The exterior grounds, including the parking lot and landscaped areas, shall be lighted in such a manner that all areas are clearly visible at all times during business hours.
(e) 
Marijuana establishments shall secure every entrance to the marijuana establishment so that access to areas containing the storage of marijuana products are restricted to employees and others permitted by the marijuana establishment to access the area and to Cannabis Control Commission or state and local law enforcement officers, agents, and emergency personnel.
(f) 
Marijuana establishments shall secure their inventory and equipment during and after operating hours to deter and prevent theft of marijuana, marijuana products, and marijuana accessories.
D. 
Special permit. For special permits for marijuana establishments, the Planning Board is the special permit granting authority. The Planning Board may grant a special permit for a marijuana establishment as allowed herein if the Board finds that the proposal satisfies the purposes set forth in Subsection A above, the general requirements and conditions for marijuana establishments in Subsection C above, the findings in § 235-63 of the Zoning Ordinance, and the following statements, regulations, requirements, findings, conditions, and limitations. Applications for a special permit for a marijuana establishment shall not be subject to site plan review (§ 235-16.1).
(1) 
Requirements.
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a marijuana establishment without obtaining a special permit to operate pursuant to the requirements of this section.
(b) 
A separate special permit is required for each different marijuana establishment detailed in § 235-5, Definitions. In the case that one or more different types of marijuana establishments are proposed, each establishment type shall require a special permit from the Planning Board.
(c) 
The special permit requirements set forth in this chapter shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other licensing and permitting requirements imposed by any other federal, state, or local law.
(d) 
The issuance of a special permit pursuant this chapter does not create an exception, defense, or immunity to any person or entity in regard to any potential criminal liability the person or entity may have for the production, distribution, or possession of marijuana.
(e) 
A special permit issued for a marijuana establishment is not transferable or assignable to a different location or a different type of marijuana establishment.
(f) 
In compliance with Chapter 94G, § 3(a), of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Planning Board shall not grant special permits that would allow for more than one marijuana retailer to be in operation at any one time.
(2) 
Applications for a special permit shall include the following:
(a) 
The name and address of each owner of the establishment and property owner.
(b) 
Evidence of the applicant's right or intended right to use the site for the establishment, such as an executed or draft deed or lease.
(c) 
If the applicant is a business organization, a statement under oath disclosing all of its owners, shareholders, partners, members, managers, directors, officers, trustees or other similarly situated individuals and entities and their addresses. If any of the above are entities rather than persons, the applicant must disclose the identity of the owners of such entities until the disclosure contains the names of individuals.
(d) 
An operation and management plan containing a narrative describing the type and scale of all activities that will take place on the proposed site, including but not limited to cultivating and processing of marijuana or marijuana-infused products, on-site sales, distribution of educational materials, and other programs or activities. The operation and management plan shall also detail hours of operation, staffing, employee safety, fire prevention, ventilation system and air quality, and proposed utility demand.
(e) 
A floor plan of the proposed marijuana establishment that identifies square footage available and describes the functional areas of the marijuana establishment.
(f) 
A construction management plan, if renovations or new construction will occur, containing provisions for the protection of abutting properties during construction, and site excavation, demolition, blasting, and site reclamation plans if appropriate.
(g) 
A site plan depicting the proposed development on the property, including the dimensions of the building, the layout of parking, the location of pedestrian and vehicular points of access and egress, the location and design of all loading, refuse and service facilities, the location, type and direction of all outdoor lighting on the site, and any landscape design.
(h) 
Architectural drawings of all exterior building facades and all proposed signage, specifying materials and colors to be used.
(i) 
A security plan containing security measures for the marijuana establishment, including lighting, fencing, video monitoring, gates and alarms, etc., to ensure the safety of persons and to protect the premises from theft. The security plan shall also detail security measures for the transportation of marijuana and marijuana products to and from off-site premises.
(j) 
Traffic impact analysis including modeling the expected origin and frequency of client and employee trips to the site, the expected modes of transportation used by clients and employees, and the frequency and scale of deliveries to and from the site.
(k) 
Copies of registration materials for all required licenses and permits issued to the applicant by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and any of its agencies for the marijuana establishment.
(l) 
Letters from the Police Department and Board of Health indicating that the application materials were reviewed and the safety and security measures of the marijuana establishment are adequate.
(m) 
Any other information requested by the Planning Board that will allow fair and full consideration of the special permit request.
(3) 
Applications for a marijuana retailer seeking to colocate with a registered marijuana dispensary shall include a narrative detailing the physical separation between medical and adult-use (recreational) sales areas. Separation may be provided by a temporary or semipermanent physical barrier, such as a stanchion, that adequately separates sales areas of marijuana products for medical use from sales areas of marijuana products for adult use. A retailer shall provide for separate lines for sales of marijuana products for medical use from marijuana products for adult use within the sales area; provided, however, that the holder of a medical registration card may use either line and shall not be limited only to the medical use line. A retailer shall additionally provide an area that is separate from the sales floor to allow for confidential consultation.
(4) 
The Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) will distribute a set of the application materials to the Police Chief, Health Director, and Building Commissioner for review. The Office of Planning and Community Development will provide notice of receipt of an application to the City Engineer, Fire Chief, Conservation Commission, City Solicitor, City Council, and Mayor. All departments shall report their comments, conditions, remedial measures and recommendations, in writing, to the Planning Board within 30 days.
(5) 
Findings. In addition to the findings required by § 235-63, the Planning Board shall not issue a special permit for a marijuana establishment unless it finds that:
(a) 
The marijuana establishment complies with all applicable state and local laws, regulations, and requirements, including, but not limited to, health and safety regulations, and construction and environmental requirements;
(b) 
The building and site have been designed to be compatible with other buildings and sites in the area;
(c) 
The siting of the marijuana establishment will be accomplished so as to minimize any adverse impacts on abutters and other parties in interest;
(d) 
The marijuana establishment will create no substantial harm to the established or future character of the neighborhood or city;
(e) 
With due consideration to aesthetics, the marijuana establishment is designed to ensure convenient, safe, and secure access for the personal safety of customers and those working at the facility, and to protect the premises from theft and diversion of marijuana;
(f) 
The applicant has demonstrated the availability and provision of adequate access, utilities, and other infrastructure and that the operation of the marijuana establishment will not adversely affect such access, utilities, and infrastructure;
(g) 
The applicant addresses issues of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, circulation, parking and queuing, especially during peak periods at the marijuana establishment; and
(h) 
The marijuana establishment provides adequate security measures to ensure that no individual participants will pose a threat to the health or safety of other individuals, and that the storage and/or location of cultivation of marijuana is adequately secured in enclosed, locked facilities.
(6) 
Conditions. The Planning Board may impose conditions reasonably appropriate to improve site design, traffic flow, public safety, and air quality and preserve the character of the surrounding area and otherwise serve the purpose of this section. As a condition of this special permit, all marijuana establishments shall meet with the Melrose Fire Department and Melrose Police Department to discuss emergency and contingency plans for the site. Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the Building Commissioner, a written emergency response plan shall be filed with the Melrose Fire Department and the Melrose Police Department that includes employee roles and responsibilities, locations of fire suppression systems, evacuation routes, and meeting locations during an emergency.
E. 
Inspections and reporting.
(1) 
Marijuana establishments shall consent to unannounced, unscheduled, periodic inspections of its premises by the Building Commissioner or designee, including an agent from the Building, Health, Police, and Fire Departments on weekdays during normal business hours to determine the marijuana establishment's compliance with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, regulations, codes, license and permit conditions, and this section.
(2) 
Routine inspections may be made on weekdays during regular City business hours by authorized inspectional departments to determine compliance with applicable state and local laws, regulations, codes, and license and permit conditions. Inspections by the authorized inspectional departments may be made at other times to investigate complaints or suspected noncompliance issues.
(3) 
Inspections may include all areas occupied, used, or controlled by the marijuana establishment. Inspections shall be conducted in conformity with applicable federal, state, and local law.
(4) 
Each marijuana establishment permitted shall as a condition of its special permit file an annual report to the special permit granting authority, the Board of Health, the Building Commissioner, the Police Department, and the City Clerk no later than January 31, providing a copy of all current applicable state licenses for the marijuana establishment and/or demonstrating continued compliance with 935 CMR 500.000 as well as the conditions of the special permit.
F. 
Abandonment or discontinuance of use.
(1) 
A special permit granted under this section shall have a term limited to the duration of the applicant's operation of the premises as a marijuana establishment.
(2) 
A marijuana establishment shall be required to remove all material, plants, equipment, and other paraphernalia:
(a) 
If any required permit or license is revoked or suspended by the issuing authority;
(b) 
Prior to surrendering its state licenses or permits; or
(c) 
Within six months of ceasing operations; whichever comes first.