[Amended 10-28-1969; 4-27-1971; 11-15-1977; 2-27-1979; 11-14-1989; 2-13-1990; 11-10-1992; 8-14-2001; 7-23-2013; 5-13-2014]
The following types of districts, as shown on the Zoning Map referred to in § 177-4 and the Zoning Map, Town of West Hartford, Connecticut, are hereby established for the purposes described generally below as part of the Comprehensive Plan for the Town of West Hartford:
A.
The predominant character of the Town as it exists and as planned
is one-family residential, but it is the intent that there be a variety
of types of residential environments to meet the variety of needs
and desires of the Town's residents and also to recognize the prevailing
character of certain existing residential areas which fit into the
Comprehensive Zoning Plan. The variety of residential characters is
intended to be accomplished through a range of one-family district
densities and standards, as well as by a limited amount of area set
aside for multifamily residential structures.
(1)
One-family residence districts.
(a)
The purpose of the following types of one-family residence districts
is to provide areas for those residents who desire individual dwelling
structures surrounded by open space which can be landscaped and developed
with facilities for outdoor family living and where there is generally
less traffic and relatively greater quiet. In keeping with these purposes,
it is intended that nonresidential uses in such districts be limited
to those which are primarily necessary or desirable to serve the residents
of these districts and are compatible with residential uses when located
in their midst. Only those nonresidential uses listed as permitted
in each district are considered to be compatible.
(b)
The types of one-family residence districts, which vary only
in the minimum requirements for lot area, dimensions and other spatial
standards, are as follows:
(2)
Multifamily residence districts.
(a)
The purpose of the multifamily residence districts is to provide
areas for those residents who cannot or do not wish to have personal
responsibility for the maintenance of residential property or who
cannot assume financial obligations of owning or maintaining individual
residential dwellings or who, for other reasons, prefer the more urbanized
environmental character associated with multifamily residential areas.
As in one-family residential areas, it is intended that nonresidential
uses be limited to those necessary or desirable and compatible in
the midst of residential areas and only those uses listed as permitted
and as regulated in such districts are considered to be compatible.
(b)
The types of multifamily residence districts, which vary primarily
in minimum requirements for lot areas, dimensions and other spatial
standards, are as follows:
|
District
|
Square Feet of Land Area Per Dwelling Unit
| |
|---|---|---|
|
RM-4 Multifamily Residence
|
4,000
| |
|
RM-3 Multifamily Residence
|
3,000
| |
|
RM-3R Multifamily Restricted Residential
|
3,000 and a maximum of 2 dwelling units per lot
| |
|
RM-2 Multifamily Residence
|
2,000
| |
|
RM-1 Multifamily Residence
|
1,000
| |
|
RM-MS Multifamily, Multistory Residence
|
1,000
| |
|
RO Residence-Office District
|
1,000
| |
|
RP Residence-Parking
|
3,000
|
B.
Business districts. The business districts contained in this chapter
are established in order to provide for a variety of areas to serve
the diverse needs of the Town's population and business community.
Only such uses are permitted in the business districts which are mutually
compatible and which serve best the specific functions which the various
districts are intended to fulfill.
(1)
Office District (BO). The purpose of this district is to permit office
development generally on the periphery of larger business centers
and thereby to create a gradual transition from the activities of
the business center to the relative quiet of the surrounding residential
areas. Since this district will generally be established in what have
been residential areas adjacent to business districts, residential
uses are permitted. Parking of motor vehicles is also permitted as
a principal use in proper locations for parking facilities serving
an adjacent business center.
(2)
Office-Laboratory District (BOL). The purpose of this district is
to permit the development of selected office and laboratory uses on
large tracts, generally not available in the other business districts.
Whereas such tracts are usually found in the vicinity of residential
neighborhoods, particularly high standards are required in this district
to assure the harmonious integration of this type of development into
the surrounding neighborhoods. Relatively low intensity of land usage
and a park-like setting are primary characteristics of this district.
This district is intended to be properly related to the major road
system of the Town.
(3)
Neighborhood Business District (BN) and Neighborhood Business Design
District (BND). The purpose of these districts is to provide convenience
goods and services for the neighboring residential areas. Accordingly,
the commercial uses permitted are intended to be those which provide
for the daily needs of neighboring residents and which do not depend
on market areas substantially larger than the neighborhood the district
is intended to service. Residential uses are also permitted, recognizing
the existing development in these districts. The area of each Neighborhood
District is intended to be limited to fulfill this function of local
service.
(4)
Shopping Center District (BS). The purpose of this district is to
encourage the concentration of a wide variety of stores, services
and activities serving the entire Town as major shopping and community
centers. This district is intended to be properly related to the major
road system and, if possible, served by public transit. Residential
uses are permitted only as far as they are compatible with the activities
of this district. Shopping Center Districts are subject to higher
standards than the Retail Business Districts because they are usually
new developments on larger, single-owner tracts where the application
of such higher standards is practical and desirable to achieve a high
quality of development.
(5)
General Business District (BG). The purpose of this district is to
provide areas for the development of such commercial uses which are
considered necessary to serve the residents and businesses of the
Town but incompatible with the functions of the other business districts.
Wholesaling, storage and other uses which do not normally attract
the general public and automobile sales and services are the characteristic
uses of this district. Recognizing historical development patterns
and the desire to promote mixed uses which will bring vitality to
business districts after the end of the traditional work day, the
permitted uses of the Central Business Districts are also permitted
in the General Business Districts. Additionally, while ground floors
are to be reserved for permitted commercial uses, dwelling units are
permitted on upper floors.
(6)
Central Business District (BC) and Central Business District-High
Intensive (CBDH). The purpose of these districts is to encourage the
concentration of a wide variety of stores, services and activities,
including large stores offering comparison shopper's goods, specialty
stores, business services, banks, offices, theaters, hotels and government
buildings. This area serves all areas of West Hartford as well as
surrounding communities. The use of land is intensive, and this intensity
of use is one of the main determinants of the vitality of the Central
Business District. Pedestrian-oriented uses are encouraged on the
street level to ensure this intensity of use. Residences, professional
offices and other uses compatible with the retail nature of the Central
Business District are permitted, although it is recommended that these
uses occur on upper floors of buildings. The Central Business District-High
Intensive designation is to be applied to areas adjoining the Central
Business District where more dense development can take place than
in the BC Zone. Factors relevant to the designation of the CBDH Zone
are the nature of the land uses surrounding the proposed zone, the
presence of infrastructure to support a more intensive use, especially
parking facilities and traffic control capabilities, and the Plan
of Development's determination that the scale of West Hartford Center
itself not be changed.
(7)
Transit-Oriented Development District (TOD). The purpose of this
district is to encourage development in a predictable, contextual,
design-focused manner within walking distance of the CTfastrak stations.
The TOD is intended to support transit-oriented development principles
which foster the creation of complete neighborhoods. The district
is designed to help preserve and expand opportunities for businesses
and employers that serve West Hartford residents and the surrounding
region; to encourage a mix of retail, restaurant, office, entertainment,
and residential uses that provide opportunities to live, work, and
play; to promote moderate to high residential and employment densities
that support transit use; to encourage infill development, rehabilitation,
redevelopment, and adaptive reuse and to promote consistent and pedestrian-oriented
building and site design.
[Added 6-14-2022]
C.
Industrial districts. The industrial districts contained in this
chapter are established in order to encourage the best possible use
of the limited amount of industrial land in the Town, in order to
increase the opportunity for employment and to broaden the tax base
and in order to achieve a logical and orderly separation of land uses.
(1)
Industrial Park District (IP) and Exclusive Industrial District (IE).
The purpose of these districts is to reserve for industrial development
areas which have predominantly been developed industrially, so that
modern industrial development will not be impaired by the presence
of nonindustrial uses. The district regulations provide for minimum
lot area requirements in order to preserve the generally large tracts,
which are typically found in these districts and which are considered
essential for modern industrial development. Higher standards apply
for the Industrial Park District because this district is largely
adjacent to existing residential areas.
(2)
General Industrial District (IG) and Restricted Industrial District
(IR). These districts recognize development patterns prevailing in
several sections of the Town's older industrial areas. Mixed residential,
commercial and industrial land uses are characteristic for these areas,
as well as the relatively small size of a majority of the properties.
The purpose of these districts is to provide for the continued coexistence
of the residential, commercial and industrial uses while continuing
to emphasize that these districts are primarily commercial and industrial
in nature. The residential and commercial uses are considered essential
to support and serve the industrial uses in these districts as well
as in the Industrial Park and Exclusive Industrial Districts, where
no residential or commercial uses are permitted. To further these
objectives, residential uses are permitted only as a component in
development projects which contain a mix of residential and nonresidential
uses. Higher standards apply to the Restricted Industrial District
for the purpose of protecting the numerous dwellings found in this
district.
D.
Other districts.
(1)
Residence Parking District (RP). The purpose of this district is
for the development of parking facilities adjacent to business and
industrial districts, where the extension of other business activities
would be detrimental to adjacent residential areas. A high degree
of control over the parking layout is necessary because of the proximity
of parking and residential uses.
(2)
Residence-Office District (RO). This district is established in recognition
of areas where residential, institutional and office uses coexist.
These areas are typically in a stage of transition from one-family
dwellings to a use of higher intensity and density. The standards
established by the regulations of this district are intended to make
the various uses mutually compatible.
(3)
Residence-Institutional District (RI). This district is established
in recognition of the areas where residential and institutional uses
may coexist. The purpose of this district is to provide a transitional
area of relative quiet and light traffic which would be advantageous
to institutions, such as convalescent homes, homes for the aged and
public, private or parochial schools or colleges.
(4)
Residential/Multifamily-Office District (RM/O). This district is designed for land where residential structures in close proximity to major business zones have been converted to mixed office/residential uses and along and near major traffic arteries in primarily residential areas. In order to maintain the primarily residential character and uses of these areas in spite of these factors, certain types of professional offices may be established with a special use permit as set forth in § 177-16.3 of this chapter. Maintaining the residential character also requires owners to limit the changes to buildings and to keep signs muted in tone.
(5)
Residential Character-Office District (RCO). This district is established in recognition of areas where residential structures coexist with institutional, office and business uses. These areas are typically in a stage of transition from one-family dwellings to a use of higher intensity and density. The standards established by the regulations of this district are intended to make the various uses mutually compatible. To further enhance compatibility, professional offices may be established subject to the provisions of § 177-16.3 of this chapter requiring the preservation of the residential character of the building.
(6)
Elizabeth Park Zone (EP). This district is established in recognition of the unique recreational opportunities which may be afforded to the public in Elizabeth Park. It is appropriate to permit food service and public or private meetings, including the provision of outdoor dining opportunities and walk-up window service within Elizabeth Park. If these uses are established within the zone, they shall be held to higher standards and subjected to stricter review than would be applied to similar uses in commercial zones. Food service and public/private meeting facilities together with accessory outdoor dining and walk-up window food service shall, therefore, be permitted in the EP Zone only upon approval of a special development district plan pursuant to § 177-44. The standards applicable within the EP Zone shall be those set forth in § 177-6D with respect to property located within the R-10 Zoning District.
The districts established under § 177-3 of this chapter are bounded and defined as shown on a map entitled "Zoning Map, Town of West Hartford, Conn.," and adopted by the Town Council.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The current Zoning Map is on
file in the Town offices.
[Amended 1-14-2014]
A.
Rules of interpretation:
(1)
District
boundary lines are intended to follow lot lines or center lines of
streets, rights-of-way and watercourses or be parallel or perpendicular
thereto unless such district boundary lines are fixed by dimensions
as shown on the Zoning Map.
(2)
In
unsubdivided property or where a district boundary divides a lot,
the location of any such boundary, unless the same is indicated by
dimensions shown on said map, shall be determined by the use of the
map scale shown thereon.
(3)
Where
district boundaries are so indicated that they approximately follow
the edge of lakes, ponds, reservoirs or other bodies of water, the
mean high-water lines thereof shall be construed to be the district
boundaries, except that the regulations of the most restrictive district
on the edge of such a body of water shall apply to the area within
the mean high-water line and the body of water thereof.
(4)
All
dimensions to or from the roads shown on the Zoning Map shall be taken
from the edge of the right-of-way of such roads.
(5)
Measurements
shown to the intersection of two or more roads shall be deemed to
be taken from the intersection of the center lines of these roads.
(6)
All
district boundaries shown parallel to roads shall be considered parallel
to and a distance away from the center line of these roads equal to
1/2 of the width of the right-of-way of such roads plus the minimum
lot depth derived from the minimum lot width and minimum lot area
required in the district within which the road lies.
(7)
All
intersecting lines with the symbol 94 shall be considered perpendicular.
B.
Notwithstanding any construction of the term "lot" contained in § 177-2 of this chapter to the contrary, where two or more parcels of land within the Town of West Hartford are consolidated such that a zoning district boundary which previously followed a parcel boundary line or lines now crosses through the consolidated parcel, the zoning district boundary lines shall remain in full force and effect. The portions of the consolidated parcel within each separate zoning district shall be required to demonstrate compliance with each provision of this chapter separately as if each such portion constituted a separate lot. Because of the unique nature of the RP Zoning District, this subsection shall not apply to parcels of property which are partially located in that district.
