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Town of Williamstown, MA
Berkshire County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (4) Index
A. 
Basic requirement.
(1) 
Buildings or structures shall be constructed, and buildings, structures or land shall be used, in whole or in part, only as permitted under § 70-3.3, Use Regulation Schedule, except as may be provided in § 70-1.4 for certain cases of nonconformity. Uses permitted and uses allowed on special permit must also be in conformity with all the density and dimensional regulations and other pertinent requirements of this chapter.
(2) 
Additional regulation of uses is found in various places in this chapter. Attention is particularly drawn to:
(a) 
For the Rural Residence District 1: § 70-3.4A.
(b) 
[1]For the Village Business District: § 70-3.4C.
[Amended 5-19-2009 ATM, Art. 32[2]]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection A(2)(b), regarding the Business Campus District, was repealed 5-18-2010 ATM, Art. 27. This article also redesignated former Subsection A(2)(c) and (d) as Subsection A(2)(b) and (c), respectively.
[2]
Editor's Note: This article also redesignated former Subsection A(2)(c) as Subsection A(2)(d).
(c) 
For locations in the Floodplain, Upland Conservation, Mobile Home Park, Water Resource, Confined Aquifer Overlay, Cable Mills Redevelopment Districts: § 70-7.4.
[Amended 5-18-2004 ATM, Art. 28; 5-15-2007 ATM, Art. 29; 5-15-2007 ATM, Art. 32]
B. 
Schedule notation. Notations in the Use Regulation Schedule shall mean the following:
[Amended 5-19-2009 ATM, Art. 32; 5-18-2010 ATM, Arts. 27, 32; 11-14-2017 STM, Art. 9]
Yes:
A use permitted as a matter of right.
BA:
A use allowable on special permit from the Board of Appeals.
SPS:
A use permitted as a matter of right, except requiring a special permit from the Board of Appeals if involving drive-in or drive-through facilities, or if the area created on the premises subsequent to May 23, 1989, would exceed the following:
— PB District: 20,000 square feet of cumulative gross floor area
— LI District:
1) Research and development or manufacturing for renewable energy: 50,000 square feet of cumulative gross floor area.
2) Other uses: 20,000 square feet of cumulative gross floor area.
— VB District: 5,000 square feet of building area
— LI or PB District: 20,000 square feet of cumulative gross floor area.
— VB District: 5,000 square feet of building area.
— SG District: 20,000 square feet of gross square floor area.
PB:
A use allowable on special permit from the Planning Board.
No:
A prohibited use.
A. 
Uses not listed. Uses which cannot be classified under any category in § 70-3.3, Use Regulation Schedule, are prohibited. Such determination is made by the Planning Administrator, subject to appeal to the Board of Appeals, as provided at § 70-8.3B(1).[1]
[Amended 5-19-2015 ATM, Art. 38]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Section 3.2.2, Uses classified in more than one category, was repealed 5-17-1994 ATM, Art. 29.
[Amended 5-18-1993 ATM, Art. 27; 5-20-1997 ATM, Art. 23; 5-19-1998 ATM, Art. 25; 5-21-2002 ATM, Art. 21; 5-20-2003 ATM, Art. 24; 5-20-2008 ATM, Art. 28; 5-18-2010 ATM, Arts. 27, 29, 31, 32; 5-17-2011 ATM, Arts. 31, 32, 33; 5-15-2012 ATM, Arts. 30, 31, 32, 33; 5-21-2013 ATM, Arts. 33, 34, 35; 5-20-2014 ATM, Arts. 35, 36; 5-19-2015 ATM, Art. 39; 5-17-2016 ATM, Arts. 31, 32, 33; 5-16-2017 ATM, Art. 36; 11-14-2017 STM, Arts. 6, 9; 5-21-2019 ATM, Arts. 32, 33; 6-9-2021 ATM, Arts. 28, 29, 32; 5-17-2022 ATM, Arts. 39, 42, 47; 5-16-2023 ATM, Arts. 22, 23]
Use Regulation Schedule
Town of Williamstown
§ 70-3.3. USE REGULATION SCHEDULE
Districts
RR1
RR2
RR3
GR
LB
SG
VB
PB
LI
Items which include defined terms are printed in italics.
USES NOT LISTED
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
§ 70-3.3A Principal uses
(See § 70-3.3B for accessory uses.)
(1) RESIDENTIAL USES
Single-family dwelling
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Two-family dwelling
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Three-family dwelling
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Four-family dwelling
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Multifamily dwelling:
Within major residential development guidelines (See § 70-7.1C)
BA
BA
BA
No
BA
No
No
No
Elderly housing(See § 70-7.1E.)
No
No
BA
No
No
No
No
No
Other multifamily (See § 70-7.1G.)
No
No
BA
No
No
No
No
No
Multifamily dwellings within business districts by conversion of existing building or new consruction (See § 79-7.1H.)
No
No
No
SPS
BA
No
SPS
No
Dwelling units located above the first story of a nonresidential use (See § 70-7.1H.)
No
BA
BA
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Mobile home park:
Within Mobile Home Park Overlay District (See § 70-7.4C.)
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
Elsewhere
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Mobile home:
Within mobile home park
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Elsewhere:
For up to 12 months while residence is being reconstruction
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Other cases
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Major residential development
PB
PB
PB
No
PB
No
No
No
Minor lane residential developments
No
PB
PB
No
PB
No
No
No
Assisted living residence
New construction or conversion of existing building (See § 70-7.1F.)
No
BA
BA
No
BA
No
No
No
Conversion of existing hotel, motel or nursing home (See § 70-7.1F.)
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
Telecommunications (See § 70-7.2F)
Teleports
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Facilities
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
Towers
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
SP
Eligible facilities request
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
(2) BUSINESS USES
Gift shop, antique shop and place for display or sale of handicrafts
No
No
No
Yes3
Yes3
SPS3
SPS3
No
Retailing local crafts (See § 70- 7.2A.)
No
No
No
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
Salesroom for automobiles, boats, farm implements and similar equipment
No
No
No
BA
No
No
BA
No
Gasoline service station, garage or repair shop (See § 70-7.2B.)
No
No
No
BA
No
No
BA
No
Retail distribution of petroleum products as the principal use (but not gasoline service stations and garages)
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
SPS
Building materials salesroom, contractors storage warehouse and building
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
SPS
Funeral home
No
No
BA
BA
No
No
BA
No
Mortuary or crematory
No
No
No
BA
No
No
BA
No
Restaurant
Service for consumption within the building
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
SPS
SPS
No
More than incidental service for consumption outside building
No
No
No
BA
No
SPS
SPS
No
Boardinghouse or rooming house
For not more than four persons, in a house also occupied as a private residence
No
Yes
Yes
BA
Yes
No
No
No
Tourist home
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
SPS
SPS
No
Hotel or motel
No
No
No
BA
SPS
SPS
SPS
No
Theater, hall, bowling alley, skating rink, club or other place for exercise, amusement or assembly
No
No
No
BA
No
SPS
SPS
No
Business office
500 square feet gross floor area or less
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
More than 500 but less than 5,000 square feet gross floor area
No
No
BA
Yes
BA
Yes
Yes
Yes
More than 5,000 square feet gross floor area
No
No
No
BA
BA
Yes
Yes
Yes
Medical office
500 square feet gross floor area or less
No
BA
BA
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
More than 500 but less than 5,000 square feet gross floor area
No
No
BA
Yes
BA
Yes
Yes
Yes
More than 5,000 square feet gross floor area
No
No
No
BA
BA
Yes
Yes
Yes
Bank
No
No
No
Yes
No
SPS
SPS
No
Other retail or service:
Principally within buildings
Principally outdoors
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
SPS
No
SPS
No
No
No
Passenger depot, terminal
No
No
No
BA
No
No
No
No
Bus or taxi station
No
No
No
No
No
SPS
SPS
No
Weddings and family celebrations on farms (See § 70-7.2H.)
No
BA
No
No
No
No
No
No
Small concerts on farms (See § 70-7.2I.)
No
BA
No
No
No
No
No
No
Self storage
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Cultivation and processing of retail and wholesale aggregate, soil and nursery stock
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Marijuana retailer
No
No
No
No
BA
No
BA
No
Marijuana cultivator
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Indoor cultivation
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
BA
No
Outdoor cultivation
No
BA
No
No
No
No
No
No
Marijuana product manufacturer
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Marijuana testing facility
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
BA
(3) INDUSTRIAL USES
Medical, dental or research laboratory
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
SPS
Printing or publishing establishment:
Under 2,000 square feet leasable floor area
No
No
No
Yes
No
SPS
SPS
SPS
Others
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
SPS
Manufacturing, wholesale distribution
Local crafts (See § 70-7.2A.)
No
No
No
BA
BA
BA
BA
SPS
Others
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
SPS
Storage yard
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
SPS
Public utility or communications
No
BA5
BA
BA
BA
SPS
SPS
SPS
Research and development or manufacturing for renewable energy
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
SPS
(4) INSTITUTIONAL USES
Religious or educational use exempted from prohibition by MGL c. 40A, § 3
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
—
Yes
Yes
Yes
Day-care center (See also family day-care home under Accessory Uses.)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Other school, including nursery or kindergarten school
No
BA
BA
No
BA
No
No
No
School or college dormitory
No
BA
BA
BA
No
No
No
No
Fund-raising event, such as a festival, art show, street dance, etc., sponsored by a nonprofit organization (See § 70-7.2C.)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
SPS
SPS
Yes
Municipal use, nonprofit museum, park, playground
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
Membership club
No
No
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
No
Creative or physical arts studios and classes1
No
BA
BA
No
BA
Yes
Yes
No
Cemetery, hospital, sanitarium, nursing home or other medical institution, including nonprofit research laboratory or charitable institution
No
BA
No
BA
BA
BA
BA
No
(5) EXTENSIVE USES
Conservation areas for water, water supply, plants and wildlife, and dams necessary for achieving this purpose
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, viticulture, orchards, nurseries, forestry, or tree farms (See § 70-7.2D.):
On parcel of five acres or larger
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Piggery on smaller parcel
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Other livestock raising on smaller parcel
Yes
Yes
BA
BA
Yes
BA
BA
BA
Other agriculture on smaller parcel
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Hunting (where legally permitted), fishing, hiking, nature study and similar recreation
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Veterinary hospital, boarding stable and kennel, provided that no buildings or unfenced animals are within 100 feet of a district prohibiting this use
No
BA
No
No
BA
No
No
No
Picnic area
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
Recreation, including golf course, ski area and tows, park (but not amusement park), provided that no buildings are within 100 feet of a district prohibiting this use
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
Day camp, overnight camp and camp site where tents or Adirondack-type trail shelters are used, provided that no buildings are within 100 feet of a district prohibiting this use
BA
BA
No
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
Campground
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Earth removal (See § 70-7.2E.)
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
§ 70-3.3B ACCESSORY USES
Any use allowed by right as a principal use
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Accessory farm outlet (See § 70-7.2D.)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Garage, yard or tag sales
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Family day-care home
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Other accessory day care
Professional office
Yes
No
Yes
BA
Yes
BA
Yes
Yes
Yes
BA
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Home occupation with no more than one nonresident employee, or with no client traffic on site.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Home occupation with more than one nonresident employee, or with client traffic on site.
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
Yes
Yes
BA
Scientific research and development (See § 70-7.3B.)
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
BA
The parking of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 13,000 lbs. or less, used by an occupant of the premises
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Parking of larger vehicles
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Parking area or garage for use of employees, customers or visitors
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
SPS
SPS
SPS
Cafeteria for employees and other occupants of the site, when contained in the same structure as a permitted use
No
Yes
Yes
Yea
Yes
SPS
SPS
SPS
Keeping of pets and animals for use of the residents of the premises
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
SPS
SPS
SPS
Access to a permitted use in another district
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Other use customarily accessory to a permitted use, but not an airport or heliport
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
SPS
SPS
SPS
Canopy-mounted solar photovoltaic systems
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Building- or roof-mounted solar energy collection systems
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Small-scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Medium-scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems
BA
Yes
BA
BA
BA
No
Yes
Yes
Large-scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
§ 70-3.3C OTHER USES
Wind-generated energy production facilities (See § 70-7.2G)
BA
BA*
NO
NO
No
NO
NO
NO
Small-scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Medium-scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems
BA
Yes
BA
BA
BA
No
BA
Yes
Large-scale ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems
No
BA
No
No
No
No
BA
Yes
* Not permitted in RR-3.
1 Creative or physical arts studios and classes shall include, without limitation, such uses as dance, music, exercise, yoga, craft or art.
2 (Reserved)
3 Provided that all displays are within the building.
4 (Reserved)
5 Provided that there are no storage or service yards.
A. 
Rural Residence District 1.
(1) 
Prohibited development and activity. The following are not allowed in the Rural Residence District 1, whether as a principal use, an accessory use or as an attribute of a use.
(a) 
Public landfills.
(b) 
Storage of salt and road deicing chemicals.
(c) 
Any building, structure, parking area, land disturbing activities or excavations within 75 feet of the normal high-water line of any water body or watercourse.
(d) 
Any animal feedlots or confinement areas, or storage of manure or drainage from such activities within 75 feet from the seasonal high-water line of all water bodies and watercourses.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 10, Animals, Art. I, Poultry.
(e) 
The disposal of solid waste, other than brush and stumps.
(f) 
The storage and/or sale of petroleum or any refined petroleum product except as incidental to a permitted activity.
(g) 
The dumping of snow contaminated by deicing chemicals which is brought in from outside the district.
(h) 
The storage of any hazardous material except as incidental to a permitted use, or the disposal of any hazardous material, as defined in Article IX.
(2) 
Development requirements. All construction in the RR1 District shall conform to the following requirements:
(a) 
The total of all construction and paving of all kinds shall render a total of not more than 5% of the total lot area substantially impervious to the infiltration of water.
(b) 
Site grading shall result in no unretained slope greater than 25%. All slopes shall be vegetated or otherwise protected in such a manner as to prevent erosion both during construction and in long-term use.
(c) 
No special permit may be granted for increasing peak rates of runoff, as is otherwise authorized at § 70-5.3B.
(d) 
No petroleum products of any kind shall be stored in underground tanks or containers.
B. 
[2]Village Business District.
[Amended 5-19-2009 ATM, Art. 32]
(1) 
Spring Street development requirements.
(a) 
Height requirements: For properties fronting on Spring Street, height to 50 feet and up to four stories is allowed, and may be increased to 60 feet, not to exceed four stories, on special permit from the Board of Appeals.
(b) 
Corner visibility: Properties fronting on Spring Street are exempt from the corner visibility development requirements of § 70-4.2C.
(c) 
Stormwater management: Notwithstanding § 70-5.3B, in the Village Business District, for properties fronting on Spring Street, an increase over predevelopment runoff peak is permitted, provided:
[1] 
The system is connected to the municipal stormwater system; and
[2] 
Approval to connect the system has been obtained, in writing, from the Director of the Department of Public Works.
(d) 
Mixed Use development: Properties fronting on Spring Street are permitted to have residential living areas above the first floor, provided that the first floor is occupied by a nonresidential use, and are exempted from the requirements of § 70-7.1H(2).
(e) 
Parking requirements: Properties fronting on Spring Street shall comply with § 70-6.1D(2), District Parking Exceptions: Spring Street parking requirements.
[Added 5-18-2010 ATM, Art. 30]
(f) 
The area of the Village Business District within 100 feet offset from the center line of the spur of Denison Park Drive that connects Knolls Road to the Oakley Center shall be maintained as a green space within which educational uses, structures, and improvements are permitted, but the following are prohibited: commercial uses, structures, and improvements other than gardens or other landscaped areas, sidewalks or other walkways, catch basins or other stormwater management structures, and fire lanes, turnarounds, or other drives for emergency access.
[Added 5-17-2016 ATM, Art. 34]
[2]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection B, regarding the Business Campus District, was repealed 5-18-2010 ATM, Art. 27. This article also redesignated former Subsection C as Subsection B.