Town of Easton, MA Purpose and Authority

§ 235-1 Purpose.

These regulations are enacted to promote the general welfare of the Town, to protect the health and safety of its inhabitants, to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the town, to preserve the cultural, historical and agricultural heritage of the community, to increase the amenities of the town, and to reduce the hazard from fire by regulating the location and use of buildings and the area of open space around them, all as authorized by, but not limited to, the provisions of the Zoning Act, MGL c. 40A, as amended, and Section 2A of 1975 Mass. Acts 808.

§ 235-2 Authority.

This Zoning By-Law ("this chapter") is enacted in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 40A, and any and all amendments thereto, and by Article 89 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

§ 235-3 Scope.

For these purposes, the construction, repair, alteration, reconstruction, height, number of stories, and size of buildings and structures, the size and width of lots, the percentage of lot area that may be occupied, the size of yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land in the Town are regulated as hereinafter provided.

§ 235-4 Applicability.

All buildings or structures hereinafter erected, reconstructed, altered, enlarged, or moved, and the use of all premises in the Town, shall be in conformity with the provisions of the Zoning By-Law. No building, structure or land shall be used for any purpose or in any manner other than is expressly permitted within the district in which such building, structure or land is located. Where the application of this chapter imposes greater restrictions than those imposed by any other regulations, permits, restrictions, easements, covenants, or agreements, the provisions of this chapter shall control.

Applicability; Nonconformities. Except as herein after provided, this chapter shall not apply to structures or uses lawfully in existence or lawfully begun, or to a building permit or special permit issued before the first publication of notice of the public hearing on this chapter or any amendments thereto, but shall apply to any change or substantial extension of such use, to a building permit or special permit issued after the first notice or said public hearing, to any reconstruction, extension or structural change of such structure and to any alteration of a structure begun after the first notice of said public hearing to provide for its use in a substantially different purpose or for the same purpose in a substantially different manner or to a substantially greater extent except where alteration, reconstruction, extension or a structural change to a single or two family residential structure does not increase the nonconforming nature of said structure.

Commencement of Construction or Operation. Construction or operations under a building permit or special permit shall conform to any subsequent amendments to this chapter, unless the use or construction is commenced within a period of not more than six months after the issuance of the permit and in any case involving construction, unless such construction is continued through to completion as continuously and expeditiously as is reasonable.

§ 235-5 Amendments.

[Amended 11-12-2019 STM by Art. 13]

This chapter, including the Zoning Map which is part hereof, may be amended at a regular or special Town Meeting in accordance with Chapter 40A of the General Laws of Massachusetts. Petitions for zoning amendments shall be made in accordance with MGL c. 40A, § 5, and shall be submitted to the Select Board with a copy to the Planning & Zoning Board and shall be accompanied by the following:

Text. For petitions concerning the text of this chapter, five copies of the existing and proposed text shall be submitted.

Zoning Map. For petitions concerning the Zoning Map, one reproducible and two copies thereof of a map with sufficient information describe the area of the proposed change and other related information as may be required at the discretion of the Easton Planning & Zoning Board.

Initiation.

(1)

Petitions for zoning amendments may be initiated by:

(a)

Select Board;

(b)

Board of Appeals;

(c)

Individual owning land to be affected;

(d)

Ten registered voters;

(e)