For the purpose of these Regulations certain terms or words
shall be defined as below. Words in the present tense include the
future, the singular number includes the plural and vice versa. The
word "person" includes a partnership, corporation, or other entity.
The word "lot" includes the word "plot." The word "building" includes
the word "structure." The word "shall" is mandatory and not directive.
A building or use clearly incidental or subordinate to, and
customary in connection with, the principal building or use on the
same lot. Additionally, any site which is environmentally contaminated,
as determined by the appropriate federal, state or local agency having
jurisdiction over such matters, may have constructed thereon any building(s)
or structure(s) necessary for the remediation or monitoring of said
contamination, which building(s) or structure(s) shall be considered
as accessory to the main building or use on the same lot.
Adult-oriented establishments shall be as defined in the
Code of the Town of Stratford and shall include, without limitation,
adult entertainment, adult media outlets, adult motion picture theaters,
adult mini-motion picture theaters, adult newsracks, adult retail
establishments, and massage parlors.
Affordable Housing is as defined in Sections 8-30g and 8-39a
of the Connecticut General Statutes.
A residential facility which provides assisted living services
by a Connecticut-licensed assisted living services agency in a managed
residential community, as defined, under regulations of the State
of Connecticut Department of Public Health, including the provision
of supportive services to assist those in need of assistance in the
activities of daily living.
Commercial facilities on a lot, contiguous lots not more
than 130 feet property line to the property line, used for merchandising,
storage, buying, selling or exchanging motor vehicles, and repair,
maintenance, cleaning, washing, and waxing of motor vehicles.
A story in a building, the structural ceiling level of which
is above the average level of finished grade where such grade abuts
that exterior wall of such building which fronts on any street, and
the floor level of which is below finished grade at any point on the
periphery of the building.
A sign, including the type commonly known as a billboard,
which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment
or attraction, sold, offered or existing elsewhere than upon the same
lot where such sign is displayed, or only incidentally upon such lot.
The Board of Zoning Appeals of the Town of Stratford.
Any structure having a roof and intended for the shelter,
housing or enclosure of persons, animals, or materials. Any other
structure more than eight feet high shall be considered as a building
including a solid fence or wall, but excluding an electric transmission
line or a utility pole, highway or railroad bridge, flagpole, retaining
wall or radio or TV antenna.
The ground area enclosed by the outside walls of a building
together with the area of all covered porches, other roofed portions,
plus all decks, balconies and other similar structural projections
above grade.
[Amended 4-17-1991]
The Building Code adopted by the Town of Stratford on September
27, 1943, and any amendments thereto.
The percentage of a property occupied or intended to be occupied
by all buildings and structures. Building coverage is the building
area as defined above divided by the lot area, as defined in this
section. The area covered by water bodies, water courses, tidal wetlands
and/or freshwater inland wetlands as defined in Chapter 440 of the
Connecticut General Statutes shall not be used in computing the maximum
allowable building coverage. Building area divided by lot area equals
building coverage. [Effective 4-17-1991]
The vertical distance from the average finished grade within
10 feet from the walls of the building to the highest point of flat
or mansard roofs including the top of a parapet or to the mean level
between the eaves and ridge for gable, hip, or gambrel roofs.
The Building Inspector of the Town of Stratford.
A line parallel to a street at a distance equal to the required
front yard or at a greater distance when otherwise established by
the Planning Commission or the Zoning Commission of the Town of Stratford
or by limitation in a deed filed in the land records of the Town of
Stratford.
The location of wireless telecommunication facilities from
more than one provider on a single site.
A commercial vehicle shall be defined as any vehicle over
10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW) including legal load, any
commercially registered vehicle, any vehicle having visible lettering
or advertising or any vehicle containing business-related equipment,
supplies or products which are visible off the premises and change
the residential character of a neighborhood.
An open space, other than a yard, on the same lot with a
building, which space is bounded on three or more sides by the walls
of such building.
A district established by the provisions of Section 2 of
these Regulations.
The procedure customary provided by these Regulations or
required by state statute.
A dwelling or group of dwellings on one lot containing living
units for three or more families, having separate or joint entrances,
services or facilities.
A detached building designated for or occupied by one family.
A structure designed and intended for human habitation of
a structure which has been used for seasonal or recreational nature
and not as a permanent dwelling; or a structure which has been used
for seasonal or recreational purposes and not as a permanent dwelling.
A building designated for or occupied by two families living
independently of each other.
A structure designed and intended for human habitation on
a continual basis, as a permanent dwelling; or a structure which has
been used on a continual basis as a permanent dwelling.
Any number of individuals related by blood, marriage or adoption,
living together as a single housekeeping unit.
Any structure constructed of wood, metal, wire mesh, or masonry
and used for fence purposes.
The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors
of the building or buildings on a lot measured from the exterior faces
of exterior walls or from the centerline of party walls separating
two buildings, excluding cellar and basement areas used only for storage
or for the operation and maintenance of the building.
The total floor area of all buildings on a lot divided by
the lot area or such portion of the lot that lies within the applicable
zoning district (total floor area lot area as per this section = FAR).
All spaces within the exterior walls of a dwelling unit exclusive
of garages, breezeways, unheated porches, cellars, heater rooms, and
basements having a window area of less than 20% of the square foot
area of the room. Usable floor area shall include all spaces not otherwise
excluded above such as: principal rooms, utility rooms, bathrooms,
all closets and hallways opening directly into any rooms within the
dwelling unit and all attic space having a clear height of six feet
from finished floor level to pitch of roof rafter with a clear height
of seven feet from finished floor level to ceiling over 50% of the
area of such attic space.
A building or portion thereof designed for or containing
six or more guest rooms or suites of rooms occupied primarily by transient
individuals and not having separate entrances from the outside.
Any land or portion of a site covered by constructed features
which prevent the direct percolation of surface water into the underlying
earth. Examples: buildings, paved parking and roadways, masonry walls
and terraces, swimming pools, sidewalks, hard-surface playing courts
and paved driveways. Constructed features capable of absorbing and
transmitting surface water (such as lawns, gravel sidewalks and driveways,
clay courts and natural ponds) are not considered impervious area.
All public access amenities as required under Section 3.1.1 of the
Zoning Regulations except public parking shall not be counted as impervious
area. [Effective 6-19-1991]
A plot or parcel of land occupied or capable of being occupied
by one principal building and the accessory buildings or uses customarily
incident to it, including such open spaces, street frontage and parking
as are required by these Regulations. [Effective 10-9-1974]
The gross horizontal area contained within the property lines
of the lot excluding all areas covered by waterbodies, watercourses,
tidal wetlands and/or freshwater inland wetlands as defined in Chapter
440 of the Connecticut General Statutes (gross horizontal area - Wetlands
= lot area.). [Effective 4-17-1991]
The sum of the length of both side lot lines divided by two.
In the case of a corner lot, the greatest length on any street. For
rear lots, the accessway shall not be considered in calculating lot
depth.
A lot other than a corner lot or through lot.
All dividing lines between a street and the lot shall be
considered front lines. In the case of a rear lot, the front lot line
shall also be considered the line or lines most nearly parallel to
and closest to a street or streets providing lot frontage typically
at the end of the accessway.
The line bounding a lot at the rear and approximately parallel
to and at the maximum distance from the front lot line.
The line or lines bounding a lot which extend from the street
towards the rear in a direction approximately perpendicular to the
street. In the case of corner lots, or through lots, all lines extending
from the streets shall be considered side lot lines.
A lot other than a corner lot which abuts two or more streets
which do not intersect at the lot.
A lot at the intersection of and abutting on two or more
streets where the angle of intersection is not more than 135°;
or if rounded by a curve the intersection of tangents at the side
lot lines is not more than 135°.
The distance between the side lot lines measured in a straight
line at right angles to the mean direction of such side lot lines,
which line of measurement shall touch, but not be in front of the
building line. In the case of a corner lot, the minimum width shall
be similarly measured and, for the purpose of this measurement only,
the front lot line which has the least dimension shall be considered
the front lot line and the lot lines adjacent thereto shall be considered
as side lot lines. See Section 3.3.
A lot with less street frontage as required under Section
3.3 of the Zoning Regulations and which the buildable area is located
predominately to the rear of the buildable area of the other lots
having frontage on the same street and having access to the street
via an accessway that is part of the rear lot. The buildable area
is the area of the lot, exclusive of all minimum yard setback requirements,
where the primary residence could be constructed without any variances.
Any process whereby the nature, size, or shape of articles
or raw materials are changed, or where articles are assembled or packaged.
Any machine which, upon the insertion of a coin, slug or
token, or upon payment of a charge, releases balls which are propelled
by a plunger across a board and register scores by striking pins,
posts, levers or bumpers or by falling into holes or slots, or any
machine which, upon insertion of a coin or slug for the payment of
a charge, is operated to register a score or tally of any kind. Such
term shall include such devices as pinball or pin game machines, bowling,
billiard games, electronic video games and similar mechanical amusement
devices. [Effective 4-27-1982]
A building or group of buildings containing six or more guest
apartments each having separate toilet facilities and a private outside
entrance.
Any kennel occupied by more than three dogs and any run connected
therewith cannot be located closer than 100 feet to any property line
or street line. [Effective 6-13-1976]
A building which does not conform to all the applicable provisions
of these Regulations.
A use of land, building, or premises which is not a use permitted
by the provisions of these Regulations for the district in which such
land, building or premises are situated.
That portion of a lot that is to consist of landscaped areas
(lawns, shrubs, trees, gardens, etc.) for purposes of: providing adequate
light and air, preserving the appearance, character and natural resources
of an area, preserving land for conservation, park and recreation,
wildlife and forest preserves.
The Town Planning Commission of the Town of Stratford.
A lot or building.
A building in which is conducted the main or principal use
of the lot on which said building is located.
An entity authorized by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to be a signal carrier for cellular telephones, personal communication
services (PCS), specialized mobilized radio (SMR), enhanced specialized
mobilized radio (ESMR), and paging services or other modes of communication
as described in the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996.
An operation of a recycling/transfer facility for the collection,
compacting, crushing, shredding, baling, pulverizing, separation,
sorting and consolidation of solid waste materials, including construction
materials, demolition materials, wood products, plastics, tires, rags
and similar materials for reclamation and volume reduction purposes
and for transfer to other sites for final reprocessing, reclamation,
conversion or change of form.
Any zoning regulations of the Town of Stratford or regulations
adopted pursuant thereto.
Restaurant (Full Service/Drive-In). A use engaged in the preparation
and retail sale of food and beverages, potentially including the sale
of alcoholic beverages, on nondisposable ware for consumption by patrons
on premises, with a minimum of 10 seats, designed to permit or facilitate
the serving of food or beverages directly to, or permitted to be consumed
by, patrons at the facility or in motor vehicles parking or stopped
on the premises.
RESTAURANT (TAKE-OUT)A use engaged in the preparation and retail sale of food and beverages which serves food and/or beverages in disposable packaging and/or containers for consumption by patrons on or off the premises, including but not limited to delicatessens and/or a restaurant with nine or less seats, including all indoor and outdoor seating.
The term "sign" shall include signs, billboards, outdoor
structures for advertising letters, words, models, devices, symbols,
revolving or flashing lights, trademarks and shall include every kind
of structure that is arranged, designed or used as an outdoor advertisement,
announcement or direction.
That part of any building, exclusive of cellars but inclusive
of basements, comprised between the level of one finished floor and
the level of the next higher finished floor, or, if there be no higher
finished floor, then that part of the building comprised between the
level of the highest finished floor and the top of the roof beams.
Any space partially within the roof framing, where the clear
height of not more than 50% of such space between the top of the floor
beams and the structural ceiling level is seven feet six inches or
more.
A public or private highway or right of way giving access
to the lot.
The dividing line between a lot and a street.
Any change in the supporting members of a building, such
as beams, columns, girders or bearing partitions.
Regulations providing for land subdivision in the Town of
Stratford effective February 1, 1956, and any amendments thereto.
Swimming pools are as defined in the State of Connecticut
Building Code.
A pole or lattice type structure that is intended to support
wireless telecommunications equipment. A monopole design is a tower
consisting of a single self-supporting vertical pole with no guy wire
anchors.
Any vehicle which is used for sleeping or living quarters
and which is, has been, or may be equipped with wheels to permit normal
vehicular travel on public highways. Any vehicle towable by a light
duty truck such as a utility trailer, boat trailer, camp trailer or
similar type vehicle.
That portion of a property or structure, including supporting
structures, where equipment or devices collect or transmit telecommunications
or radio signals from a mobile radio communication source and transmit
those signals to another facility, another communications source or
receiver, or to a central switching computer which connects the mobile
unit with land-based telephone lines.
An open space between the building and the front lot line,
extending the full width of the lot, or in the case of a corner lot,
extending along all streets.
An open space between the building and the rear lot line,
extending the full width of the lot.
So much of the front, rear or side yard as is required by
the applicable provisions of these Regulations.
An open space between the building and a side lot line, extending
from the front yard to the rear yard.
Same as "district."
The Town Zoning Commission of the Town of Stratford.
