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Use and development under this Code is governed by
the provisions of this Code. This section is not part of this Code
but is intended as a general overview of this Code review process.
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This Code is known as the Canton
Village Districts, Form-Based Design Code.
A.
The Town of Canton Plan of Conservation
and Development 2014-2024 (adopted December, 2013) identifies Collinsville,
the Canton Village District, Harts Corner, and the East Gateway as
significant opportunities for protection and enhancement under a Village
District designation per General Statutes of Connecticut (C.G.S.)
§ 8-2j. Village districts, as amended. This Code as amended
is intended to meet the goals of the Plan of Conservation and Development
(POCD) by providing strong implementation tools for these areas.
B.
This Code is designed to foster a setting
for economic growth and development in a sustainable mixed-use pattern
of diverse neighborhoods, integrating residential with employment,
commercial, and recreation uses while preserving the existing neighborhoods
and protecting the community character.
C.
This Code places greatest emphasis on the
design, or physical form, over density and uses, as it is of greatest
importance when creating the pedestrian-oriented places that attract
jobs and economic vitality. Density and uses can be expected to change
over time as the districts grow and mature.
D.
This Code shall be applied to new,
and infill development, and redevelopment in the Design Village Districts
to achieve the vision set forth by the POCD and to provide a mechanism
for implementing the following specific goals:
(1)
Enable the development of a specific
area in accordance with an overall master plan for such area;
(2)
Result in a development which demonstrates
a high regard for a design which is compatible with the historic,
cultural, and geographic qualities of Canton;
(3)
Foster development which is compatible
with surrounding areas and which incorporates buffers or transition
areas to reduce potentially negative impacts on single-family residential
areas;
(4)
Encourage a mixture of compatible
uses and sizes of structures to create a sustainable and attractive
environment for a wide variety of businesses and residences;
(5)
Break up the apparent mass and scale
of large structures, as well as large paved areas, to reduce visual
impacts and ensure that such development does not detract from Canton's
character, scale, and sense of place;
(6)
Mitigate the impact of large-scale
development on its surroundings;
(7)
Promote and facilitate a safe and
comfortable pedestrian scale environment;
(8)
Be flexible, to allow for innovative
design techniques, accommodate unique uses and encourage creative
approaches to development issues; and
(9)
Allow for an organized manner in
which applications filed under C.G.S. § 8-30g and under
Chapter 124b, § 8-13m-x may be processed.
B.
All development must comply with federal,
state, and Town regulations. Whenever any provision of this Code imposes
a greater requirement or a higher standard than is required in any
state or federal statute or other Town ordinance or regulation, the
provisions of this Code shall govern unless preempted by state or
federal law.
C.
Where conflicts exist between the provisions
of this Code and other existing ordinances, regulations, or permits,
or by easements, covenants, or agreements, the ZEO shall determine,
based on the intent of this Code and the Town's vision, which provisions
shall govern.
The provisions of this Code are the
minimum requirements.
This Code is in effect for that chapter
of the Town of Canton, Connecticut, designated on the Zoning Map as
the Collinsville Design Village District (CDVD), Harts Corner Design
Village District (HCDVD), Canton Village Design Village District (CVDVD),
and the East Gateway Design Village District (EGDVD). The Design Village
Districts are created as individually designated Village Districts
per C.G.S. Title 8, Chapter 124 Zoning, § 8-2j.
Should any provision of this Code
be decided by the courts to be unconstitutional or invalid, that decision
shall not affect the validity of this Code other than the part decided
to be unconstitutional or invalid. In the event that a court rules
that this Code is invalid in its entirety, the zone for any property
located in a Design Village District shall be the district where it
was located immediately prior to the enactment of this Code.
A.
The regulating plan.
(1)
Article XII, Regulating Plans, is the application key for this Code. It provides a master plan of public space with specific information on development parameters for each parcel within the district.
 Design Village Districts
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(2)
The Regulating Plan shows how each
lot relates to the public realm or street-space (all streets, squares/civic
greens, pedestrian pathways, etc.) and the surrounding neighborhood.
The Regulating Plan may also identify additional requirements for
lots in specific locations.
B.
The building form standards.
(1)
The primary intent of Article XIII, Building Form Standards (BFS), is to define the placement and massing controls on buildings as frames of the public space.
(2)
The BFS establish basic parameters
governing building form, including the buildable envelope (in three
dimensions) and certain permitted and/or required elements. The applicable
street frontage for a building site is determined by the BFS designated
on the Regulating Plan.
C.
The urban space standards.
(1)
The purpose of Article XIV, Urban Space Standards, is to ensure coherent street-space and to assist builders and owners with understanding the relationship between the public space of the district and their own building. These standards set the parameters for the placement of street trees and other amenities or furnishings (e.g., benches, signs, streetlights, etc.) within the street-space.
(2)
The Street Type Recommendations illustrate
preferred typical configurations for streets within the districts.
They recommend vehicular traffic lane widths, curb radii; sidewalk
dimensions tree planting areas, and on-street parking configurations.
D.
The architectural standards. The goal of Article XV, Architectural Standards, is a coherent and quality building character that reflects and is complementary to the best building traditions of Canton. The architectural standards govern a building's exterior elements (including sidewalks), regardless of its BFS, and set parameters for allowable materials, configurations, and techniques.
E.
Parking and loading standards. Article XVI, Parking and Loading Standards, provide goals and requirements to promote a "park once" environment through shared parking and encourage a pedestrian-friendly district.
