Town of Georgetown, MA Article XI Supplementary Regulations

§ 165-67 Roadside stands.

[Added 3-1-1969 ATM, Art. 45 (Amdt. No. 17)]

Roadside stands, where permitted, shall be located at least 15 feet back from the street line and 20 feet from any lot line. Other than permanent or semipermanent stands, all others shall be removed during seasons when not in use.

§ 165-68 Apartments.

[Added 6-4-1973 ATM, Art. 5 (Amdt. No. 44)]

The following provisions shall apply to apartment houses:

A. There shall be a minimum usable land area of 10,000 square feet for each family or dwelling unit hereafter altered or erected. "Usable land" shall be construed to mean land that is continuous, without interruption by a swamp, permanent or semipermanent body of natural water, such as a brook, river, pond or swamp. All the required area shall consist of continuous building area (CBA) as defined in § 165-7.

[Amended 6-11-1990 ATM, Art. 37 (Amdt. No. 82)]

B. The limit of height in all apartment buildings shall be 21/2 stories, not to exceed 35 feet. The limitations of height in feet shall not apply to chimneys, ventilators, skylights, bulkheads and other necessary features usually carried above roofs.

C. An apartment house shall not cover more than 25% of its lot.

§ 165-69 Accessory apartments.

[Added 6-26-1995 ATM, Art. 9 (Amdt. No. 94)]

A. Purpose and intent. It is the specific intent of this section to allow accessory apartments, including kitchens, within single-family properties for the purpose of meeting the special housing needs of grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters, children and their respective spouses of families of owner-occupants of properties. To achieve this goal and to promote the other objectives of this section, specific standards are set forth below for such accessory apartment uses. A special permit issued by the Zoning Board of Appeals shall authorize such use.

B. Owner occupancy required. The owners of the single-family lot upon which the accessory apartment is located shall occupy at least one of the dwelling units on the premises. The special permit shall be issued to the owner of the property. Should there be a change in ownership or change in residence of the owner, the special permit and the certificate of occupancy for the accessory apartment shall become null and void.

C. Apartment size. The maximum livable floor area for an accessory apartment shall not exceed the greater of either 700 square feet or 33% of the livable floor area of the existing primary dwelling. In the case of new construction, the aforementioned will apply to the planned primary dwelling. Livable floor area is defined under this chapter.[1]

[Amended 11-13-1995 STM, Art. 10 (Amdt. No. 99)]

[1] Editor's Note: See § 165-7 where "livable floor area" is defined.

D. Code compliance. The accessory apartment must be determined to comply with current safety, health and construction requirements before occupancy and at every change in occupancy.

E. Preservation of single-family characteristics. The accessory apartment shall not change the single-family characteristic of the dwelling except for the provision of an additional access or egress.

F. There shall be no more than one accessory apartment for a total of two dwelling units permitted per lot.

G. Dwelling units in new developments may apply for special permit after subdivision road has been accepted at Town meeting.

§ 165-69.1 Public tree replacement.

[Added 5-7-2007 ATM, Art. 33 (Amdt. No. 165)]

Any tree greater than 2 3/4" caliper located on public property that is damaged or removed due to construction shall be replaced on a wood to wood basis. Trees shall be installed within one year of their removal at a location determined by the Planning Board.