A.Â
This Zoning Chapter of the Town of Southborough, Massachusetts,
has been adopted and from time to time amended and recodified under
the authority of Chapter 40A and other relevant provisions of the
General Laws of Massachusetts for the purpose of protecting and promoting
the health, safety, convenience and welfare of the current and future
inhabitants of Southborough and for other purposes contained in Section
2A of Chapter 808, Acts of 1975.
B.Â
This Zoning Chapter divides the Town of Southborough
into districts, in which the location, construction, occupancy and
use of buildings, structures, premises and land is regulated and restricted
as provided hereinafter.
A.Â
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
word "shall" is intended to be mandatory, the word "may" is merely
permissive, the singular includes the plural, and the present tense
includes the future, and other words and phrases have the following
meanings.
B.Â
ABUTTER
ABUTTING
ACCESSORY APARTMENT
ACCESSORY BUILDING OR USE
ALTERATIONS, MINIMUM EXTERIOR
BASEMENT
BED AND BREAKFAST
BUILDING
CELLAR
CO-WORK CENTER
CUSTOMARY HOME OCCUPATION
DOG KENNEL
DWELLING, MULTIFAMILY
DWELLING UNIT
ESTABLISHMENT
FACADE
FAMILY
FARM
FLOOR AREA, GROSS
FLOOR AREA RATIO
FRONTAGE
FRONTAGE OCCUPANCY
FUR FARM
GARAGE
HEIGHT
HISTORIC BUILDING(S)
HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY
IMPERVIOUS
INDIVIDUAL
JUNKYARD
LANDSCAPED GREEN SPACE
LOT
MAJOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
MICROBREWERY
MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT
MOBILE HOME
NONCONFORMING BUILDING, LOT OR USE
NONPROFIT COMMUNITY HOUSING ORGANIZATION
ONE-FAMILY HOUSE
OPEN SPACE
PERSON
PIGGERY
PREMISES
RESTAURANT
ROADSIDE STAND
STORY
STORY, HALF
STREET
STRUCTURE
TOXIC OR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
TRAILER
VEHICULAR USE AREA
WIDTH
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS TOWER
YARD
Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:
One who abuts.
[Added 4-11-1988 STM by Art. 1]
Having a common property line with, contiguous to, fronting
upon or within 300 feet of any property line thereof.
[Added 4-11-1988 STM by Art. 1]
A subsidiary dwelling unit created within or as an extension
to a single-family dwelling or a structure accessory thereto, with
separate cooking, sleeping and bathroom facilities.
[Amended 4-30-1990 ATM by Art. 50]
A building, structure or use customarily incidental and subordinate to the principal permitted use of the building or land, located on the same lot as the principal permitted building or use, and not prohibited by this chapter. For the purpose of this chapter, any area on a lot used for the landing and take-off of aircraft, as defined by MGL Chapter 90, Section 35, or helicopters (except as allowed in the Industrial Park District by special permit re: § 174-8.6C) on a regular or intermittent basis shall not be considered an accessory to use and therefore not allowed as an accessory or principal use in any zoning district.
[Amended 4-15-1997 ATM; Art. 53]
External alterations limited to those necessary to comply
with applicable building, fire or health codes and not enlarging the
usable area of a building or changing its character.
That part of a building which is partly below and partly
above grade, and having at least 1/2 its height above grade.
[Added 4-13-1987 ATM by Art. 41]
Bed and breakfast is an establishment on owner-occupied property
offering transient lodging accommodations to the general public, with
not more than four guest rooms and food service limited to breakfast
for guests.
[Added 11-1-2021 STM
by Art. 10]
A structure having a roof and intended or used as a shelter
for humans, animals or goods, to be construed as if followed by the
words "or any part thereof." Buildings which are touching, structurally
connected or attached shall be considered as one "building."
That part of a building which is partly or completely below
grade, and having at least 1/2 its height below grade.
[Added 4-13-1987 ATM by Art. 41]
A building or portion thereof used for flexible work spaces
offering short-term, monthly, or longer lease periods for self-employed
people or people working for different employers, and typically providing
shared furnishings, equipment, and business support services.
[Added 11-1-2021 STM
by Art. 10]
The use of a portion, not exceeding 25%, of a one-family home, including the accessory buildings, by persons resident therein for a gainful occupation that is clearly incidental and secondary to the use as a residence; that does not generate a significant increase in traffic, noise, smoke, vibration, dust, odors, glare, unsightliness or other effects not normally produced by a residence; that involves no exterior display or storage of goods, tools, materials or equipment or the parking of more than one commercial vehicle; that gives no exterior indication of such occupation, other than one sign not over four square feet; that involves only motive power normally found in a home; that does not employ more than two persons not resident therein; that involves the exercise of artistic, domestic, personal or professional skills; and that requires the approval of the Board of Health for disposal of any waste generated by such occupation that differs in quantity or composition from domestic solid or liquid waste; provided, however, that exceptions are provided in § 174-13.8 titled "Adaptive reuse of historic buildings."
[Amended 4-25-2017 ATM
by Art. 27]
The keeping for sale or boarding purposes, including convalescence
or treatment, of more than three dogs that are more than six months
old.
A dwelling containing two or more dwelling units.
[Added 4-30-1990 ATM by Art. 48]
Living quarters for a single family.
[Added 4-30-1990 ATM by Art. 48]
An institutional, business, commercial, or industrial activity
that occupies all or a portion of a building; a place of business.
[Added 11-1-2021 STM
by Art. 10]
The external faces of a building.
[Added 11-1-2021 STM
by Art. 10]
Any number of individuals related by blood, marriage or adoption,
and not more than six individuals not so related, living together
as a single housekeeping unit. (The limit on the number of unrelated
individuals shall not apply to foster children under 16 years of age.)
Land or premises used to raise agricultural, silvicultural
or horticultural products, livestock, poultry and dairy products,
but excepting, to the extent permitted pursuant to applicable state
law and regulation, piggeries, dog kennels, riding stables and the
raising of carnivorous fur-bearing animals.
[Amended 10-7-2013 STM by Art. 9]
The aggregate horizontal area, in square feet, of all floors
of a building or several buildings on the same lot, measured from
the interior faces of walls enclosing each building, exclusive of
stair and elevator wells, garages, basement and other areas used only
for storage or for services incidental to the operation and maintenance
of such a building or buildings. In the absence of information as
to what portion of the building will be used for such storage and
services, 80% of the aggregate floor area shall be deemed to be the
floor area for the purposes of computing the required off-street parking
and loading spaces.
The ratio of the aggregate gross floor area of all floors
of a building or buildings on a lot to the total lot area. The gross
floor area shall not include unenclosed porches, cellars, attics or
garages not used for human occupancy.
The distance along a continuous portion of a street line between intersections with lot side lines, provided that for lots abutting more than one street, frontage shall be required and measured along one street only, but the yard required by Article III hereof shall be provided along each street the lot abuts, and that for corner lots, frontage shall be measured to the intersection of street lines or to the middle of the corner rounding curve connecting such street lines, and further provided that a lot shall only be deemed to have "frontage" along any street to which it has both legal and physical access.
The percent of a lot's street frontage that is occupied by
a building between the minimum and maximum front setback range.
[Added 11-1-2021 STM
by Art. 10]
The keeping or raising of carnivorous fur-bearing animals
for commercial purposes.
A garage in the Residence A and Residence B Districts shall
be considered an accessory use to a home or building.
[Added 4-15-2003 ATM by Art. 62]
The vertical difference between the average of the mean finished ground elevations of all sides of the building or structure and the elevation of the highest point of the roof for flat roofs, to the deckline of mansard roofs and to the mean height between eaves and ridge for gable, hip and gambrel roofs. This definition shall not include signs and the structural features exempt by § 174-15 hereof and extending not more than 20 feet above the permitted height. For buildings subject to site plan approval under § 174-10 hereof, the average finished ground elevation shall not be raised above the original natural ground through fill or regrading to more than two feet above the center-line grade of the frontage street opposite the proposed building, unless the approved site plan provides for such buildup.
[Added 4-8-1985 ATM by Art. 38]
A building or structure listed on the Historic Properties
Survey of Southborough Massachusetts June 2000, on file with the Town
Clerk's office, and as may be subsequently amended and approved by
the Southborough Historical Commission, or any other building or structure
that is more than 85 years old.
[Added 4-25-2017 ATM
by Art. 28]
Housing with occupancy of each dwelling unit reserved to
no more than two persons, one of whom must either be 55 years of age
or older or handicapped.
[Added 4-14-1986 ATM by Art. 37]
Impenetrable by surface water.
[Added 4-14-1986 ATM by Art. 40]
A human being.
Premises used for the collecting, storage and sale of wastepaper,
rags, scrap metal or discarded materials or for collecting, dismantling,
storage, salvage and sale of used machinery, vehicles or parts thereof.
Land that is covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other
vegetation and may include a pervious walkway that meets accessibility
standards.
[Added 11-1-2021 STM
by Art. 10]
A single tract of land in identical ownership throughout
with definite boundaries ascertainable through a recorded plan or
deed.
Refer to § 174-13.2A.
[Added 4-14-1986 ATM by Art. 36; amended 4-10-1995 ATM by Art.
46]
A microbrewery is a licensed establishment that produces
and distributes beer, ale, or other malt beverages, and which may
include accessory uses such as tours of the microbrewery, retail sales,
and a taproom for on-site consumption. In addition to selling beer
at retail on the premises, a microbrewery may act as wholesaler for
beer of its own production for off-site consumption if it has a valid
pub brewery license from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
[Added 11-1-2021 STM
by Art. 10]
A development that includes any combination of permitted
nonresidential uses and one or more dwelling units within a single
structure; provided, however, that the inclusion of two or more dwelling
units in a mixed-use development shall not be deemed a multifamily
dwelling. The ground floor facing the street shall be used only for
permitted nonresidential uses, and residential dwellings cannot exceed
40% of the gross floor area of the above ground level floor space
of the building (no residential dwellings in the basement level).
[Added 11-1-2021 STM
by Art. 10]
A structure, transportable in one or more units, built on
a permanent chassis, equipped with wheels for towing to its destination,
provided with internal heating, plumbing and electrical systems and
designed to be used as a dwelling when connected to the required utilities,
with or without a foundation.
A legally existing building, lot, location of building on
a lot or use of buildings or land which does not conform to the zoning
regulations for the district in which it is located.
A Massachusetts corporation or foundation, no part of the
net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder
or individual, established by Southborough residents for the sole
purpose of providing housing facilities and services.
[Added 4-14-1986 ATM by Art. 37]
A detached dwelling intended and designed to be occupied
by a single family.
That portion of the lot area that is not covered by any structure
and not used for drives, parking, storage or display. Wetlands, ponds
and man-made retention areas shall not be considered open space for
the purpose of calculating the requirements of this bylaw. Subsurface
sewage disposal systems shall not be allowed within designated open
space except that areas designated for reserve or expansion of an
individual or shared system shall be allowed only if in the opinion
of the Board of Health no other options are available or if in the
opinion of the Planning Board it would be beneficial to the overall
layout of the development. All open space shall be stabilized with
natural vegetative cover. Open space shall be permanently protected
by recorded deed.
[Added 4-10-2000 ATM by Art. 53]
One or several individuals, a family, firm, partnership,
association, corporation, company or institutional organization of
any kind.
The keeping of five or more pigs over one-year old.
A lot, with all buildings, structures, improvements and uses
thereon.
An establishment primarily for serving by a waiter or waitress,
and consumption of meals at tables or at a counter, on the premises.
[Added 1-27-1996 STM by Art. 5]
A structure erected and used exclusively for the sale of
flowers or farm and garden products, the majority of which, by value,
have been grown on the premises or within the Town of Southborough.
The structure may be located within the minimum required front yard,
but at least 12 feet from the nearest street line, if built of wood
and other readily movable materials, without a foundation, integral
heating or permanent utility connections, and not over 350 square
feet gross floor area.
The part of a building between the top of any floor and the
top of the floor or roof next above, including a basement, but excluding
a cellar or attic.
[Added 4-13-1987 ATM by Art. 41]
That part of a building under a gable or sloping roof in
which the intersection of the bottom of the rafters with the interior
faces of the outside walls is four feet or less above the floor level
or that part of a building if more than half of its exterior wall
is below the mean finished ground elevation, and excluding a cellar
or attic used solely for utilities, services or storage and not for
sustained human occupancy.
[Added 4-8-1985 ATM by Art. 38; amended 4-13-1987 ATM by Art.
41]
A public way laid out for vehicular traffic; a private way laid out and approved under the authority of the Subdivision Control Law, Chapter 41 of the General Laws; a way which the Town Clerk certifies has been used and maintained as a public way; or a way in existence when the Subdivision Control Law went into effect in the Town of Southborough and having, in the opinion of the Planning Board, adequate width, construction and grades for the needs of the existing and future buildings and uses abutting thereon or to be served thereby.
A man-made combination of materials assembled in a fixed
location to give support or shelter or for any other purpose, including
buildings, frameworks, platforms, sheds and the like, provided that
signs, utility poles and small decorative or accessory structures
not over three feet in height or six feet in any dimension, such as
sculptures, mailboxes, birdbaths, benches and the like, shall not
be subject to the yard requirements of this chapter if located at
least five feet from side or rear lot lines. Fences that are not over
six feet in height shall not be considered structures.
[Amended 4-10-2000 ATM by Art. 56]
Substances listed on the Massachusetts Substance List contained
in 105 CMR 670, Appendix A, substances regulated as hazardous under
MGL c. 21C, as amended, and regulated substances defined under Subtitle
1, Section 9001, of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as
amended.
[Added 4-14-1986 ATM by Art. 40]
A wheeled vehicle designed to be towed and having no own
motive power, including, without limitations, camping or travel trailers
equipped to be used for business, for transportation of goods or for
living or sleeping purposes, but not as a dwelling in a permanent
location.
Includes all areas used for the circulation, parking and/or
display of any and all types of vehicles, boats or heavy construction
equipment, whether self-propelled or not, and all land upon which
vehicles traverse as a function of the primary uses. Driveways and
parking spaces serving single-family residential uses shall be an
exception to this definition.
[Added 4-26-1990 ATM by Art. 42]
The straight-line distance between lot lines parallel to
a line connecting lot corners at frontage street and applicable for
the entire front yard or setback depth.
A structure (with antennas, if any) designated to facilitate
the following types of services: cellular telephone service, personal
communications service and enhanced specialized mobile radio service.
[Added 4-15-1997 ATM by Art. 52]
A strip of land, unoccupied by buildings or structures, between
a street or a lot line and a line parallel thereto at a depth equal
to the minimum distance to the nearest part of any building or structure,
measured at right angles to such street or lot line. If a lot is triangular
or wedge-shaped, it shall have no rear yard, while on an irregular-shaped
lot, the rear yard shall be adjacent to the lot line most nearly opposite
the frontage street. The minimum required yard may also be referred
to as the required setback.
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