[Amended 1-17-1989 STM by Art. 15]
This Bylaw is adopted in accordance with and
pursuant to the provisions of Mass. General Laws, Chapter 40A, and
Mass. General Laws, Chapter 43B. This Bylaw shall be known and may
be cited as the Zoning Bylaw of the Town of Townsend, Mass.
A.
The purposes of this Bylaw include, but are not limited
to, the following: to lessen congestion in the streets; to conserve
health; to secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other dangers;
to provide adequate light and air; to prevent overcrowding of land;
to avoid undue concentration of population; to encourage housing for
persons of all income levels; to facilitate the adequate provision
of transportation, water, water supply, drainage, sewerage, schools,
parks, open space and other public requirements; to conserve the value
of land and buildings, including the conservation of natural resources
and the prevention of blight and pollution of the environment, to
encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the Town, including
consideration of the recommendations of the comprehensive plan, if
any, adopted by the Planning Board and the comprehensive plan, if
any, of the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission; and to preserve
and increase amenities by the promulgation of regulations to fulfill
these purposes under the provisions of General Laws, Chapter 40A.
B.
In accordance with these purposes, the use, erection,
establishment, movement, repair, alteration, enlargement, height,
appearance, location and occupancy of buildings and structures, and
uses and occupancy of premises in the Town of Townsend are hereby
regulated and restricted as hereinafter provided.
Any building or structure hereinafter erected,
reconstructed, altered, enlarged or moved or any use of premises hereinafter
established, altered or expanded in the Town of Townsend shall be
in conformity with the provisions of this Bylaw.
[Amended 3-16-1987 STM by Art. 1]
A.
Any use not specifically or generically listed herein
or otherwise permitted in a district shall be deemed as prohibited.
Any legal use of land or building is permitted in accordance with
the requirements of this Bylaw except those uses which are dangerous
or detrimental to a neighborhood because of fire hazard, offensive
noise, smoke, vibration, harmful radioactivity, electrical interference,
dust, odor, fumes, heat, glare, unsightliness or other objectionable
characteristics.
B.
In accordance with General Laws, Chapter 40A, and
notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, this Bylaw shall not
prohibit, regulate or restrict the use of land or structures for religious
purposes or for educational purposes on land owned or leased by the
commonwealth, or any of its agencies, subdivisions or bodies politic
or by a religious sect or denomination or by a nonprofit educational
corporation; provided, however, that such land or structures may be
subject to reasonable regulations concerning the bulk and height of
structures and determining yard sizes, lot area, setbacks, open spaces,
parking and building coverage requirements.
