ZONING
BYLAW
TOWN
OF
As
amended
Official Bylaw Documents are on file with the Egremont Town Clerk.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. TITLE, AUTHORITY, AND PURPOSE...................................................................................... 1
1.1............................................................................................................................................................................................ Title 1
1.2................................................................................................................................................................................... Authority 1
1.3.................................................................................................................................................................................... Purpose 1
1.4............................................................................................................................................................................. Applicability 1
1.5............................................................................................................................................................................. Amendment 2
1.6.............................................................................................................................................................................. Separability 2
2. DEFINITIONS................................................................................................................................. 2
3. EStablishment of DISTRICTS........................................................................................... 2
3.1................................................................................................................................................................... Types
of Districts 3
3.2.............................................................................................................................................................. Location
of Districts 3
3.2.1. General District 3
3.2.2. The Jug End Residential District 3
3.2.3. Flood Plain Overlay District 3
3.2.4. Wireless Telecommunications Overlay District 3
3.2.5. Adult Entertainment Overlay District 3
4. regulation of districts................................................................................................... 3
4.1...................................................................................................................................................................... General
District 3
4.1.1. Use Regulations for the General District 3
4.1.1.1. Applicability 3
4.1.1.2. Uses and Structures Permitted in the General District by Right 4
4.1.1.3. Uses and Structures Permitted in the General District by Special Permit 4
4.1.2. Intensity Regulations for the General District 5
4.1.2.1. Table of Intensity Regulations 5
4.1.2.2. General Intensity Regulations for the General District 6
4.1.2.3. Special Intensity Regulations for the General District 6
4.2............................................................................................................................................... Jug
End Residential District 7
4.3............................................................................................................................... Regulations
Applying to All Districts 15
4.3.1. Nonconforming Uses and Structures 15
4.3.2. Signs 16
4.3.3. Junk Material 17
4.3.4. Travel Trailers and Mobile Homes 18
4.3.5. Earth Removal Regulations 18
4.3.6. Common Driveways 19
5. SPECIAL DISTRICTS................................................................................................................ 20
5.1................................................................................................................................................ Flood
Plain Overlay District 20
5.2........................................................................................... Wireless
Telecommunications Overlay District (WTOD) ..21
5.2.1. Purpose 21
5.2.2. Description 21
5.2.3. Relation to Other Districts 21
5.2.4. Applicability 21
5.3........................................................................................................ Personal
Wireless Service Facilities and Towers 21
5.3.1. Purposes 21
5.3.2. Consistency with Federal Law 22
5.3.3. Definitions 22
5.3.4. Exempted Wireless Telecommunications Uses 24
5.3.5. Provision of Independent Consultants 25
5.3.6. Prohibition of Teleports 25
5.3.7. Wireless Telecommunications Overlay Districts 25
5.3.8. Application Requirements for a Personal Wireless Tower 25
5.3.9. Application Requirements for Subsequent Personal
Wireless Service Facilities 30
5.3.10. General Requirements 30
5.3.11. Evaluation by Independent Consultants 34
5.3.12. Approval Criteria 34
5.3.13. Evaluation of Compliance and Inspection of Personal
Wireless Service Facilities 35
5.3.14. Removal Requirements 36
5.3.15. Performance Guarantees 37
5.3.16. Fees and Insurance 37
5.3.17. Permit Expiration and Renewal 37
5.3.18. Severability Clause 38
5.4......................................................................................... Adult Entertainment Overlay District Use 38
5.4.1. Authority to Regulate 38
5.4.2. Purpose and Intent 38
5.4.3. Consistency with State and Federal Law 38
5.4.4. Relation to Other Districts 38
5.4.5. Applicability 38
5.4.6. Definitions 38
5.4.7. Regulation of Adult Entertainment Uses 39
6. ADMINISTRATION...................................................................................................................... 42
6.1.......................................................................................................................................................... Permits
and Licenses 42
6.1.1. Compliance Required 42
6.1.2. Application 42
6.1.3. Construction in Accordance with Permit 43
6.2...................................................................................................................................................................... Special
Permits 43
6.2.1. Special Permit Granting Authority 43
6.2.2. Review by Other Boards and Agencies 43
6.2.3. Procedures 43
6.2.4. Criteria 44
6.2.5. Conditions 44
6.2.6. Lapse 44
6.3..................................................................................................................................................... Zoning
Board of Appeals 44
6.3.1. Membership 44
6.3.2. Powers 45
6.3.3. Decisions by the Zoning Board of Appeals 45
7. ENFORCEMENT......................................................................................................................... 46
7.1......................................................................................................................................................... Enforcement
Authority 46
7.2.................................................................................................................................................................................... Violation 46
a. Protect the Town's areas of scenic beauty, its brooks, ponds, wetlands and water resources, and other significant environmental features;
b. Minimize the adverse effects of development on natural resources and municipal facilities;
c. Employ cooperatively the various measures taken by the Town's agencies, under diverse legislative authority, including the State Environmental Code, Wetlands Protection Act, Subdivision Control Legislation, and the State Building Code, for the preservation of the Town's existing rural character, open spaces, low density of population, and in the interests of the Town's orderly growth at deliberate pace.
This Bylaw may be amended from time to time in an annual or Special Town Meeting in accordance with Chapter 40A, of the General Laws.
The invalidity of any section or provision of this Bylaw shall not invalidate any other section or provision thereof.
For the purpose of this Bylaw, the following words and terms as used herein shall have the meanings or limitations of meaning hereunder defined, explained or assigned.
ACCESSORY USE OR STRUCTURE: A use or structure on the same lot with, and of a nature
customarily incidental and subordinate to, the principal use or structure.
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT USE: Any use defined as an Adult Entertainment Use in
Section 5.4 of this Bylaw.
DWELLING, ONE FAMILY: A detached residential building containing one (1) dwelling
unit and occupied by one (1) family only, but not including mobile homes
whether placed on a foundation or not.
DWELLING, TWO FAMILY: A detached residential building containing two (2)
dwelling units, designed for occupancy by not more than two (2) families.
DWELLING, MULTI-FAMILY: A residential building designed for or occupied by
three (3) or more families, with the number of families in residence not
exceeding the number of dwelling units provided.
FAMILY: One (1) or more individuals related by blood, marriage or adoption, or
not more than five (5) individuals who are not so related, living in a single
dwelling unit on a regular residential basis.
FRONTAGE: The continuous distance along the street line, which
provides direct access to the lot.
HOME OCCUPATION: A business conducted within a dwelling by a resident
thereof as a use accessory thereto, involving no undue traffic or noise. For
the purpose of this Bylaw, home occupation does not include gift shop, antique
shop, art gallery or similar retail establishment.
MOBILE HOME: A vehicular portable completely enclosed structure
built on a permanent chassis, designed as dwelling unit to be transported after
fabrication on its own wheels. For the purpose of this Bylaw, the term
"mobile home" includes trailers incorporating the characteristics of
mobile homes as herein defined.
MUNICIPAL USE: Any use of land in accordance with the General Laws
governing municipal powers and functions including participation in regional
uses.
SITE PLAN: A plan indicating, but not limited to the following:
the location of all existing and proposed buildings, structures, access roads,
driveways, parking areas and all proposed site improvements.
SPECIAL PERMIT GRANTING AUTHORITY: Either (1) the Board of Selectmen, or (2) the Zoning
Board of Appeals, or (3) the Planning Board, whichever is empowered by these
Bylaws to grant a special permit for a particular use or purpose, shall for
that use or purpose be deemed the Special Permit Granting Authority.
STREET: A public way or a way which the clerk of the town certifies is
maintained and used as a public way, a way shown on a plan theretofore approved
and endorsed in accordance with the subdivision control law, or a way in
existence when the subdivision control law became effective in the town in
which the land lies, having, in the opinion of the Planning Board, sufficient
width, suitable grades, and adequate construction to provide for the needs of
vehicular traffic in relation to the proposed use of the land abutting thereon
or served thereby, and for the installation of municipal services to serve such
land and the buildings erected or to be erected thereon.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS: The Board as provided in §6.3.
a. The FLOOD PLAIN OVERLAY DISTRICT
b. The WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS OVERLAY DISTRICT
c. The ADULT ENTERTAINMENT OVERLAY DISTRICT
The entire town except for the Jug End Residential District.
Includes the land shown on Plate 7A of the Board of Assessors Property Valuation Maps of the Town of Egremont dated 1980-81 as parcel #0278 including one thousand (1000) acres more or less.
The Flood
Plain District is herein established as an overlay district. The Flood Plain
District includes all special flood hazard areas designated as Zone A, A1-30 on
the Egremont Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), and the Flood Boundary and
Floodway Maps, dated
The locations and boundaries of the Wireless Telecommunications Overlay district (WTOD) are hereby established in Section 5.2.2.
The Adult
Entertainment Overlay District (herein AEOD) is hereby established as an
Overlay District including the entire Town of
Except as provided by law or in this Bylaw, no building or structure shall be erected, and no building, structure or land or part thereof shall be used for any purpose or in any manner other than one or more of the uses hereinafter set forth as permitted by right or as permissible by special permit and so authorized by special permit in accordance with the provisions of this Bylaw.
a. One (1) family dwelling.
b. Conversion of a one (1) family dwelling into a two (2) family dwelling.
c. Two (2) family dwelling.
d. Use of land and structures for agriculture, horticulture, viticulture or floriculture.
e. Religious or education use 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.
f. Municipal or governmental use including parks, playgrounds or other recreational facilities owned or operated by a town agency.
g. Accessory uses and structures customarily incidental to a principal permitted use on the same premises, including but not limited to the following:
i. The use of a room or rooms in a dwelling or an existing accessory building by a resident occupant for practice of his or her occupation or craft, provided that any external evidence of any business is not detrimental to the rural type environment of the area.
ii. Rental of not more than four (4) rooms for residential purposes in a dwelling by a resident family provided no separate kitchen facilities are maintained.
iii. The display and sale by a resident of the premises at a roadside stand or otherwise, of natural products the major portion of which are produced on the premises.
iv. Display of sign or signs as regulated in §4.3.2 of this Bylaw.
v. Mobile home or travel trailer, as regulated in §4.3.4 of this Bylaw.
vi. The removal of earth materials, including stripping of topsoil when incidental to or required in connection with any of the following operations:
a) The erection of a building or structure on the lot for which a building permit has properly been issued and the construction of a private drive.
b) Any accessory use incidental to a permitted use, including cultivation, planting, drainage of land, or landscaping.
c) The construction of a private street in a subdivision approved under the Subdivision Control Law.
d) Municipal or governmental construction or operation.
a. Uses and land structures which may be authorized by the Planning Board by special permit in accordance with provisions of this Bylaw.
i. Multi-family dwelling, subject to the special requirements specified in §4.1.2.3.
ii. Retail business or consumer service establishment, subject to the special requirements specified in §4.1.2.1.
iii. Accessory buildings exceeding the maximums set for height in §4.1.2.1 of this Bylaw.
b. Structures for providing wired or wireless internet service or other wired telecommunications services other than those provided for in Section 5.2 and 5.3 of this Bylaw may be allowed by Special Permit from the Board of Selectman as follows:
i. Up to 180 square feet in floor area of an existing structure may be used to house this equipment. Any such structure shall be treated as an accessory building for purposes of Sections 4.1.2.1 and 4.1.2.2.a of this Bylaw provided that all other uses in the structure are accessory uses.
ii. Any new building to house such equipment shall have a footprint no greater than 180 square feet and be no more than 14 feet in height and shall be treated as an accessory building as in Section 4.1.1.3.b.i above.
iii. Poles supporting equipment for services under this section 4.1.1.3.b may not also be used for services under Section 5.2 and 5.3 unless approved under those sections. Poles shall be subject to side and rear setback requirements for accessory buildings.
c. Uses and structures for wireless telecommunications services in the WTOD may be allowed by the Planning Board by special permit in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of this Bylaw.
a. General
Any building or structure used for dwelling purposes or housing a principal permitted use, shall be so located on a lot as to meet the requirements of this Section except as specifically otherwise provided in this Bylaw.
b. Table of Intensity Regulations
|
Minimum |
Minimum Frontage in Feet |
Minimum Yard in Feet |
Maximum Height in Feet 2 |
|||
|
Front 1 |
Side |
Rear |
||||
|
One Family |
1 Acre |
150 |
40 |
25 |
25 |
35 |
|
Existing One Family Converted to Two Family |
1 Acre |
150 |
40 |
25 |
25 |
35 |
|
Two Family |
2 Acres |
150 |
40 |
25 |
25 |
35 |
|
Multi-Family |
2½ Acres 3 |
150 |
75 |
50 |
50 |
35 |
|
All Other Principal Uses 4 |
1 Acre |
150 |
40 |
25 |
25 |
35 |
|
Private Garages, Sheds and Such
Other |
|
|
40 |
25 |
25 |
35 |
1) Measured from the right-of-way line
where a plan of the way is on file with the Registry of Deeds, or in the
absence of such plan, the front set-back shall be a minimum of sixty-five (65) feet
from the center line of the travel way,
2) The height restrictions do not
apply to agricultural buildings or structures, spires, chimneys, antennae or
other appurtenances usually placed above roof level and not intended for human
occupancy.
3) For the first three (3) dwelling
units plus one half (1/2) acre of usable land for each additional dwelling
unit.
4) Except as provided in
§4.1.2.3.b.ii.
a. No more than one (1) dwelling or principal building shall be located on a lot.
b. No lot, or any building or structure thereon, shall be changed in size so as to violate area, frontage, setback, yard or any other requirements of this Bylaw.
c. A private street approved by the Planning Board under the Subdivision Control Law may provide frontage only for the lots which are contained within the approved subdivision.
d. Land which in its entirety is more than two hundred and fifty (250) feet from any approved street and which consists of one acre or more may be reached by a corridor or right-of-way of not less than fifty (50) feet wide, restricted to one (1) single family dwelling. Nothing herein to change the requirements otherwise contained in this Bylaw relative to construction on such land, except that the 150 foot frontage requirement of §4.1.2.1 shall not apply and the front setback of §4.1.2.1 shall be measured from the lot line closest to the street.
i. No corridor or right of way referred to in §4.1.2.2.d hereof shall be linked at any point with any other corridor or right of way leading to a different parcel or otherwise so used as to circumvent the purposes of the Subdivision Control Laws of the state.
ii. This §4.1.2.2.d shall apply only to a parcel of land which existed as of the adoption of the first zoning bylaw in Egremont.
a. Multi-family dwelling special requirements
i. The lot shall be sufficient in size so as to provide suitable off-street parking with adequate disposal of storm water, able in the judgment of the Selectmen to accommodate parked vehicles for maximum use of the proposed facilities.
ii. No multi-family dwelling shall contain more than six (6) dwelling units or exceed two and one half (2 1/2) stories in height.
iii. Only one (1) multi-family dwelling shall be placed on the lot.
b. Retail business and consumer service establishment special requirements
i. The lot shall be sufficient in size so as to provide suitable off-street parking area with adequate disposal of storm water, able to accommodate in the judgment of the Selectmen parked vehicles for maximum use of the proposed facility.
ii. No commercial building, structure, parking areas or driveway providing access to or from a public way for such use, shall be located within fifty (50) feet of any side or rear property line, except in cases where strict compliance with this requirement may cause unnecessary hardship.
a. The lot conforms to all other intensity regulations for one-family dwellings elsewhere in the Town.
b. The site is buildable land as defined in §4.2.5.1., Area, Number of Lots and Setbacks.
c. No building shall be allowed on slopes greater than fifteen percent (15%).
d. Along each stream and wetland as defined by Massachusetts 310 CMR 10.0 there shall be a buffer left in its natural state extending one hundred (100) feet horizontally from the seasonal high water mark and extending at least fifty (50) feet horizontally form the top of the gorge, if any.
a. Single-family homes and multi-family structures containing two (2), three (3) or four (4) dwelling units, provided that the lots between the eleven hundred (1100) contour and the twelve hundred (1200) contour shall be used only for single family homes, subject to §4.2.5., Conditions for Use on a Special Permit.
b. Open recreation uses as further described in §4.2.5.4., Open Space and Common Facilities.
c. A garage or maintenance shed provided that:
i. The garage or shed does not exceed twenty-five hundred (2500) square feet of floor area for equipment used for maintenance of the common area, such as mowers and plows.
ii. Such
shed or garage shall not be visible from
a. The area of the tract shown on the plan shall be at least one thousand (1000) acres all contained in the Jug End Residential District, and shall be at least equal in area to the land area required by this Bylaw for the total number of units contemplated in the development.
b. The number of the dwelling units allowed on a Special Permit shall be computed as the number of buildable acres multiplied by 0.7 up to a maximum of one hundred (100) units.
c. Buildable land shall mean contiguous land in parcels of three (3) acres or more below the eleven hundred (1100) foot contour or ten (10) acres or more between the eleven hundred (1100) foot contour and the twelve hundred (1200) foot contour line, which has a slope of fifteen (15) percent or less, which is not in wetlands as defined in 310 CMR 10.0. the Wetlands Protection Act, and which is not land designated as a 21E site under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 21E (The Massachusetts Oil and Hazardous Material Release Prevention and Response Act).
d. The building lots shown on any plan for which approval is granted under this Section shall meet the following requirements:
i. The size of each such lot shall be determined on the following basis:
|
Housing Type |
Average |
Minimum |
% Which May Be Less Than Average |
|
Single family below 1100 foot contour |
43,560 square feet |
25,000 square feet |
40 |
|
Single family between the 1100 foot and 1200 foot contour |
|
43,560 square feet |
|
|
Maximum
lot size shall be three (3) acres |
|||
|
Multi-family |
43,560 square feet* |
30,000 square feet* |
30 |
*For each building plus 10,000 square feet for each unit over one (1).
ii. All units of one type (e.g. single family or multi-family) will be located in clusters designed to reduce the linear feet of roads and drives and the disruption to the landscape as much as practicable.
e. Each lot shall have a minimum width of at least one hundred (100) feet, such width to be measured in a line which is the shortest distance between those segments of the side lines of the lot which lie between the front and rear setback lines specified in §4.2.5.1.f. and shall have a minimum frontage at the street of eighty (80) feet.
f. Unless approved otherwise on the Definitive Plan, for all structures, setbacks lines shall be as follows:
i. The front yard setback shall measure at least fifty (50) feet from the nearest side of the access road to the building line.
ii. The rear yard setback shall measure at least thirty (30) feet.
iii. The side yard setbacks shall measure at least twenty-five (25) feet.
iv. The distance between principal buildings on a lot shall measure at least fifty (50) feet.
g. There shall be no structures other than fences within the setback lines described in §4.2.5.1.f. above.
h. There shall be no more than ten (10) percent of the total allowable units above the eleven hundred (1100) foot contour.
i. All land not shown in lots shall be considered permanent Open Space as in §4.2.5.4.
a. A buffer strip is land, in common ownership, which is in its natural state or, if it is an open area, is landscaped with trees and plants indigenous to the area.
b. There shall be a buffer strip, which shall be part of the common area, of one hundred and fifty (150) feet along all boundaries of abutting property .
c. Between each group of structures serviced by one (1) road and between each different type of housing there shall be a buffer of one hundred (100) feet.
d. Along
each stream and wetland as defined by
e. There shall be a natural buffer strip, which shall be part of the common area, between each group of structures and which buffer strip shall be approved by the Planning Board with the Definitive Plan.
a. No more than ten (10) percent of the buildable land (as defined in §4.2.5.1(c) shall be of an impervious surface.
b. There shall be a minimum and a maximum street length and width, which, in the opinion of the Planning Board, is practical.
a. All land shown on a plan for which approval is granted under this Section which is not included in building lots, streets, or easements shall be permanent open space.
b. The permanent open space shall include:
i. All land above the twelve hundred (1200) foot contour.
ii. All land in required buffers.
iii. Land used in common for passive recreation.
iv. Such other land as is approved with the plan.
c. The permanent open space shall be suitable as to location, size, shape and condition for active or passive outdoor recreation and equal to at least fifty (50) percent of the gross area shown upon the sketch plan.
i. A minimum of three (3) acres plus one (1) acre of such open space per twenty-five (25) dwelling units shall be of land suitable for, and which can be used for active outdoor recreation, including ball fields, playground, swimming pool, tennis courts, and trails, which facilities are to be limited to use by residents of the District, and also a golf course, with membership limited to residents of the Town and use limited to members and their guests.
ii. The maximum acreage devoted to active recreation shall be limited to forty (40) acres plus any acreage in a golf course.
iii. The remaining area may be used for passive recreation, nature appreciation, and, if suitable, for common leaching area.
iv. In connection with active recreation there can be cabanas, tool sheds and similar accessory structures, but not including restaurants, bars, cocktail lounges or function rooms open to the general public, provided that accessory uses and structures shall be limited to:
a) A pro shop, equipment storage and repair area and retail sale of sporting goods related to active recreation in the District, with a total area not to exceed six hundred (600) square feet.
b) Storage within an enclosed structure of equipment used in connection with the golf course.
v. A common stable on the property can be used for boarding and grooming horses owned by residents of the District provided that there is at least one (1) acre of grazing land for each horse stabled and further provided that all horses in the District stabled elsewhere on the property shall have an acre of grazing land, which is not part of the common area.
vi. All developed recreation areas, except for trails, shall be below the eleven hundred (1100) foot contour.
d. The manner of the ownership of such permanent open space or of various parcels thereof shall be determined by the applicant and shall be submitted for the Planning Board approval. Provision shall be made by agreement, duly executed in a form suitable for recording by the owner or owners of such permanent open space, that in the event that approval is granted under this Section such permanent open space shall be:
i. Owned by the Town, or a non-profit organization the principal purpose of which is the conservation of open space, or a corporation or Trust owned or to be owned in common by the owners of the building lots or residential units within the development in which the ownership of the permanent open space runs with the title to the lots and is not separately alienable.
ii. When not conveyed to the Town, subject to restrictions enforceable by the Town, unlimited as to time or as to ownership, kept in an open or natural state and not be built upon for residential use or developed for parking or roadways, and used only for conservancy in its natural state, grazing and agriculture, walking, horseback riding, and/or bicycle riding, playing fields and courts, and swimming pools, all for use of lot owners of the building lots, or any combination of the foregoing. The restrictive agreement shall be in such form and contain such facts and provisions that, so far as possible under then existing law, the restrictions will not terminate by operation of law.
e. The provisions for ownership and restrictions shall be developed by the applicant after consultation with the Planning Board.
i. Such restrictions shall be for the benefit of and enforceable by the Town, and, if the applicant so requests, shall also be enforceable by the applicant and/or by the owner(s) of the building lots shown on such plan. The applicant may specify, subject to the approval of the Planning Board, that such restrictions be established for the benefit of the Town by a trust enforceable by the Town.
ii. The restrictions provided for above shall include an agreement that the streets and recreation facilities not owned by the Town shall be maintained by the non- profit organization or corporation or trust created in accord with the above provisions and that the permanent open space not owned by the Town shall be maintained in accordance with standards established by the Egremont Conservation Commission and the Planning Board. The Town shall enforce compliance in accord with the provisions of the Bylaw and in case of non-compliance institute proceedings for the Town to enter upon said land, perform the necessary work and charge the cost thereof against the common owners or association, or finally to institute proceedings for the Town to take the open space.
a. If there is more than one (1) housing type, e.g., single family, two (2) family or more, no one type shall constitute more than sixty (60) percent or less than twenty (20) percent of the total number of dwelling units.
b. In the event the yield as set forth in §4.2.5.1. is less than one hundred (100) units, there may be additional units up to ten (10) percent of the total units calculated in §4.2.5.1. in accordance with the following table, with the total number of units for the entire District not to exceed one hundred (100):
|
Item |
Number of Additional Units Allowed |
Conditions |
|
Conveyance to the Egremont Housing Authority |
Two (2) units for each unit so conveyed |
There shall be no exterior or structural difference, or difference in floor area in these units from those of the prevailing style in the District |
a. Each building shall have access from a street contained within the development and not from an existing public way.
a. All utilities shall be installed underground at the time of the initial construction.
a. No construction shall take place above the twelve hundred (1200) foot contour. Construction above the eleven hundred (1100) foot contour may be approved by the Planning Board only at the time of the Definitive Plan approval and provided that the applicant demonstrates to the Board's satisfaction that:
i. The proposed construction shall have no adverse effects on the following:
a) Erosion control.
b) Drainage
c) Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat.
d) Flora and fauna.
e) View lines.
f) Water quality.
ii. The road and driveway grades are safe and adequate.
iii. The construction is necessary in order to minimize the adverse effects of the development on the environment.
iv. The visibility of buildings from adjacent properties and other sites in Town shall be minimized.
b. Other provisions of this Bylaw notwithstanding, no structure contained within the permanent open space shall exceed a height of fifteen (15) feet.
a. The applicant shall design, install and maintain all improvements in accordance with the requirements and procedures, including performance guarantee, as required by the Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land in effect at the time of submission of the application for a Special Permit, hereinafter referred to as the Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land.
b. All elements of the development shall be installed in a sequence acceptable to the Planning Board submitted in writing as part of the application. Phases shall include complete building lot groups.
c. The specifications of the Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land and of this Section shall govern the installation of all roadways, walkways, utilities, and other improvements in the development.
a. Any person may submit to the Planning Board an application for approval of a Special Permit for a plan of land containing one thousand (1000) acres or more in the Jug End Residential District in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Rules and Regulations of the Planning Board for the Conduct of Planning Board Functions, Meetings and Hearings and the Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land in effect at the time of submission of the application for a Special Permit, provided that the plan includes all land in the District which is to be developed showing all proposed structures and uses.
b. In addition to all other requirements, the submission shall include the following:
i. A properly completed application which shall include:
a) The location of the proposed development.
b) The size of the site in acres.
c) The number of the proposed building lots and the size of each in square feet.
d) The location, acreage and proposed use of the permanent open space.
e) A statement on the disposition or manner of ownership of the proposed open space.
f) The use and ownership of adjacent land and the location and use of any buildings within five hundred (500) feet of the boundary of the property.
ii. A preapplication sketch plan of the entire proposed development properly drawn and conforming to the requirements of the Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land for a Preliminary Plan with the following additions:
a) Designation of the lots which are to be used as building lots and the lot or lots to remain as permanent open space.
b) For each building lot, four (4) site lines showing yard setbacks as otherwise required by this Bylaw within which the entire dwelling, included attached garage, and all accessory structures, if any, must lie.
iii. A sketch showing natural features to be altered shall be filed.
iv. A sketch shall be filed showing the views and view lines to be retained from each lot.
v. A Site Plan of the entire site at the same scale as the preapplication sketch submitted in §4.2.6.1.b.ii. above showing the number, size and location of lots which could be developed as a conventional single family development together with the location and size of streets required to supply access and frontage to the lots shown.
vi. A Definitive Plan prepared in accordance with the Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land.
vii. An overlay to the plans required in paragraph 5 and 6 above showing all land above the eleven hundred (1100) foot contour, and all land with a slope of fifteen (15) percent or more, and all land that is in wetlands as defined in 310 CMR 10.0.
c. In connection with an application hereunder, the Planning Board shall note the following determinations as a minimum:
i. That the application form referred to herein is properly completed.
ii. That the plans referred to herein are properly completed.
a. The hearings and review required for a Definitive Plan and for a Special Permit may be conducted simultaneously.
a. The Planning Board, acting as the Special Permit Granting Authority, may approve or deny such application for a Special Permit after conducting a public hearing thereon in accordance with Chapter 40A and Chapter 41 of the General Laws. The Board, where necessary for preserving the public health, safety and welfare, may impose further restrictions upon the tract, or parts thereof, as a condition to granting approval hereunder. The Board may also require that the applicant supply it with such further information or studies as it deems necessary to make a decision under this Section.
b. The Board may approve a Special Permit if it finds after such hearing that:
i. The plan promotes the more efficient use of the land in harmony with its natural features, water courses, scenic points, historic spots, and similar community assets, and with the general intent of the Zoning Bylaw than would convention single family developments.
ii. The building lots shown thereon comply with the requirements of §4.2.5.1., Area Number of Lots and Setbacks, above of this Section as to minimum and average area and as to frontage.
iii. The provisions for open space complies with the requirements of §4.2.5.4., Open Space and Common Facilities.
iv. Each of such lots contains a house site which is in the opinion of the Board in harmony with the general intent of the Zoning Bylaw.
v. All other requirements of statute and this bylaw are met.
c. Conditions of approval shall include all items permitted under the Rules and Regulations Governing the Subdivision of Land and Chapter 40A, §9 of the General Laws and may include among others:
i. Phasing of development.
ii. Maintenance of view easements.
iii. Year-round fire protection measures for each unit.
iv. Period and conditions of leasing of dwelling units.
v. Number of structures or units in a grouping not separated from other structures by intervening open space.
vi. The size and architectural style of buildings to assure compatibility with the New England/Berkshire character of the community.
vii. Signing.
viii. Shape of lots.
ix. An agreement to protect and maintain natural vegetation and to prohibit clear cutting of lots.
x. Building location within the site which is designated in accordance with §4.2.6.1.b.ii(b).
xi. Security measures.
xii. Mitigation of traffic and other impacts of development.
The provisions of this Bylaw shall not apply to structures or uses lawfully in existence or lawfully begun at the time of the adoption of this Bylaw as provided in Section 6, Chapter 40A G.L.).
Nonconforming
lots of record and lots shown on a plan endorsed by the Planning Board under
the Subdivision Control Law are exempt from the provisions of this Bylaw to the
extent and as provided in Section 6, Chapter 40A of the General Laws.
A nonconforming use of land or structure which has been abandoned or not used for a period of two (2) years or more shall not be re-established, except by special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, and any future use of such premises shall conform with this Bylaw.
Any preexisting nonconforming
structures or uses destroyed by fire or other catastrophe may be rebuilt or
re-established if completed within two (2) years of the fire or catastrophe.
Preexisting nonconforming structures or uses may be extended, altered or changed to another nonconforming use by special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals provided that the Board finds that such change, extension or alteration shall not be substantially more detrimental to the neighborhood than the existing nonconforming use. In addition, any alteration, reconstruction, extension, or structural change to a one-family or two-family building or structure that complies with the three minimum yard in feet requirement and with the maximum height in feet requirement set forth in §4.1.2.1 shall be permitted by right, whether or not the lot on which such alteration, reconstruction, extension or structural change is being made meets the minimum lot area and minimum frontage in feet requirements of §4.1.2.1.
No sign or advertising device shall be erected or placed in public view within Town limits without a permit from the Board of Selectmen, except for descriptive residential signs or signs pertaining to the use, sale or rental of a dwelling provided that:
a. The sign is placed on property by a resident owner.
b. Each such sign does not exceed two (2) square feet in area
The only uses for which permits shall be granted by the Board are as follows:
a. Direction signs to commercial, manufacturing, agricultural, recreational, educational or religious establishments within the Town provided that such signs shall not exceed five (5) square feet in the area.
b. One (1) sign, not exceeding six (6) square feet in area, for a permitted accessory use on the same premises.
c. On other than residential premises, signs shall be limited to the name of the firm or goods or services available, saleable, or produced on the premises.
i. There shall not be more than two (2) signs or advertising per business, excepting those which are attached to and are part of the architectural design of a building or structure including a gas pump.
ii. The total area of all signs and/or advertising devices shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet per business nor shall any sign or device project above the eaves or parapet wall of any building to which it is affixed.
Non-conforming signs for special occasions not permitted in subsections 4.3.2.2.c.i and 4.3.2.2.c.ii above may be allowed upon application to the Board of Selectmen for a permit not to extend beyond a three (3) month period and upon such terms and conditions as the Board shall stipulate.
Any nonconforming sign in use at the time of adoption of this Bylaw may be continued and, if damaged or destroyed by fire or other unavoidable cause, may be restored to its former condition.
In no case shall permits be granted for the following:
a. Signs or other advertising devices illuminated by other than shaded or indirect white incandescent lights.
b. Signs, banners, or other advertising devices which move, flash or reflect or which are designed to attract the eye by intermittent or repeated motion or illumination.
c. Signs or lights, which because of their placement or direction and intensity of illumination, constitute a hazard to traffic.
Any sign which has been abandoned or advertises any product, business or activity which is no longer sold or carried on, must be removed within thirty (30) days by the owner of the premises after notice to that effect from the Board of Selectmen.
In addition to the purposes of
this Bylaw, this section is intended to maintain a spirit of pride within all
citizens of the Town of
a. Properties shall be kept in such a manner so as not to intrude upon the respect which others may have for their community, whether they are owners, or tenants or visitors.
b. Junk should not be allowed to accumulate where it would be visible or create an issue in the Town.
c. If a person desires to accumulate materials that have value for parts or for restoration, those materials should be stored in an inconspicuous part of their property or screened with a structure at least six (6) feet in height or with a living evergreen hedge at least four (4) feet in height at the time it is planted.
The above provision does not apply
to persons licensed by Chapter 140, Section 57 of the General Laws.
There shall be no other trailer
parks or trailer camps established in the Town of
A travel trailer or mobile home
may be permitted by special permit from the Board of Selectmen only for
temporary living quarters for the owner of the premises on which it is located
for one (1) year provided such owner is in the process of constructing a
dwelling for his own occupancy and further provided that such travel trailer or
mobile home, and the dwelling being constructed, are in conformity with the
sanitary code of the Commonwealth. Such permit may be extended if the work on the dwelling is proceeding in good
faith.
d. A travel trailer or mobile home, located and occupied prior to the adoption of this Bylaw may continue to be used provided a certificate from the Board of Health is submitted to the Board of Selectmen stating compliance with the Sanitary Code of the Commonwealth.
e. Such travel trailer or mobile home may be replaced by another on the same premises and under the same conditions.
f. Nothing in this section, however, shall apply to unused and unoccupied trailers or mobile homes for which a motor vehicle registration is, or has been, in effect within the past twelve (12) months when the trailer or mobile home is parked on the premises of a dwelling and owned by an occupant of the dwelling.
Removal of earth material for commercial purposes including loam, sand, gravel, or stone, may be authorized with a special permit from the Board of Selectmen subject to the following requirements.
An application for a special
permit under this section must be accompanied by a plan prepared by a
registered land surveyor or professional engineer, which shall show all
structures, property lines, vegetative cover, presence of natural waterways,
wet areas, flood plains, groundwater, recharge areas, and topographic lines at
five (5) foot intervals or less carried one hundred (100) feet beyond the
limits of the proposed excavation.
No excavation, processing, loading
or other operations, structures or facilities shall be closer than fifty (50)
feet of any property line, except if otherwise authorized by special permit.
No permit shall be issued under
this section until a plan for rehabilitation of the land, showing existing and
proposed final contours, and the time schedule for completing the operation and
restoring the land for its ultimate reuse, has been submitted to and approved
by the Board of Selectmen.
The Board of Selectmen is authorized to exempt earth removal operations consisting of less than one hundred (100) cubic yards within a twelve (12) month period from any or all of the conditions and requirements of this Section.
Any abutting property owner(s) desiring to gain access to a way by means of a common driveway that serves no more than four dwellings may do so in accordance with the provisions of a permit issued by the Planning Board.
a. A common driveway shall provide access to no more than four dwellings.
b. Frontage on a common driveway may not be used to satisfy zoning frontage requirements. Each lot accessed by a common driveway must be accessible from a way acceptable to the Planning Board. A common driveway must originate on approved frontage and in accordance with all provisions of Egremont General Bylaw 17.
c. Design requirements for common driveways shall in the opinion of the Planning Board assure adequate safety and access for emergency vehicles. Common driveways shall be constructed to have proper drainage to minimize erosion and comply with applicable state erosion control requirements and guidelines for best management practices. All common driveways shall include the following: a minimum traveled width of fourteen feet; a maximum grade of 10 percent; and a minimum 25 foot setback from the side line between the lot of origin and a lot not served by the common driveway.
d. Emergency numbers assigned to all dwellings accessed by the common driveway will be sited at both the entry on to the common driveway at the way and at the entrance to each dwelling.
e. No common driveway shall be linked at any point with any other common driveway, way, or street of any kind.
f. The application for a common driveway must be accompanied by a declaration of covenants, easements and restrictions for the use and maintenance of said common driveway satisfactory to the Town and permit granting authority.
g. The sale of lots and erection of buildings are prohibited until such time as the common driveway has been constructed in accordance with the approved plan and the permit granting authority has received written verification that all covenants, easements and restrictions have been recorded in the Southern Berkshire Registry of Deeds.
The underlying permitted uses are allowed provided that they meet development regulations of §5.1.2 as well as those of the Massachusetts State Building Code dealing with construction in floodplains.
a. All encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements to existing structures, and other development are prohibited unless certification by a registered professional engineer or architect is provided by the applicant demonstrating that such encroachment shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the 100-year flood.
b. Any encroachment meeting the above standard shall comply with the floodplain requirements of the State Building Code.
a. Adequate surface drainage and access for a hauler are provided
a. The proposal is designed consistent with the need to minimize flood damage, and
b. All public utilities and facilities, such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems shall be located to minimize or eliminate flood damage, and
c. Adequate drainage systems shall be provided to reduce exposure to flood hazards, and
d. Base flood elevation (the level of the one hundred (100) year flood) data shall be provided for proposals greater than fifty (50) lots or five (5) acres, whichever is the lesser for that portion within the Flood Plain District.
The Wireless Telecommunications
Overlay District (WTOD) is intended to protect the scenic, historic, natural,
and other resources of the Town of
The WTOD includes the Town of
The WTOD is an overlay district mapped over other districts. It modifies and, where there is inconsistency, supersedes the regulations of such other districts. Except as so modified or superseded, the regulations of the underlying districts remain in effect.
Any use of lands within the WTOD for purposes of placement, construction, modification, or removal of personal wireless service facilities and towers shall be subject to the requirements of §§5.3 to 5.3.18 inclusive of this bylaw.
The purposes of this personal wireless service facilities and towers bylaw are to:
These regulations are intended to be consistent with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 in that:
ACT The Telecommunications Act
of 1996.
ADEQUATE
CAPACITY
Capacity is considered to be "adequate" if the grade of service is
p.05 or better for a worst-case day in a preceding month, based on the Erlang B
Tables, prior to the date of application; or as measured using direct traffic
measurement of the personal wireless service facility in question for existing
facilities requesting major modification, and where the call blocking is due to
frequency contention at the antenna(s).
ADEQUATE COVERAGE Coverage
is considered to be "adequate" within that area surrounding a base
station where the predicted (by radial plot) or measured (by actual field
measurements) median field strength of the transmitted signal for at least 75%
of the covered area is equal to or greater than -90 dBm. It is acceptable for
there to be holes within the area of adequate coverage where the signal is less
than -90 dBm, as long as the signal regains its strength to equal to or greater
than -90 dBm farther away from the base station. For the limited purpose of
determining whether the use of a repeater is necessary or desirable, there
shall be deemed not to be adequate coverage within said holes. The outer
boundary of the area of adequate coverage, however, is that location past which
the signal does not regain a strength of equal to or greater than -90 dBm.
ANTENNA A device that is attached
to a tower, or other structure, for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic
waves.
AVAILABLE SPACE The space on a tower or
structure to which antennas of a personal wireless service provider are both
structurally able and electromagnetically able to be attached.
BASE STATION The primary sending and
receiving site in a wireless telecommunications network.
CHANNEL The segment of the
radiation spectrum from an antenna that carries one signal. An antenna may
radiate on many channels simultaneously.
COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT SHELTER
A structure located at a base station designed principally to enclose
equipment used in connection with personal wireless service transmissions.
DBM Unit of measure of the
power level of an electromagnetic signal expressed in decibels referenced to 1
milliwatt.
ELECTROMAGNETICALLY
ABLE The determination
that the new signal from and to the proposed new antennas will not
significantly interfere with the existing signals from and to other facilities
located on the same tower or structure as determined by a qualified
professional telecommunications engineer. The use of available technologies to
alleviate such interference shall be considered when making this determination.
EME
CERTIFICATION
A certificate by a qualified radio frequency engineer that a facility will be
designed, and at all times operated, in full compliance with the current FCC
guidelines for human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields,
including both occupational and general population EME limits.
EME Electromagnetic Exposure.
EME occurs whenever and wherever a person is subjected to electromagnetic
fields other than those originating from physiological processes in the body
and other natural phenomena. It reflects both intensity and duration of
exposure.
EMF Electromagnetic Field.
A term used to indicate the presence of electromagnetic energy at a given
location.
EVALUATION The calculation of radio
frequency radiation levels from individual personal wireless service
facilities, towers, antennas, or repeaters utilizing the FCCs OET Bulletin 65,
the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements Reports 86 and
119, or other applicable standards approved by the FCC and used in accordance
with FCC requirements and instructions.
EVALUATION
PROTOCOL
The testing protocol, initially IEEE Std C95.3-1991, IEEE Recommended Practice
for the Measurement of Potentially Hazardous Electromagnetic Fields RF and
Microwave, which is to be used to evaluate the emissions from existing and new
personal wireless service facilities and repeaters upon adoption of § 5.3. The
SPGA may, as the technology changes, require, by written regulation, the use of
other testing protocols.
FACILITY SITE The location or potential
site within a Wireless Telecommunications Overlay District leased by one or
more personal wireless service providers and upon which one or more personal
wireless service facility(s) and required landscaping are located.
FCC Federal Communications
Commission. The Government agency responsible for regulating telecommunications
in the
FCC 96-326 A Report and
Order that sets national standards for emissions of radio frequency emissions
from FCC-regulated transmitters. This Report and Order is now contained within
Title 47 Regulations, Section 1, §1.1307.
FIXED WIRELESS
INTERNET SERVICES Services as described in Title 47, Code of Federal Regulations,
Section 1.4000.
GRADE OF SERVICE A measure
of the percentage of calls that are able to connect to the base station during
the busiest hour of the day. Grade of service is expressed as a number, such as
p.05, which means that 95% of callers will connect on their first try. A lower
number such as p.04 indicates a better grade of service.
HERTZ One hertz is the
frequency of an electric or magnetic field that reverses polarity once each
second, or one cycle per second.
INITIAL
FACILITY
The first facility placed upon a tower or structure for which an initial
special permit is required.
INITIAL SPECIAL PERMIT The
special permit required to be obtained in order to install any tower or the
first facility on any tower or for any major modification of an existing
facility within the Wireless Telecommunications Overlay District within the
Town of
MAJOR MODIFICATION
OF AN EXISTING FACILITY Any increase or proposed increase in the vertical dimension of an existing and
permitted tower or other structure designed to support personal wireless
service transmission, receiving and relaying antennas, and equipment.
MONOPOLE A single
self-supporting vertical pole with below-grade foundations.
PERSONAL
WIRELESS SERVICES Commercial mobile services, unlicensed wireless services, and common
carrier wireless exchange access services. These services include: cellular
services, personal communications services (PCS), specialized mobile radio
services, and paging services.
PERSONAL
WIRELESS SERVICE FACILITY (or FACILITY) All equipment (excluding any repeaters) with which
a personal wireless service provider broadcasts and receives the radio
frequency waves that carry their services and all locations of said equipment
or any part thereof. This facility may be sited on one or more towers or
structure(s) owned and permitted by another owner or entity.
PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICE
PROVIDER (or PROVIDER) An entity licensed by the FCC to provide personal
wireless services to individuals or institutions.
PROPAGATION STUDIES OR RADIAL
PLOTS Computer-generated estimates of the coverage provided by antennas or
repeaters sited on a specific tower or structure. The height above mean sea
level, power input and output, frequency output, type of antenna, antenna gain,
topography of the site and its surroundings, and other factors are taken into
account to create these simulations. They are a primary tool for determining
whether a site will provide adequate coverage for the personal wireless service
facility proposed for that site.
REPEATER A small
bidirectional amplifier and receiver/relay transmitter of not more than 20
watts output designed to extend service from a base station to areas that are
not able to receive adequate coverage directly from a base station.
SPECIAL PERMIT
GRANTING AUTHORITY (SPGA) The Planning Board shall be the SPGA for §5.3 of this bylaw.
STRUCTURALLY
ABLE The
determination that a tower or structure is capable of carrying the load imposed
by the proposed new antennas under all reasonably predictable conditions as
determined by professional structural engineering analysis.
TELEPORT A multi-user
commercial facility utilizing satellite dishes of greater than 2.0 meters in
diameter designed to uplink to communications satellites for transmission of
data.
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS
OVERLAY DISTRICT (WTOD) Specific area(s) determined by engineering
analysis to contain sites where adequate service may be provided to the Town of Egremont, which, at the same time, have the
potential of reducing or mitigating negative impacts in accordance with §5.3.1
of this bylaw. The Overlay District is defined in §5.2 of this bylaw.
The following wireless telecommunications facilities are specifically exempt from §5.3: police, fire, ambulance, and other emergency dispatch; local business dispatch; citizens band radio; and fixed wireless internet services. Amateur radio towers used in accordance with the terms of any amateur radio service license issued by the FCC, are exempt, provided that (1) the tower is not used or licensed for any commercial purpose, and (2) the tower shall be removed upon loss or termination of said FCC license. No facility or repeater shall be considered exempt from §5.3 for any reason whether or not said facility or repeater is proposed to share a tower or other structure with such exempt uses.
There
shall be no teleport(s) within the Town of
a. Copies of all submittals and showings pertaining to: FCC licensing; all relevant environmental impact studies and statements; FAA notice of construction or alteration; aeronautical studies; and all data, assumptions, and calculations relating to service coverage and power levels regardless of whether categorical exemption from routine environmental evaluation under the FCC rules is claimed.
b. The exact legal name, address or principal place of business and phone number of the applicant. If any applicant is not a natural person, it shall also give the state under which it was created or organized.
c. The name, title, address, and phone number of the person to whom correspondence or communications in regard to the application are to be sent. Notice, orders, and other papers may be served upon the person so named, and such service shall be deemed to be service upon the applicant.
d. Name, address, phone number, and written consent to apply for this permit, of the owner of the property on which the proposed tower shall be located, or of the owner(s) of the tower or structure on which the proposed facility shall be located.
e. Details of proposed method of financial surety and insurance as required in §§5.3.15 and 5.3.16.
f. Any applicant for a permit or a special permit under this bylaw shall provide a written commitment that if the applicant receives a permit or special permit under this bylaw, that applicant shall abide by the requirements of §§5.3.13, 5.3.14, 5.3.15, 5.3.16, and 5.3.17 herein as they may apply.
g. Applicant shall provide a written, irrevocable commitment valid for the duration of the existence of the personal wireless tower or structure, to rent or lease available space for collocation on the tower or structure at fair-market prices and terms, without discrimination to other personal wireless service providers.
h. If an applicant for an initial special permit for a tower or structure is not simultaneously applying for an initial special permit for a facility on that tower or structure, it shall provide a copy of its existing lease/contract with a provider showing that the provider is legally obligated to locate its facility on the tower or structure in question. A special permit under this section shall not be granted for a tower to be built on speculation (without a contract or lease with a provider).
i.
Required plans and engineering plans,
prepared, stamped, and signed by a professional engineer licensed to practice
in
j. The applicant shall provide the following plans and maps:
i. Location map: Copy of a portion of the most recent U.S.G.S. Quadrangle map, at a scale of 1:25,000, and showing the area within at least two miles from the proposed tower site. Indicate tower or structure location and the exact latitude and longitude (degrees, minutes, and seconds).
ii. Vicinity map: At a scale of no less than one inch equals 100 feet (1:1200) with contour intervals no greater than 10 feet (three meters) showing the entire vicinity within a 1,000 foot radius of the tower or structure site, and including the topography, public and private roads and driveways, buildings and structures, bodies of water, wetlands, landscape features, historic sites, and habitats for endangered species.
iii. Property
owners map: Indicate the property lines of the proposed parcel where the tower
will be located and, from assessors records, provide the names and addresses of
all property owners within 300 feet of that property and 1000 feet of the
proposed tower site on such property. Names
of any renters/lessors of properties within the same distances, as listed on
the most recent
iv. Proposed site plans: Proposed facility site layout, grading and utilities at a scale of not less than one inch equals 20 feet and with topography drawn with a minimum of two-foot contour intervals.
a) Proposed tower or structure location and any appurtenances, including supports and guy wires, if any, and any accessory building (communication equipment shelter or other). Indicate property boundaries and setback distances to the base(s) of the tower and to the nearest corners of each of the appurtenant structures to those boundaries, and dimensions of all proposed improvements.
b) Proposed utilities, including distance from source of power, sizes of service available and required, locations of any proposed utility or communication lines, and whether underground or above ground.
c) Limits of areas where vegetation is to be cleared or altered, and justification for any such clearing or alteration.
d) Locations of any wetlands within 100' horizontally, and locations of rivers and streams within 200' horizontally, of any area where site work is proposed, and the location and description of any direct or indirect wetlands alteration proposed.
e) Detailed plans for drainage of any surface and subsurface water and plans to control erosion and sedimentation both during construction and as a permanent measure.
f) Plans indicating locations and specifics of proposed screening, landscaping, ground cover, fencing, and any exterior lighting or signs.
g) Plans of proposed access driveway or roadway and parking area at the tower site. Include grading, drainage, and traveled width. Include a cross section of the access drive indicating the width, depth of gravel, and paving or surface materials. Include a road profile of the proposed access driveway or road.
v. Proposed tower or structure and appurtenances at a scale of not less than one inch equals 10 feet.
a) An elevation of the proposed tower or structure and any guy wires or supports. Show all proposed antennas, including their location on the tower or structure.
b) Detail of the proposed exterior finish of the tower or structure.
c) A professional engineer's written description of the proposed towers structure or of the structure proposed for the mounting of personal wireless facilities and its capacity to support additional antennas or other communications facilities at different heights and the ability of the tower or structure to be shortened or added to in the future to adapt to changing communications conditions or demands.
vi. Proposed antennas.
a) Plans, elevations, sections, and details at appropriate scales but not less than one-quarter inch equals one foot (1:48).
b) Number of antennas and repeaters, as well as the exact locations of antenna(s) and of all repeaters (if any) located on a map as well as by degrees, minutes, and seconds of latitude and longitude.
c) Mounting locations on tower or structure, including height above ground.
d) Antenna type(s), manufacturer(s), model number(s).
e) For each antenna, the antenna gain and antenna radiation pattern.
f) Number of channels per antenna, projected and maximum.
g) Beam tilt (electronic and physical antenna
downtilt).
h) Power output, in normal use and at maximum output for each antenna and all antennas as an aggregate.
i) Output frequency of the transmitter(s).
vii. Proposed communication equipment shelter.
a) Floor plans, elevations, and cross sections at a scale of no smaller than one-quarter inch equals one foot (1:48) of any proposed appurtenant structure
b) Representative elevation views, indicating the roof, facades, doors, and other exterior appearance and materials.
viii. Sight lines.
a) A plan map of a circle of two miles radius of the facility site on which any visibility of the proposed tower from a public way shall be indicated. The locations from which the photographic simulation or profile drawing required below were taken shall also be indicated upon this plan.
b) If the proposed tower or structure is visible from a public way, then the applicant shall submit either a photo simulation of the proposed tower or structure from one or more locations along the public way, or a profile drawing that shall utilize the U.S.G.S. Quadrangle map, at a scale of 1:25,000, and submit profile drawings on a horizontal scale of one inch equals 400 feet with a vertical scale of one inch equals 40 feet. Trees shall be shown at existing heights and at projected heights in 10 years.
k. Balloon test: Within 35 days of submitting an application, applicant shall arrange to fly, or raise upon a temporary mast, a four-foot-diameter brightly colored balloon at the maximum height and at the location of the proposed tower. The dates (including a second date in case of poor visibility on the initial date), times, and location of this balloon test shall be advertised by the applicant at 7 and 14 days in advance of the first test date in a newspaper with a general circulation in the Town of Egremont. The applicant shall inform the SPGA in writing of the dates and times of the test, at least 14 days in advance. The balloon shall be flown for at least eight consecutive daylight hours for no less than five days within a fourteen-day period within the dates chosen. Visibility and weather conditions must be adequate for interested citizens to be able to clearly see the balloon test, or further tests may be required by the SPGA.
l. Any applicant for a permit or a special permit under this bylaw shall provide a set of radial plot maps from each location in the WTOD showing the projected coverage from each location. The purpose of this provision is to identify any potential gaps in wireless service and to assist the town in planning for future wireless communication coverage.
Where a tower or structure has received a special permit under this section and at least one provider (which has obtained a special permit under this section) is providing personal wireless services from the tower or structure, and the facility remains in full compliance with the terms and conditions of this bylaw, then any other provider of personal wireless services ("secondary provider") may place a facility at that site without obtaining a special permit. The secondary provider shall provide the information required in §§5.3.9.1 and 5.3.9.2 immediately below to the SPGA and Building Inspector in order to obtain a building permit to allow the mounting of its equipment at the site. The secondary provider must agree in writing to comply with the conditions set forth in the sections of this bylaw referenced in §5.3.9.2 immediately below, and acknowledge in writing that they have read and understood the provisions of §5.3.17.2, below. The secondary provider must sign an agreement holding the Town of Egremont harmless, should the special permit for the tower on which they wish to locate be revoked due to noncompliance, all as set forth in §5.3.17.2, below. The town may require the secondary provider to pay for the town to hire an independent consultant as set forth in §5.3.5. The SPGA shall have thirty (30) days from the date of hiring of an independent consultant, or from receipt of all required information, whichever is later, to review that information and provide comments and concerns to the building inspector.
a.
b. A
c. The habitat of any State-listed Rare or Endangered Wildlife or Rare Plant Species;
d. Within
100' horizontally from any
e. Within 200' horizontally of the Outer Riparian Zone of any river or perennial stream.
a. The following locations are strongly encouraged:
i. Shared use of existing towers.
ii. Clustering of towers: Applications for towers adjacent to existing towers and within the same parcel of the WTOD, shall be encouraged provided that any existing tower(s) is/are fully utilized.
iii. Use of municipal lands.
iv. Use of repeaters either within or outside the WTOD to provide adequate coverage without requiring new tower(s).
b. Each tower or structure or facility shall be located within the WTOD so as to provide adequate coverage and adequate capacity with the least number of towers and antennas that is technically and economically feasible.
a. That applicant is proposing to locate its facility or tower (other than repeaters) within a Wireless Telecommunications Overlay District.
b. That
applicant is not able to use existing towers/facility sites in or around the
Town of
c. That the proposed facility or tower will not have an undue adverse impact on historic resources, scenic views, residential property values, land use compatibility, or natural or man-made resources.
d. That the applicant has agreed to implement all reasonable measures to mitigate the potential adverse impacts of the towers and facilities.
e. That the proposal shall comply with FCC 96-326 and any and all other applicable FCC regulations regarding emissions of electromagnetic radiation and that any required evaluation and certification program is in place and shall be paid for by the applicant.
f. That the applicant has agreed to rent or lease available space on the tower or structure, under the terms of a fair-market lease, without discrimination to other providers.
EME certification is required:
a. Prior to the issuance of a special permit as provided in §5.3.8.1 or a building permit under §5.3.9.
b. Prior to any major modification of an existing facility.
c. Once every third year after initial activation or major modification of the facility.
The owner of any
Personal Wireless Service Facility and repeater(s) in Egremont shall submit a
copy of all EME evaluations to the town clerk.
Any facility or repeater that ceases to operate for a period of one year shall be removed. Cease to operate is defined as not performing the normal functions associated with the facility or repeater and its equipment on a continuous and ongoing basis for a period of one year. At the time of removal, the facility or repeater site shall be remediated such that all facility or repeater improvements that have ceased to operate are removed. If all facilities on a tower have ceased to operate, the tower shall also be removed, and the facility or repeater site, including any access road(s) built by the applicant that lead to that facility or repeater site from the main access road, shall be revegetated. If all facility or repeater sites have ceased to operate, the owner of the last facility or repeater to leave the site shall revegetate the access road in its entirety. Existing trees shall be removed only with the written permission of the SPGA, and only if the SPGA determines such removal of trees to be necessary to complete the required removal of facility(s) or repeater(s).
Applicant shall, as a condition of the special permit, and of a building permit under §5.3.9:
In accordance with §1.6 of the bylaw, the invalidity of any section or provision of this bylaw shall not invalidate any other section or provision hereof.
This Section is enacted pursuant to MGL c. 40A §9A and pursuant to the town's authority under the Home Rule Amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution to serve the compelling town interest of regulating the location of and preventing the clustering and concentration of Adult Entertainment Uses as defined in MGL c. 40A §9A and designated herein.
The purpose and intent of this section is to address and
mitigate the secondary effects of the Adult Entertainment Uses referenced
herein. Secondary effects have been shown to include increased crime, adverse
impacts on public health, adverse impacts on the business climate of the Town,
adverse impacts on the property values of residential and commercial properties
and the property tax base of the Town, and adverse impacts on the quality of life
in the Town. All of said secondary impacts are adverse to the health, safety,
and general welfare of the Town of
The provisions of this section are not intended to impose a limitation or restriction on the content of any communicative matter or materials, including sexually oriented matter or materials. The provisions of this Section are not intended to restrict or deny access by adults to Adult Entertainment Uses or to sexually oriented matter or material protected by the Constitution of the United States of America or by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, nor to restrict or deny rights that distributors or exhibitors of such matter or materials may have to sell, rent, distribute or exhibit such matter or materials. Neither is it the purpose or intent of this Section to legalize the sale, rental, distribution or exhibition of obscene or other illegal matter or materials.
The AEOD is an overlay district mapped over other
districts. It modifies and, where there is inconsistency, supersedes the
regulations of such other districts. Except as so modified or superseded, the
regulations of the underlying districts remain in effect.
Any use of lands
within the AEOD for an Adult Entertainment Use shall be subject to the
requirements of Section 5.4.
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT USE The following establishments and uses shall be considered an Adult Entertainment Use under this Bylaw:
ADULT BOOKSTORE An establishment or use having as a substantial or significant portion of its stock in trade, books, magazines, and other matter that are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis depicting, describing or relating to sexual conduct or sexual excitement as defined in MGL c. 272 §31.
ADULT PARAPHERNALIA STORE An establishment or use having as a substantial or significant portion of its stock devices, objects, tools, or toys that are distinguished or characterized by their association with sexual activity, including sexual conduct or sexual excitement as defined in MGL c. 272 §31.
ADULT THEATER An enclosed building used for presenting entertainment, whether live or through electronic or other media, distinguished by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to sexual conduct or sexual excitement as defined in MGL c. 272 §31.
ADULT VIDEO STORE An establishment or use having as a substantial or significant portion of its stock in trade, videos, movies, or other film material that are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis depicting, describing or relating to sexual conduct or sexual excitement as defined in MGL c. 272 §31.
ESTABLISHMENTS DISPLAYING LIVE NUDITY Any establishment or use that provides live entertainment for its patrons, which includes the display of nudity, as that term is defined in MGL c. 272 §31.
MIXED ADULT ENTERTAINMENT USE Any combination of the establishments or
uses defined as Adult Entertainment Uses amounting to a substantial or
significant portion of the propertys use. Any mixed Adult Entertainment Use
wherein any part of its participation or viewing is intended to take place on
the premises shall be considered an on-premises adult entertainment use.
OFF-PREMISES ADULT ENTERTAINMENT USE Any Adult Entertainment Use for which the entertainment offered is intended to be removed from the premises and used elsewhere.
ON-PREMISES ADULT ENTERTAINMENT USES Any Adult Entertainment Use for which the entertainment offered is intended to take place on the premises. Any combination of uses wherein any part of the entertainment is intended to take place on the premises shall be considered an on-premises Adult Entertainment Use. In the absence of clarity as to whether the use is intended to be on the premises or off the premises, the presumption shall be that on-premises use is intended.
PROPERTY USE ENVELOPE
The outline of
the area determined by a line drawn around all structures, driveways, parking
areas, and any other area actively related to the Adult Entertainment Use.
a. A full description of the intended nature of the business, including what type of Adult Entertainment Use is intended and whether application is made for an On-Premises or Off-Premises Use.
b. Name and address of the legal owner of the proposed establishment; name and address of all persons having a lawful ownership, equity or security interest in the proposed establishment;
c. Name and address of the manager of the proposed establishment;
d. A sworn statement that neither the applicant, owner, nor any person having a lawful ownership, equity or security interest in the proposed establishment or the manager of the establishment has been convicted of violating the provisions of MGL c.119 §63 or MGL c. 272 §§2,3,4,4A,6,7,8,12,13 and 28 and MGL c. 265 §§13B, 13F, 13H, 22, 22A, 23, 24 and 24B, including but not limited to crimes of indecency, assault and battery, crimes against women and/or children, crimes of sexual exploitation, and felony possession of narcotics;
e. Proposed provisions for security;
f. Number of employees and independent contractors;
g. Proposed physical layout of the exterior and interior of the proposed establishment;
h. A site plan showing, in addition to
all other requirements for Special Permits, the Property Use Envelope, all
existing and proposed building(s), parking spaces, driveways, service areas,
landscaping and open uses, the distance between the proposed Adult Entertainment
Use and any other Adult Entertainment Use, and the distance between the
proposed Property Use Envelope and the boundary of the property line of each of
the uses set forth in Section 5.4.7.5.a.
a. No part of the Property Use Envelope of an Off-Premises Adult Entertainment Use shall be closer than 200 feet, and no part of the Property Use Envelope of an On-Premises Adult Entertainment Use shall be closer than 400 feet, to the boundary of any parcel used for residential use or any religious facility, school, day care, library, playground or park, any establishment licensed under MGL c. 138 §12, or any youth facility. The area where the driveway intersects with the roadway is exempt from this requirement at the frontline but not the sidelines of the property.
b. No Adult Entertainment Use shall be
located within 1500 feet of any other Adult Entertainment Use, measured by a
straight line from the nearest property line of the premise on which the
proposed Adult Entertainment Use is to be located to the nearest property line
of such other Adult Entertainment Use.
c. No Adult Entertainment Use shall have a gross floor area exceeding 5500 square feet.
a. Not more than one structure for an Adult Entertainment Use shall be located on any one lot.
b. No Adult Entertainment Use shall be allowed within a building containing other retail, consumer or residential uses or be used as an accessory use or accessory structure as defined in these Bylaws.
c. No Adult Entertainment Use shall be allowed within a shopping center, shopping plaza, or mall.
d. All building openings, entries, and windows shall be screened in such a manner as to prevent visual access by the public to the interior of the building housing an Adult Entertainment Use.
e. No Adult Entertainment Use shall be allowed to display for advertisement or other purpose any signs, placards, or other like materials to the general public on the exterior of the building or on the interior where the same may be seen through glass or other like transparent materials of any sexually explicit figures or words as defined in MGL c. 272 §31.
f. No Adult Entertainment use shall be allowed to disseminate or offer to disseminate adult matter or paraphernalia to minors or allow minors to view displays or linger on the premises.
g. No Adult Entertainment Use shall
have any flashing lights visible from outside the building housing the Adult
Entertainment Use. In addition, the maximum permitted sound level shall be 55
decibels (dB(A)) during the hours of
h. All Adult Entertainment Use signage shall conform to requirements specified in Section 4.3 of this Bylaw with the additional requirements that no sign shall contain any sexually explicit figures or words.
The Planning Board may impose reasonable conditions, safeguards, and limitations as it deems appropriate for the protection of public health, safety and welfare, and character of the community.
Any Adult Entertainment Use special permit granted shall expire after a period of 2 calendar years from its date of issuance and shall be automatically renewable for successive 2 year periods thereafter, provided that a written request for such renewal is made to the Planning Board at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the then-existing two year period. Said request shall be noticed as specified for a special permit in MGL Chapter 40A, Section 9 and in Section 6.2 of this Bylaw and the Egremont Planning Board Rules and Regulations on file with the Town Clerk. Said notice shall state that the renewal request will be granted unless a written objection from any individual or entity that raises valid and substantiated secondary-effect concerns considered by this Bylaw is received by certified mail, return receipt requested, by the Planning Board at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the then-existing permit. In the event of such an objection, a public hearing on the renewal shall be held in accordance with MGL Chapter 40A, Section 9. The existing Special Permit shall remain in effect until the conclusion of the public hearing and decision of the Planning Board in granting or denying the Special Permit renewal. In granting any such renewal, the Planning Board may impose additional conditions, including, without limitation, time limits to correct violations, hours of operations and additional screening. Failure to meet all conditions within a specified period of time shall result in non-renewal of the Special Permit.
The Planning Board may after giving the holder of this Special Permit ten (10) days' written notice of any violation of this Special Permit by certified mail, receipt requested, and sent to said holder's last known address, after a Public Hearing called to modify or revoke said permit, modify or revoke the same. Modification or revocation of this Special Permit shall require a vote of at least four (4) members of the five-member board.
The provisions of this Section are severable and, in the event that any provision of this Section is determined to be invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
No permit shall
be issued by the Inspector of Buildings unless the application for a permit
indicates compliance with this Bylaw, the State Sanitary Code and the Board of
Health regulations, the Planning Board's Subdivision Control Regulations, and
the Wetland Protection Act, if applicable.
No permit or license shall be granted for a new use of a building structure or land which use would be in violation of this Bylaw.
Construction or operation under a building or special permit shall conform to any subsequent amendment of this Bylaw unless the permit is issued before the first publication of the required notice of public hearing by the Planning Board on such amendment, and the use or construction is commenced within a period of not more than six (6) months after the issuance of the permit, and in cases involving construction, unless such construction is continued through the completion as continuously and expeditiously as is reasonable.
a. Special permits may only be issued following public hearings held within sixty-five (65) days after filing of an application with the special permit granting authority.
b. Notice of public hearing shall be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town once in each of two (2) successive weeks, the first publication to be not less than fourteen (14) days before the day of the hearing, and by posting such notice in a conspicuous place in the Town Hall for a period of not less than fourteen (14} days before the day of such hearing, and by mailing it to "parties in interest' as provided in Section 11, Chapter 40A (G.L.) which includes the petitioner, abutters, owners of land directly opposite on any public or private street or way and owners of land within three hundred (300) feet of the property line, all as they appear on the most recent applicable tax list, the Planning Board, and the Planning Board of every abutting municipality.
Special Permit Granting Authority shall
act within ninety (90) days following the date of public hearing. Failure to
take final action upon an application for special permit within said ninety
(90) days shall be deemed to be a grant of the permit applied for.
Before granting a special permit for any use requiring such permit under a provision of this Bylaw, the special permit granting authority shall find that the proposed use:
Special
permits may be issued subject to such conditions, safeguards or limitations as
the Special Permit Granting Authority may impose for the protection of
neighboring uses or otherwise serving the purpose of this Bylaw.
A special permit shall lapse in one (1) year unless a substantial use or construction has begun under the permit by such date and, in cases involving construction, the work is carried through to completion as continuously and expeditiously as is reasonable.
a. The Board is authorized to hear and decide an appeal as provided in Section 8, Chapter 40A (G.L), taken by a person aggrieved by reason of his (her) inability to obtain a permit or enforcement action from any administrative officer under the provision of Chapter 40A (G.L.), by the Berkshire County Regional Planning Commission, or by any person including an officer or Board of the Town or of an abutting town, aggrieved by an order or decision of the Inspector of Buildings, or other administrative official, in violation of any provision of Chapter 40A (G.L.) or of this Bylaw.
b. Any such appeal must be taken within thirty (30) days from the date of the order of decision which is being appealed by filing a Notice of Appeal with the Town Clerk, as provided in Section 15, Chapter 40A (G.L.).
a. The Board may authorize upon appeal or upon petition with respect to a particular land or structure a variance from the terms of this Bylaw where the Board specifically finds that owing to circumstances relating to the soil conditions, shape or topography of such land or structures and especially affecting such land or structure, but not affecting generally the zoning district in which it is located, literal enforcement of the provisions of this Bylaw would involve substantial hardship, financial or otherwise, to the petitioner or appellant and that desirable relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without nullifying or substantially derogating from the intent or purpose of this Bylaw.
b. If the rights authorized by a variance are not exercised within a year of the date of grant of such variance they shall lapse, and may be reestablished only after notice and a new hearing as provided in §6.2.3.1 herein.
This Bylaw shall be enforced by the Board of Selectmen through the Inspector of Buildings appointed by the Board under the State Building Code.