For the purposes of this chapter, the town is divided into ten districts as follows:

(Zoning Ord. 2003, § 18.1-501)

The map entitled "Town of Amherst Zoning and Future Land Use Map," including all notations, references, and amendments as from time to time may be made by the town council, and other information shown thereon, as adopted by the town council, shall constitute a part of this chapter. It shall identify and declare the zoning of all parcels of real estate within the town upon the adoption of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived.

(Zoning Ord. 2003, § 18.1-502)

Unless district boundary lines are fixed by dimensions, and where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of any of the aforesaid districts as shown on the official zoning map, the following rules shall apply:

(1)

Unless otherwise indicated, district boundaries indicated as approximately following property lines, land lot lines, centerlines of streams, streets, highways, alleys or railroads, or the shorelines of reservoirs, or other bodies of water, or civil boundaries shall be construed to follow such lines.

(2)

District boundaries indicated as approximately parallel to the centerline of streams, streets, highways, or railroads, or rights-of-way of the same, or the shorelines of reservoirs, or other bodies of water, or said lines extended, shall be construed as being parallel thereto and at such distance therefrom as indicated on the official zoning map. If no distance is given, such dimensions shall be determined by the use of the scale shown on the official zoning map.

(3)

Where a district boundary line, as appearing on the official zoning map, divides a lot which is in single ownership at the time of this enactment, the use classification of the larger portion may, on application, be extended to the remainder by the town council in accordance with section 24-9.

(4)

Where a public road, street, or alley is officially vacated or abandoned, the regulations applicable to the property to which it is reverted shall apply to such vacated or abandoned road, street, or alley.

(5)

Where a district boundary is indicated to follow a river, creek, or branch or other body of water, said boundary shall be construed to follow the centerline at low water or at the limit of the jurisdiction, and in the event of natural change in the shoreline, such boundary shall be construed as moving with the actual shoreline with its reestablished center or channel.

(6)

If no distance, curvature description, or other means is given to determine a boundary line accurately and the foregoing provisions do not apply, the same shall be determined by the use of the scale shown on the official zoning map. In case of subsequent dispute, the matter shall be referred to the board of appeals which shall determine the boundary in accordance with section 24-129(4).

(7)

In case the exact location of a boundary cannot be determined by the foregoing method, the board of appeals shall, upon application, determine the location of the boundary in accordance with section 24-129(4).

(Zoning Ord. 2003, § 18.1-505)

For the purpose of this chapter, the A-1 Agricultural District is classified as an agricultural district. The R-1 Limited Residential District, the R-2 General Residential District, T-1 Transitional Use Zone District, R-3 High-Density Residential District and R-4 Manufactured Home District are classified as residential districts. The B-1 Light Commercial District, CBD Central Business District and B-2 General Commercial District are classified as mixed use districts. The E-1 Business Park District and M-1 Industrial District are classified as industrial districts.

(Zoning Ord. 2003, § 18.1-506)

Where a territory becomes a part of an incorporated area of the town by annexation or otherwise, such territory shall automatically be classified according to the town zoning district most similar to the zoning district of the property in the jurisdiction from which the property was located before it came into the corporate limits of the town until otherwise classified according to the process described herein. The town planning commission and the town council shall, as soon as practical after the annexation, undertake a review of the zoning of the territory so annexed and shall establish or reestablish the appropriate zoning of the said territory in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(Zoning Ord. 2003, § 18.1-507)