Belchertown City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IX
Business Regulations
§ 145-34 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to:
A.
Promote and coordinate commercial growth in town.
B.
Promote highway traffic safety and protect the capability of state and local roads to conduct traffic smoothly and efficiently.
C.
Protect the rural character, visual aesthetic qualities and property values of neighboring properties and the town.
D.
Discourage unlimited commercial strip developments and minimize curb cuts along Belchertown's highways and encourage commercial growth in planned clusters.
E.
Provide local protection from those particular nuisances which are not adequately governed by state law or regulations.
§ 145-35 Commercial developments.
§ 145-36 Access.
A.
The number of curb cuts shall be minimized. To the extent feasible, access to businesses shall be provided via one of the following:
B.
One driveway per business shall be permitted as a matter of right. Where deemed necessary by the Planning Board, two driveways may be permitted as part of the site plan approval process. These two driveways shall be clearly marked "entrance" and "exit."
C.
Curb cuts shall be limited to the minimum width for safe entering and exiting and shall in no case exceed 24 feet in width.
D.
All driveways shall be designed to afford motorists exiting onto highways a safe sight distance. It is recommended that a minimum sight distance of 300 feet be provided.
E.
The proposed development shall assure safe interior circulation within its site by separating pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
F.
Pedestrian movement shall be provided for within the site and to adjacent commercial properties to the satisfaction of the Planning Board. Sidewalks must be shown along the applicant's frontage adjacent to public ways, and shall meet, at a minimum, current ADA standards.
[Amended 5-8-2017 ATM by Art. 23]
§ 145-37 Landscaping and screening.
A.
A landscaped buffer strip at least 10 feet wide, continuous except for approved driveways, shall be established adjacent to any public road. The buffer strip shall be mulched or planted with ground cover, medium height shrubs and shade trees (minimum two-inch caliper, planted at least every 50 feet along the road frontage). At all street or driveway intersections, trees or shrubs shall be set back a sufficient distance from such intersections so that they do not present a traffic visibility hazard.
B.
Large parking areas providing more than 75 parking spaces shall be subdivided with landscaped islands such that no paved surface shall extend more than 80 feet in width. At least one tree (minimum two-inch caliper at chest height) per 35 spaces shall be provided.
[Amended 5-10-1999 ATM by Art. 17]
C.
Any commercial use shall be screened from view from any neighboring residence in a residential district by dense, hardy evergreen plantings or by earthen berms, wall or tight fence, complemented by evergreen plantings. Natural wooded stands on the subject property shall be incorporated into the screening and landscaping.
D.
Any outdoor area for storage or utilities shall be screened from view from neighboring properties and streets using materials described in Subsection C. Where there exists any potential safety hazard to children, physical screening shall prevent children from entering the premises.
E.
All landscaped areas shall be properly maintained. Shrubs or trees which die shall be replaced within one growing season.
§ 145-38 Parking and loading areas; pedestrian walkways.
A.
To the extent feasible, parking layout and design shall be coordinated with adjacent businesses. Parking shall adhere to the requirements of § 145-23 of this chapter.
B.
Loading areas shall be separate from the parking areas and screened from view, with minimum dimensions of 10 feet by 25 feet, with 14 feet of clearance, and shall not block access to parking.
C.
Clearly marked pedestrian walkways shall be provided.
§ 145-39 Lighting.
§ 145-40 Stormwater runoff.
The rate of surface water runoff from a site shall not be increased after construction. If needed to meet this requirement and to maximize groundwater recharge, increased runoff from impervious surfaces shall be recharged on site by being diverted to vegetated surfaces for infiltration or through the use of detention or retention ponds. Stormwater runoff mitigation shall comply with § 270-29 of Chapter 270, Subdivision of Land, as amended. Oil, grease and sediment traps shall be used to facilitate removal of contaminants. Dry wells shall be used only where other methods are infeasible.
§ 145-41 Commercial development and architectural design.
[Amended 5-12-2014 ATM by Art. 20]
Architectural design shall be compatible with the rural/historic character and scale of buildings in the neighborhood and the Town through the use of appropriate building materials, screening, breaks in roof and wall lines and other architectural techniques. Variations in detail, form and siting shall be used to provide visual interest and avoid monotony. Proposed buildings shall relate harmoniously to each other, with adequate light, air, circulation and separation between buildings. Commercial development must also adhere to Commercial Development and Architectural Design Guidelines.