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Boston City Zoning Code

ARTICLE 42A

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A to ARTICLE 42A - Definitions

For the purposes of Articles 42A, 42B, 42C, and 42D only, the following words and phrases, when capitalized, shall have the meanings indicated.

Adjusted Income is defined as it is in 24 CFR 813.102, as amended, or as set forth in regulations adopted in accordance with Subsections 42A-5.3, 42A-5.4, or 42A-5.5, or 42B-5.3, 42B-5.4, or 42B-5.5, as the case may be.

Affordable means, in the case of an owner-occupied dwelling unit, requiring the expenditure by a Low-Income, Moderate-Income, or Upper Moderate-Income Household for mortgage and insurance payments, real estate taxes, and condominium fees of not more than thirty percent (30%) of its Adjusted Income to occupy the unit, and, in the case of a renter-occupied dwelling unit, requiring the expenditure by a Low-Income or Moderate-Income Household or Upper-Moderate Income Household for rent payments of not more than thirty percent (30%) of its Adjusted Income to occupy the unit.

Annual Income is defined as it is in 24 CFR 813.106, as amended, or as set forth in regulations adopted in accordance with Subsections 42A-5.3, 42A-5.4, or 42A-5.5, or 42B-5.3, 42B-5.4, or 42B-5.5, as the case may be.

Building Height, notwithstanding the provisions of "Height of Building" of Section 2-1, means

(a)

for a flat roof, the vertical distance from the grade to the top of the highest point of the roof beams excluding mechanical roof structures and penthouses normally built above the roof and not used or designed to be used for human occupancy, and

(b)

for a pitched roof, the vertical distance from grade to the lower

(i)

of the mean level of the highest gable or of the slope of a hip roof or

(ii)

of the top of the structure of the highest occupied floor. A mansard roof shall be considered a flat roof. For Piers, grade shall be measured from the top of the deck of the Pier. The foregoing notwithstanding, except within the Downtown Waterfront Subdistrict, the North End Waterfront Subdistrict, the Charlestown Gateway Subdistrict, and the Charlestown Navy Yard Subdistrict, mechanical roof structures and penthouses normally built above the roof and not used or designed for human occupancy shall not be excluded in calculating Building Heights if such structures and penthouses, in the aggregate, occupy more than thirty-three and one-third (33-1/3%) of the roof area.

Charlestown Navy Yard Master Plan means that certain master plan of the Charlestown Navy Yard adopted by the Boston Redevelopment Authority on _______, 1990.

Charlestown Waterfront means the Charlestown Gateway Subdistrict, Charlestown Maritime Economy Reserve Subdistrict, Charlestown Navy Yard Subdistrict, Mystic River Waterfront Manufacturing Subdistrict, Terminal Street Waterfront Manufacturing Subdistrict, Little Mystic Waterfront Service Subdistrict, Charlestown General Industrial Subdistrict, Little Mystic Waterfront Residential Subdistrict, Paul Revere Landing Open Space Subdistrict, Little Mystic Waterfront Access Open Space Subdistrict, William J. Barry Playground Open Space Subdistrict, and J.J. Ryan Playground Open Space Subdistrict, as such Subdistricts are shown on the maps entitled Map 2B Harborpark District: Charlestown Waterfront and Map 2C Harborpark District: Charlestown Waterfront (supplemental to Map 2 Charlestown), of the series of maps entitled Zoning Districts City of Boston, as amended.

(As amended on June 14, 1990 and January 28, 1991)

Dorchester Bay/Neponset River Waterfront means the Dorchester Bay Waterfront Service Subdistrict, the Clam Point Waterfront Service Subdistrict, the Neponset River Waterfront Manufacturing Subdistrict, the Cedar Grove Waterfront Manufacturing Subdistrict, the Neponset Circle Waterfront Manufacturing Subdistrict, the South Boston Maritime Economy Reserve Subdistrict, the Cedar Grove General Business Subdistrict, the Neponset River Residential Subdistrict, the Cedar Grove Residential Subdistrict, the Savin Hill Shoreland Open Space Subdistrict, the Victory Park Shoreland Open Space Subdistrict, the Neponset Shoreland Open Space Subdistrict, the Lower Mills Shoreland Open Space Subdistrict, the Castle Island/Columbus Park Shoreland Open Space Subdistrict, and the subdistricts included within the Columbia Point Special Study Overlay Area.

1880 Harbor Line means that line so designated on the maps entitled "Map 1E Harborpark District: North End/Downtown Waterfront" and "Map 1F Harborpark District: North End/Downtown Waterfront" (supplemental to "Map 1 Boston Proper"); and "Map 2B Harborpark District: Charlestown Waterfront" and "Map 2C Harborpark District: Charlestown Waterfront" (supplemental to "Map 2 Charlestown"), of the series of maps entitled "Zoning Districts City of Boston," as amended.

(As amended on June 14, 1990)

End of a Pier means the edge of the Pier that is most nearly opposite the edge connecting the Pier with dry land and most nearly parallel to the 1880 Harbor Line or, if the 1880 Harbor Line is not applicable, the general direction of the shoreline.

Existing Pier means a Pier existing as of the date of the first notice of hearing for the adoption of this Article before the Zoning Commission. However, within the Downtown Waterfront Subdistrict and the North End Waterfront Subdistrict an "Existing Pier" means a Pier or filled area seaward of the North End/Downtown Prevailing Shoreline, which Pier or filled area existed as of the effective date of this Article. Within the Downtown Waterfront Subdistrict, an Existing Pier shall also mean a Pier or filled area seaward of the North End/Downtown Prevailing Shoreline, which Pier or filled area existed in 1938 as depicted in the Atlas of the City of Boston: Boston Proper and Back Bay, (Philadelphia: G. W. Bromley and Co., 1939).

Facility of Public Accommodation means a use so described in Appendix B.

FAR means floor area ratio, as defined in Section 2-1, subject to the provisions of Section 15-1 regarding calculation of the area of the Lot.

Filled Tidelands means former submerged lands and tidal flats which are no longer subject to tidal action due to the presence of fill.

Flowed Tidelands means present submerged lands and tidal flats which are subject to tidal action at the time of license application under Chapter 91.

Harborpark District means the Charlestown Waterfront, the North End/Downtown Waterfront, and the Dorchester Bay/Neponset River Waterfront.

Harborpark District Plan means the plan of the same name adopted or to be adopted by the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

Index means Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers, Boston, MA, all items - Series A (1982-84=100) published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor or, in the event such Consumer Price Index ceases to be published by the United States Department of Labor, a similar published index measuring consumer price levels in the Boston Metropolitan Area, as designated by the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

Lot, notwithstanding the provisions of "Lot area" of Section 2-1, means a parcel of land, including land under water

(a)

whether or not platted,

(b)

in common control and combined for a single Proposed Project or in single ownership, and

(c)

except as otherwise provided in Section 42A-16, not divided by a street.

Lot Area, notwithstanding the provisions "Lot area" of Section 2-1, means the horizontal area of the Lot exclusive

(a)

of any area in a street,

(b)

of any area in a private way devoted to public use by motor vehicles,

(c)

of any fresh water area more than ten (10) feet from the shoreline, and

(d)

of any salt water area below the High Tide Line. The foregoing notwithstanding, (x) the horizontal area of any Pier located in the Lot and (y) a private way open to vehicles for the purpose of accessing the Lot only and a street or private way open only to pedestrians and emergency vehicles shall be included in the Lot Area. Further, if a Proposed Project shall result in a net reduction in the horizontal area of Piers on the Lot, then Lot Area shall be computed on the basis of the horizontal area of said Piers as of the commencement of the Proposed Project.

Low-Income Household means any household whose Annual Income does not exceed 50% of the Median Gross Income of households in the Boston Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Marina Amenity Uses means those uses identified as such in Subsection 42B-18.5.

Maritime Economy Reserve Subdistrict means a subdistrict subject to the provisions of this Code applicable within an MER district.

Median Gross Income is defined as it is by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, pursuant to 24 CFR Section 813.102, as amended, or as set forth in regulations adopted in accordance with Subsections 42A-5.3, 42A-5.4, and 42A-5-5, or 42B-5.3, 42B-5.4, or 42B-5.5, as the case may be.

Moderate-Income Household means any household whose Annual Income does not exceed 80% of the Median Gross Income of households in the Boston Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area.

North End/Downtown Waterfront means the Downtown Waterfront Subdistrict, North End Waterfront Subdistrict, North End Local Business Subdistrict, Waterfront Park Parkland Open Space Subdistrict, and North End Playground Recreation Open Space Subdistrict.

North End/Downtown Prevailing Shoreline means the line, so entitled, shown on Map 1E Harborpark District (supplemental to Map 1 Boston Proper).

Pedestrian Access Network means a pedestrian network of a kind and to a degree that is appropriate for the site and consisting of, at a minimum:

(i)

walkways and related facilities along the entire length of the shoreline, and along the edges of any Piers or filled areas, which walkways shall be no less than twelve (12) feet in width; and

(ii)

appropriate connecting walkways that allow pedestrians access to shoreline and Pier walkways from public ways or other Public Access Facilities to which any Commonwealth Tidelands or Private Tidelands on the site are adjacent.

Public Access Facility means a facility for pedestrian access to and/or along the waterfront, as provided in clauses (a) and (b) of Subsection 42A-5.2 or of Subsection 42B-5.2, as the case may be.

Public Agency. Public Agency has the meaning given in Article 2(Definitions). For the purposes of this article, the Commonwealth's Proprietary interest in Tidelands shall not constitute "ownership" by a Public Agency.

Underlying Zoning means all zoning regulations, with the exception of this article, which are contained in this code.

Upper-Moderate Income Household means any household whose Annual Income does not exceed 110% of the Median Gross Income of Households in the Boston Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Water-Dependent Commercial Use means a use described in Subsection 42D-3.1.

Water-Dependent Use means those uses described as such in Appendix B to this Article 42A.

Water-Dependent Facility of Public Accommodation means a Facility of Public Accommodation that is also a Water-Dependent Use.

Waterfront Yard Area has the meaning ascribed in Section 42A-7 or 42B-7 as the case may be.

(Text Amd. No. 463, §§ 18, 19, 8-16-2023)

APPENDIX B to ARTICLE 42A - Water-Dependent Uses and Facilities of Public Accommodation

Water-Dependent Uses

Water-Dependent industrial uses;

Facilities for fishing, swimming, diving, and other water-based recreational activities;

Parks, esplanades, boardwalks, and other pedestrian facilities that promote public use and enjoyment of the water and are located at or near the water's edge;

Aquariums and other cultural, educational, research, or training facilities dedicated primarily to marine purposes;

Aquaculture facilities;

Navigation aids, marine police and fire stations, and other waterways public safety and law enforcement facilities;

Shore protection structures, such as seawalls, bulkheads, revetments, dikes, breakwaters, rip rap, water defectors, and the like;

Waterborne passenger transportation facilities, such as those serving ferries, cruise ships, commuter and excursion boats, and water shuttles and taxis;

Marinas, boat basins, Boat Rental Establishments, boating or sailing school, channels, storage areas, and other facilities and establishments for commercial or recreational boating.

Facilities of Public Accommodation

A "Facility of Public Accommodation" means a facility, including a commercial facility, at which goods or services are made available directly to the general public. Facilities of Public Accommodation include, but are not limited to:

Lunch room, restaurant, cafeteria or other place for the service or sale of food or drink for on-premises consumption, provided that there is no dancing nor entertainment other than phonograph, radio, and television;

Place for sale and consumption of food and beverages (other than drive-in restaurant) providing dancing or entertainment or both, provided that such establishment is customarily open to the public at large and does not exclude any minor by reason of age as a prevailing practice;

Theater;

Lobbies and public areas of a hotel or motel;

Library, museum, aquarium, educational, historical, or cultural institution open to the public;

Adult education center, community center, or other interior space dedicated to the programming of community meetings, informational displays, special recreational events, or other public activities;

Store primarily serving the local retail business needs of the residents of the neighborhood, including, but not limited to, store retailing one or more of the following: food, baked goods, groceries, drugs, tobacco products, clothing, dry goods, books, flowers, paint, hardware, and minor household appliances, but not including packaged alcoholic beverages;

Department store, furniture store, general merchandise mart, or other store serving general retail business needs of a major part of the city, including accessory storage;

Barber shop, beauty shop, shoe repair shop, self-service laundry, pick-up and delivery station of laundry or dry-cleaner, or similar use;

Tailor shop or hand laundry;

Caterer's establishment, photographer's studio, upholsterer's shop, carpenter's shop, or electrician's shop;

Child care facility;

Child care center;

Accessory family child care home; and

Sports or physical fitness facility open to the public;

Interior facility for waterborne public transportation facilities, recreational marina, boat rental establishment, recreational sailing or boating school, or other recreational boating facility or establishment.

(Text Amd. No. 464, §§ 3c., 3j., 5a., 11-8-2023)