This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Brockton Zoning Ordinance."

(Code 1965, § 27-1)

The purposes of this chapter are declared to be the promotion of the public health, safety, convenience, morals and welfare by:

a.

Encouraging the most appropriate use of land;

b.

Preventing overcrowding of land;

c.

Conserving the value of land and buildings;

d.

Lessening congestion of traffic;

e.

Avoiding undue concentration of population;

f.

Providing adequate light and air;

g.

Securing safety from fire, panic and other dangers;

h.

Facilitating the adequate provisions of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements; and

i.

Preserving and increasing the amenities of the city.

In addition, the purpose of the floodplain, watershed and wetland protection zone is to:

a.

Preserve and protect the ponds, brooks, marshes, swamps, bogs and other natural waterbodies, watercourses, areas of high water table, and key watershed areas in the City of Brockton.

b.

Maintain and protect ground and surface water supplies.

c.

Maintain the water storage and absorption capacity of wetlands and the capacity of floodways to convey flows which can reasonably be expected to occur.

d.

Reduce the hazards of flooding upon the public health and welfare, and to protect the health and safety of floodplain residents.

e.

Protect the community from the expenses of flood relief.

f.

Conserve natural conditions, wildlife and open spaces for general welfare.

g.

Locate and map the city's wetlands as a guide for land use planning and for Wetlands Protection Act Enforcement.

(Code 1965, § 27-2)

In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, the requirements contained herein are declared to be the minimum requirements for the purposes set forth.

This chapter shall not repeal, abrogate, annul or in any way impair or interfere with the provisions of other regulations, laws or ordinances except the City of Brockton Zoning Ordinance, originally adopted November 29, 1920, as amended, which is repealed on the effective date of this chapter, or with provisions of covenants, deeds or other private agreements, or with provisions of restrictive covenants running with the land to which the city is a party. Where this chapter imposes a greater restriction than is imposed or required by any of the aforesaid provisions, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail.

The Floodplain District is herein established as an overlay district. The District includes all special flood hazard areas within the City of Brockton designated as Zone A or AE on the Plymouth County Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the administration of the National Flood Insurance Program. The map panels of the Plymouth County FIRM that are wholly or partially within the City of Brockton are panel numbers 25023C0069J, 25023C0152J, 25023C0154J, 25023C0156J, 25023C0157J, 25023C0158J, 25023C0159J, 25023C0162J, 25023C0166J, 25023C0167J, 25023C0176J, 25023C0178J, and 25023C0186J dated July 17, 2012. The exact boundaries of the district may be defined by the 100-year base flood elevations shown on the FIRM and further defined by the Plymouth County Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report dated July 17, 2012. The FIRM and FIS report are incorporated herein by reference and are on file with the city clerk, city planner/conservation commission, DPW engineering division and/or building inspector.

(Code 1965, § 27-3; Ord. No. D87, 2-28-79; Ord. No. D88, 2-28-79; Ord. No. D347, 9-29-94; Ord. No. H09b, § I, 7-9-12)