Chelmsford City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XII
Multifamily Dwellings
§ 195-59 Objectives.
Multifamily dwellings may be allowed by special permit in RM Districts in Chelmsford to provide greater variety and choice in housing types, to broaden availability of housing for persons and families of limited income, to focus development at locations able to support it with relatively small environmental or municipal cost and to protect the town's natural environment, existing character and development and ability to provide public services.
§ 195-60 Creation of district.
A.
RM Districts may be created by Town Meeting vote, but only if the proposed district meets the following criteria:
(1)
At least five acres of land.
(2)
Two hundred fifty linear feet of frontage upon one or more of the following: a state-numbered highway, a street having a right-of-way width of 60 feet or more or a street determined by the Planning Board to have current annual average daily traffic equal to 1,000 vehicles per day or more.
§ 195-61 Special permit required; application procedure.
A.
Multifamily dwellings may be allowed by special permit in the RM District by the Planning Board.
B.
Submittals. The following information shall be submitted as part of the application for a special permit:
(1)
A schematic site plan of the property, showing general shape and location of structures, parking, retained vegetation, wetlands and points of egress onto public ways.
(2)
Materials indicating proposals for methods of water supply and sewage disposal; number of dwelling units, distinguishing single-family and multifamily; a development schedule for dwellings and improvements; proposed form of tenure, whether rental, condominium, cooperative or other; means, if any, of providing for design control; and means, if any, of providing assurance of long-term conformity with present proposals.
(3)
A development phasing schedule indicating the maximum number of dwelling units proposed to be erected in each calendar year and the timing of construction of any proposed community facilities.
(4)
Analysis of the consequences of the proposed development, evaluating the following impacts at a level of detail appropriate to the number of units proposed and using analysis materials provided by the Planning Board:
(a)
Natural environment. Groundwater and surface water quality, groundwater level, stream flows, erosion and siltation, vegetative removal (especially unusual species and mature trees) and wildlife habitats.
(b)
Public services. Traffic safety and congestion, need for water system improvements, need for public sewerage, need for additional public recreation facilities and need for additional school facilities.
(c)
Economics. Municipal costs and revenues, local business activity and local jobs.
(d)
Social environment. Rate of Town population growth and range of available housing choice.
(e)
Visual environment. Visibility of buildings and parking and visual consistency with existing development in the area.
§ 195-62 Review procedure.
[Amended 6-17-2021 ATM by Art. 30]
The applicant shall transmit one copy of the materials required herein to each of the following for their review and recommendation, to be made not later than the public hearing: the Conservation Commission, Select Board and Fire Department. A special permit shall be approved by the Planning Board only after consideration of the criteria set forth in § 195-103 and the following additional factors:
A.
Departure from the scale of single-family development is minimized through including not more than 24 dwelling units in a single structure, serving not more than six dwelling units from a single entrance, limiting building length to not more than 200 feet, having unbroken roof area of not more than 3,000 square feet and having parking areas individually contain not more than 36 parking spaces and be separated from all other parking areas by at least 50 feet.
B.
Visual separation from nearby premises is assured through providing yards of at least 1.5 times building height measured from each lot line, which shall contain no parking areas, and through use of outdoor lighting fixtures not higher than 15 feet.
§ 195-63 Density bonus.
For every one unit in 10 set aside for low- and moderate-income persons and families in a multifamily housing project, the applicant may apply and the Planning Board may grant a bonus of one additional unit. To apply the applicant shall demonstrate to the Planning Board that:
A.
The rent required for the unit set aside shall meet the affordable rents established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Chelmsford area;
B.
The unit set aside shall be made available to low- and moderate-income persons and families for a period of no less than 10 years;
C.
The low- and moderate-income level shall be as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Chelmsford area; and
D.
The applicant shall work with the Housing Authority to rent units to eligible persons and families.