Foxborough City Zoning Code
SECTION 4
0 Dimensional Requirements
4.1 General requirements.
4.1.1.
Tables of dimensional requirements. All residential structures shall conform to the dimensional regulations set forth in Table 4-1. All nonresidential structures shall conform to the dimensional regulations set forth in Table 4-2.
Table 4-1 Dimensional Regulations for Uses in Residential and Neighborhood Business Districts [Amended 5-13-2013 ATM by Art. 23, Art. 24; 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 18; 11-15-2021 STM by Art. 3] |
District/Use | Area (square feet) | Frontage (feet) | Yards (feet) | Building Height (feet) | Minimum Lot Width (feet) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front | Side | Rear | Distance from Street | Width | |||||
R-15 and GB | |||||||||
Single- and two-family | 15,000 | 100 | 25 | 15 | 30 | 35 | 50 | 67 | |
Multifamily | |||||||||
First 3 units | 32,250 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 75 | 35 | 100 | 67 | |
Additional unit | 6,125 | ||||||||
Nonresidential uses | 32,250 | 125 | 50 | 50 | 75 | 35 | 100 | 67 | |
R-40 and NB | |||||||||
Single-family | 40,000 | 200 | 35 | 15 | 30 | 35 | 100 | 134 | |
Residential compound | See Section 8.2 | ||||||||
Open space residential development | See Section 8.3 | ||||||||
Nonresidential uses | 40,000 | 200 | 50 | 50 | 75 | 35 | 100 | 134 | |
4.1.2.
Notes to Table 4-1.
1.
When the side yard of a multifamily structure abuts a single- or two-family structure or vacant land, the minimum side yard shall be 25 feet and the minimum frontage shall be 125 feet.
2.
No more than eight dwelling units are allowed on a lot.
3.
The total height of a structure shall not exceed 35 feet. The height of a single-family or two-family residential structure that contains a so-called walkout basement or the like shall be measured from the mean grade of that portion of the ground that immediately adjoins the part of such structure that faces the street or way on which the structure has legal frontage. The height of a multifamily residential structure shall be measured in accordance with the definition of "height, building" as set forth in these bylaws.
[Amended 11-15-2021 STM by Art. 3]
4.
All yard requirements shall be measured from the property line of the parcel.
Table 4-2 Dimensional Regulations for Uses in Nonresidential Districts [Amended 5-14-2018 ATM by Art. 10; 11-15-2021 STM by Art. 3] |
District | Frontage (feet) | Yards (feet) | Building Height (feet) | Maximum Lot Coverage | Minimum Lot Width (feet) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front | Side | Rear | Distance from Street | Width | |||||
GB | 0 | 15 | 0 | 20 | 35 | 85% | 0 | 0 | |
NB | 25 | 50 | 10 | 35 | 35 | 75% | 100 | 17 | |
HB | 100 | 50 | 25 | 50 | 40 | 70% | 100 | 67 | |
LI | 50 | 50 | 25 | 50 | 40 | 70% | 100 | 34 | |
GI | 50 | 50 | 25 | 50 | 40 | 70% | 100 | 34 | |
S-1 | 300 | 50 | 25 | 50 | 70 | 70% | 150 | 200 | |
4.1.3.
Notes to Table 4-2.
1.
When any front yard abuts a residential district, it shall be a minimum of 100 feet, except for nonresidential uses in the General Business District.
2.
When a nonresidential use abuts a residential district, no off-street parking, storage of materials, or the display of goods is allowed within the required front yard, except for nonresidential uses in the General Business District.
3.
When any side or rear yard abuts a residential district, it shall be a minimum of 50 feet.
4.
Height requirements for structures in any nonresidential district can be increased pursuant to Section 4.4.2. of these bylaws.
[Amended 5-8-2017 ATM by Art. 22; 5-14-2018 ATM by Art. 10]
5.
Minimum lot size within the S-1 District is 80,000 square feet. The Planning Board may grant a special permit to authorize a lot that is not less than 40,000 square feet in area, provided that access to any such lot is from Route 1 or is shared with access to an adjacent lot, regardless whether such access is through or across the legal frontage of the lot for which such special permit has been granted.
[Amended 5-14-2018 ATM by Art. 10]
6.
Lots located in the S-1 District with frontage on streets other than Route 1 shall have a minimum of 200 feet of frontage. The Planning Board may grant a special permit in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.1.4. to reduce to not less than 100 feet the frontage for any lot in the S-1 District.
[Amended 5-14-2018 ATM by Art. 10]
7.
[1]All yard requirements shall be measured from the property line of the parcel.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former Note 7 which referenced specific regulations for Planned Developments and the creation of lots with 100 feet of frontage in the S-1 District, was repealed 5-13-2019 ATM by Art. 18. Article 18 also renumbered Notes 8 and 9 as Notes 7 and 8, respectively. Former Note 10 was renumbered as Note 9.
9.
The Planning Board may grant a special permit to reduce the front yard, side yard and rear yard dimensional requirements for any use in the S-1 District.
[Added 5-14-2018 ATM by Art. 10]
4.1.4.
One dwelling per lot. Only one dwelling structure shall be located on a lot, unless otherwise expressly permitted by these bylaws.
4.1.5.
Nonresidential buildings. Two or more nonresidential buildings may be located on a lot, provided that each building conforms to the dimensional and density requirements of these bylaws. The lot shall meet minimum frontage requirements.
4.1.6.
Yards. Every part of a required yard shall be open except for permitted accessory buildings or structures and the ordinary projection of sills, chimneys, ornamental features, and eaves, provided that no such projection shall extend into the minimum side yards more than 24 inches. Unroofed entrance porches or terraces which do not rise above the height of the floor level of the ground floor may extend into a required yard space, provided the area shall not exceed 200 square feet.
4.2 Special dimensional requirements.
4.2.1.
Required yards. Accessory buildings or structures may occupy not more than 25% of the rear yard in any residential district and not more than 40% of the rear yard in any nonresidential district.
4.2.2.
Swimming pools. A swimming pool as an accessory use to a single- or two-family dwelling may be located to within 15 feet of a side or rear lot line.
4.2.3.
Accessory structures to multifamily structures. Accessory structures to existing multifamily structures shall only be allowed by special permit from the Board of Appeals; provided that if the structure is shown on a special permit application to construct a multifamily structure, it may be approved as a part of that application.
4.2.4.
Corner lot. The following shall apply to corner lots:
1.
The required frontage for a corner lot shall be provided on only one street.
2.
No detached accessory building shall be erected closer to any street than the principal building on the lot.
3.
Yards abutting upon streets shall be considered front yards.
4.
At the intersection of two or more streets, no hedge, fence or wall higher than three feet, nor any obstruction to vision, shall be permitted on any lot within the triangular area formed by two intersecting street lines bounding the lot and by a line connecting a point on each street line located 25 feet from the point of intersection with the street lines.
4.2.5.
Attached garage. A garage or carport attached to any side of a dwelling and constructed as a part of the dwelling shall be considered as a part of the dwelling and shall meet all requirements for front, side, or rear yards, and height of structure which apply to the dwelling.
4.2.6.
Storage structure. A residential storage structure may be located to within five feet of a side or rear lot line, while a detached residential garage shall be located a minimum of 15 feet from a side yard and 30 feet from the rear lot line.
4.2.7.
Swine. No structure for the shelter of swine shall be located within 100 feet of any property line, nor shall any structure for the shelter of any other farm livestock be located within 50 feet of any property line.
4.2.8.
Gasoline or oil facility. No gasoline or oil facility shall be located within 50 feet of any lot line.
4.2.9.
Lots. Adjacent or contiguous lots that are under common or affiliated ownership (whether the ownership in such lot or lots is fee simple or leasehold) shall be deemed a single lot for purposes of the dimensional requirements of these bylaws.
[Added 5-14-2018 ATM by Art. 10]
4.3 Access requirements.
4.3.1.
Access through frontage required. Except as provided in Section 4.1.3, Notes to Table 4-2, Note 5, access to all lots shall only be through or across its legal frontage. For corner lots, see Section 4.2.4. No "common driveways" are allowed unless otherwise provided for within these bylaws.
[Amended 5-14-2018 ATM by Art. 10]
4.3.2.
Exception. During the subdivision control process, the Planning Board has the discretion to allow access to a lot where that portion of the street comprising the frontage of the lot will not be fully constructed due to the granting of a waiver of construction.
4.4 Building height.
4.4.1.
Exceptions. The height limitations of these bylaws shall not apply to structures not used for human occupancy such as church spires, cupolas, chimneys, ventilators, skylights, water tanks, silos, necessary mechanical appurtenances usually carried above the roof level, such as elevator housings, nor to radio and television antennas.
4.4.2.
Special permit. Upon the granting of a special permit pursuant to the requirements that are set forth in Section 10.4, any principal structure in any nonresidential district may be constructed to a height in excess of that specified in Table 4-2 but that shall not exceed 60 feet, provided that a structure in the S-1 District may be constructed to a height in excess of 70 feet but not greater than 150 feet if such structure is located more than 200 feet from any property line that abuts a residential district.
[Amended 5-14-2018 ATM by Art. 10; 11-15-2021 STM by Art. 3]
4.5 Exemptions.
4.5.1.
Structures in the public interest. The following structures, which in the opinion of the Building Commissioner are obviously intended to be located in the public interest and are not incongruous with the aesthetic standards of the surrounding area, shall be exempt from the minimum yard requirements: telephone booths and pedestals, underground utility equipment, mailboxes, bus shelters, flagpoles, fences, retaining walls, trash disposal units, or any similar structures.
4.5.2.
Eminent domain. Where the Town of Foxborough or other governmental agency acquires an interest in land by eminent domain or otherwise that is adjacent to an existing public way for the purpose of constructing or widening of the public way or sidewalks, then the following provisions shall apply to lots or buildings affected by any such street widening or sidewalk acquisition:
1.
If the area of the lot, which prior to such acquisition conformed to these bylaws, is reduced to an area less than is required by Section 4.1.1, then the area of such lot remaining after such acquisition shall be deemed in conformity with these bylaws.
2.
If a yard setback of a building, which prior to such acquisition conformed to these bylaw, is reduced to a distance less than is required by Section 4.1.1, then the yard setbacks remaining after such acquisition shall be deemed to be in conformity with these bylaws.
3.
If the frontage of the lot, which prior to such acquisition conformed to these bylaws, is reduced to a frontage less than is required by Section 4.1.1, then the frontage of such lot remaining after such acquisition shall be deemed in conformity with these bylaws.