Greenwich Town City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
Design Standards
§ 190-37 Applicability; general objectives.
A.
Applicability. These standards shall apply to all uses that require site plan review or a special use permit.
B.
Objectives. Sites to be developed shall be of such character that they can be safely used for building purposes without danger to the public health or safety or peril from fire, flood or other causes. The proposed development shall be compatible with the character of the community. The development shall be protective of the environment as well as open space and agricultural resources. Vegetative screening shall separate commercial and industrial and other nonresidential uses from residential properties.
C.
In addition to any other requirements of this chapter, any external renovations shall comply with the architectural design guidelines set forth in § 190-50.
[Added 5-12-2009 by L.L. No. 1-2009]
§ 190-38 Lot development criteria.
An application for site plan or special use approval shall not be approved unless the proposed use meets the following minimum lot development standards:
A.
General. Sites shall be able to adequately accommodate on-site waste treatment and water facilities unless central sewer and water service is provided.
B.
Environmental considerations. In general, sites to be developed shall avoid areas where the following conditions are present or provide appropriate mitigation measures:
(1)
Slopes greater than 15%.
(2)
Bedrock less than five feet from the surface or areas of frequent rock outcrops.
(3)
Areas of high groundwater (seasonal or permanent).
(4)
Soils with exceptionally slow or fast percolation rates.
(5)
Flood hazard areas.
(6)
State and federally regulated freshwater wetlands and their required buffers.
(7)
Fringes of water bodies or watercourses.
(8)
Ridgelines where development results in significant clearing and/or visibility of structures.
(9)
Prime agricultural soils and/or soils of statewide importance.
C.
Access standards.
(1)
Site plan and special use permit approval shall be conditional upon the applicant obtaining any necessary highway work permits from the jurisdictional permitting authority (state, county, or Town highway departments).
(2)
In addition, the following access requirements shall apply:
(a)
Access drives shall be constructed and maintained so as to provide year-round access.
(b)
In cases where sites have frontage on more than one road, the principal point of access shall be from the more secondary road wherever safe and feasible.
(c)
There shall be a minimum distance of 35 feet between proposed and existing driveways on public roads.
(d)
Driveways shall be combined wherever possible to minimize the number of access points onto public roadways.
(e)
There shall be a maximum of two driveway entrances per developed lot.
(f)
No driveway center line shall intersect a road less than 70 feet from the intersection of any two roadways.
(g)
Driveway grade, width, and sight distance shall be such that adequate and safe access is provided for emergency and service vehicles during all seasons.
(h)
The minimum maintained width of driveways shall be 18 feet, which allows for ingoing and outgoing vehicles to pass one another safely.
(i)
Driveways shall be 90° to the road.
(j)
The maximum grade of access drives shall be 8%, except for the first 50 feet from an intersection, which shall have a maximum grade of 4%. The maximum grade for parking areas shall be 4%.
§ 190-39 Water supplies; sewer system permits; utility placement; lighting.
No site development plan for any use shall be approved unless adequate provision is made for wastewater treatment and for a clean potable water supply, as required by the use. The following standards must be met:
A.
All site development plans relating to water supply and wastewater treatment shall comply with applicable Health Department and State Department of Environmental Conservation standards.
B.
Where applicable, sewer system permits are required prior to issuance of the building permit for any site development.
C.
All utilities, exclusive of transformers, will be placed underground at the time of initial construction. Required utilities may include water, sewer, telephone, electricity, gas, and wiring for streetlights.
D.
Lighting.
(1)
All exterior lights and illuminated signs shall be designed and located in such a manner as to prevent objectionable light and glare to spill across property lines. The following horizontal illumination levels shall be observed. For uses not listed here, the Planning Board may determine the appropriate horizontal lamination level referencing the values found in the reference titled "The IESNA Lighting Handbook" published by the Illumination Engineering Society of North America. The Planning Board may vary these standards, making them more or less restrictive, where it finds it to be in the interests of this chapter and the Town to do so.
Use | Horizontal Illuminance (footcandles) | |
|---|---|---|
Commercial parking lot | 2.5 | |
Industrial parking lot | 1.0 | |
Office parking lot | 1.0 | |
Recreation parking lot | 2.5 | |
Multifamily parking lot | 2.5 | |
Churches/education lots | 1.0 | |
Building entrances | 5.0 | |
Building exteriors | 1.0 | |
Loading/unloading areas | 20.0 | |
Gas station approach/driveway | 2.0 | |
Gas station pump island | 10.0 | |
Gas station service areas | 3.0 | |
Seasonal stands | 25.0 | |
Automobile lots | 20.0 | |
Driveways and road approaches | 2.0 | |
Sidewalk and bikeways | 1.0 |
(2)
Fixtures. A lighting fixture shall be architecturally compatible with the primary building. Fixtures shall be shielded and have cutoffs to direct light directly to the ground. This must be accomplished so that light dispersion or glare does not shine above a ninety-degree horizontal plane from the base of the fixture. Cutoff fixtures must be installed in a horizontal position as designed. Flat lens cutoffs are required. Fixtures shall generally be of dark colors. Pole-mounted fixtures shall not exceed 20 feet in height.
(3)
Vision. Lighting shall not interfere or impair pedestrian or motorist vision.
(4)
Procedure. At the request of the Planning Board, a use subject to site plan review shall submit a lighting plan describing the lighting component specifications such as lamps, poles, reflectors and bulbs. The lighting plan shall show the illumination levels for the entire site and shall be at a scale consistent with the site plan. The Planning Board may require specific lighting plans to address portions of the site, such as parking lots or pedestrian walkways, for evaluation purposes. The Planning Board may control the hours of illumination.
§ 190-40 Traffic and on-site circulation.
A.
General standards.
(1)
Additional traffic generated, together with existing traffic, shall not exceed the capacity of the highway(s) that serve the development.
(2)
Where additional traffic is likely to result in a significant decrease in level of service or increased delay, or where it is anticipated to cause the level of service to drop below the minimums established in the Town of Greenwich Comprehensive Plan, the Planning Board may require the applicant to provide traffic improvements as a condition of site plan approval or to reduce the size or density of the proposed development.
(3)
On-site circulation shall be designed to limit traffic hazards and to avoid conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians.
(4)
In order to minimize turning movements onto or from public roadways and adjacent sites, the Planning Board shall encourage the interconnection of parking areas, where feasible, via access drives within and between the adjacent uses. Site plans should demonstrate a layout which would permit future connections, if appropriate.
(5)
The minimum turning radius for on-site circulation shall be 30 feet.
(6)
The Planning Board shall require striping or other markings to facilitate on-site circulation and separate individual parking spaces, loading areas, pedestrian walkways and entrances and exits in parking areas of six spaces or more.
(7)
Curbing may be required along road frontage to delineate access points.
(8)
Stacking lanes shall be required for all uses that involve drive-up customer services, such as bank window tellers, fast-food restaurants, car wash bays, etc., to avoid any stacking of vehicles in the public right-of way.
(9)
To the extent possible, parking for commercial uses shall be located to the sides or rear of the business.
(10)
Off-street parking and loading shall accommodate access egress of any supply or service vehicles to the business without obstructing traffic.
(11)
Areas adequate for snow storage shall be provided without interfering with parking spaces and safe vehicular and pedestrian movement.
(12)
Handicapped parking shall conform to the guidelines established under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
B.
Pedestrian circulation systems.
(1)
Where deemed appropriate, sidewalks may be required by the Planning Board. Sidewalks shall generally be required to link commercial and multifamily residential uses in the Commercial and Hamlet/Mixed-Use Districts.
(2)
Sidewalks shall be concrete unless otherwise specified.
(3)
At the discretion of the Planning Board, sidewalks shall be constructed and placed parallel to the roadway(s) for such cases, a separation distance of five feet shall be maintained between the roadway and the sidewalk wherever possible.
(4)
Walkways shall be clearly identified within parking areas and for public roadway crossings with striping as necessary.
(5)
In order to maximize pedestrian access to and from adjacent sites, the Planning Board shall encourage interconnection of sidewalks and pathways.
§ 190-41 Environmental standards.
A.
Flood hazard areas.
(1)
General construction or development in areas of special flood hazard as designated on Flood Insurance Rate Maps prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall be accomplished in accordance with Chapter 122 of the Greenwich Town Code, Flood Damage Prevention.
(2)
Minimum standards.
(a)
All development is prohibited from increasing the potential for flooding and damages on adjacent properties.
(b)
All development shall not increase flood elevations on or off the site, either upstream or down.
(c)
All new or substantially improved residential structures shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated to or above the one-hundred-year flood elevation.
(d)
All new or substantially improved nonresidential structures shall be elevated to the one-hundred-year flood elevation.
(e)
All new or substantially improved structures shall be anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement during the base flood.
(f)
Placement of fill in floodplain areas is allowable only upon the issuance of permits by the appropriate regulatory agency.
B.
State-designated freshwater wetlands.
(1)
Applicants for site plan approval that affects areas regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as freshwater wetlands shall comply with the applicable regulations of that agency. Wetland boundaries shall be flagged on the site. The wetland boundary and one-hundred-foot protective buffer shall be indicated on the site plan and identified as a New York State wetlands. If a permit is required by the DEC, evidence that the plan has been submitted to the DEC shall be provided by the applicant prior to approval of the site plan. The Planning Board may make its approval contingent on the approval of the DEC.
(2)
Minimum standards.
(a)
No construction or development within the wetland or one-hundred-foot buffer.
(b)
No sewage disposal system shall be located within the wetland or the one-hundred-foot buffer.
(c)
In the event that there is any disturbance of the wetland, the Board shall require that the applicant obtain a permit from the DEC.
C.
Federally designated wetlands.
(1)
Applications for site plan approval that affects areas regulated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) as freshwater wetlands shall comply with the applicable regulations of that agency. Wetlands boundaries shall be flagged on site. The wetlands boundary shall be indicated on the site plan as a federally designated wetland. If a permit is required by the Corps, evidence that the plan has been submitted to the Corps shall be provided by the applicant prior to approval of the site plan. The Planning Board may make its approval contingent on the approval of the Corps.
(2)
Minimum standards.
(a)
No construction or development within the federally designated wetlands.
(b)
No sewage disposal system shall be located within the federally designated wetlands.
(c)
In the event that there is any disturbance of the wetlands, the Board shall require that the applicant obtain a permit from the Corps.
D.
Protection of streams and other water bodies. No alteration of watercourses, or the area adjacent to watercourses, whether by excavation, filling, grading, clearing, draining or otherwise, shall be made that affects the water levels or flow of such watercourses without review as to the effect of such alteration and any related facilities on water recharge areas, water table levels, water pollution, aquatic animal and plant life, temperature change, drainage, flooding, runoff and erosion. This review and approval of such alteration shall be made by the Planning Board in consultation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and/or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Where the applicant must obtain a stream disturbance or discharge permit from the DEC, Planning Board approval shall be conditional on the DEC's permit approval.
E.
Stormwater management. Stormwater runoff from developing areas can lead to off-site problems, including flooding, erosion, and water quality degradation. To minimize the effects of development, ideally the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff that reaches surface waters during and after development should not be altered from predevelopment conditions. Stormwater management can best be achieved through implementation of the NYSDEC Division of Water Technical and Operations Guidance Series (TOGS) No. 5.1.8, Stormwater Management Guidelines for New Development.
F.
Erosion and sediment control. Sediment in runoff from construction sites can have a significant effect on the quality of downstream waters. It may affect fish habitat, impair photosynthesis of aquatic plants, decrease recreational values, and increase treatment costs of water supplies. Erosion and sediment control shall be achieved through implementation of the NYSDEC Division of Water Technical and Operations Guidance Series (TOGS) No. 5.1.10, Erosion and Sediment Control for New Development.
G.
Drainage; grading; erosion; and siltation.
(1)
General. Development on sites with steep slopes (grades of 15% or greater), streams, wet areas and wetlands, prime agricultural soils and/or soils of statewide importance and soils subject to erosion and high runoff volume shall be minimized. Disturbance of any such areas shall be stabilized and reclaimed as much as possible during construction and be stabilized at completion.
(2)
Purpose. The purpose of drainage, erosion and siltation control measures is to:
(a)
Guide drainage and prevent increases in runoff on and off the site.
(b)
Prevent destruction and loss of soils on and off the site from increased runoff.
(c)
Prevent siltation of water bodies, watercourses, wetlands and wet areas on and off the site and subsequent harm to or loss of aquatic plant and animal life.
(3)
Mitigation standards.
(a)
Runoff control.
[1]
The Planning Board shall require the developer to provide a stormwater management and erosion control plan where site conditions warrant the preparation of such a plan. It shall be based on adequate topographic surveys, soils investigations and runoff projections.
[2]
To the maximum extent possible, the following standards shall apply:
[a]
The natural drainage patterns on and off site shall be used in their present state to the degree possible and be protected from disturbance.
[b]
Stormwater runoff shall be directed away from impervious surfaces and toward absorbent ground area.
[c]
The plan shall minimize blockage and collapse of drainage facilities, street washout or other hazards associated with drainage and spring runoff conditions.
[d]
Connection shall be made to existing stormwater runoff drainage systems where feasible.
(b)
Scheduling and phasing of control measures. The following criteria shall be used in developing stormwater management plans:
[1]
Control measures shall be designed for up to a one-hundred-year frequency, twenty-four-hour storm so that runoff flows will be released to adequate stable channels at a rate not to exceed conditions prior to soil disturbance.
[2]
Plans shall include estimated peak rates and volumes of runoff.
(c)
Drainage easements. Drainage easements to the Town of Greenwich for the purposes of entering the property to monitor and maintain stream flow conditions throughout the project site shall be provided by the applicant and identified on the site plan. Notwithstanding such easement, a note shall be included on each site plan that "All stormwater drainage system appurtenances and retention areas shall be maintained in a fully functional and safe condition by the owner."
(d)
Grading. Grading shall be minimized to the extent possible on sites with slopes over 15%, streams, wet areas and wetlands, and soils subject to erosion and high runoff volume, There shall be no grading permitted on slopes greater than 25% without Planning Board approval.
[1]
A land grading plan shall be prepared for all construction and development sites that involve grading. The plan should show grading proposed both during and after construction.
[2]
The grading plan shall be based upon adequate topographic surveys and investigations, information about soil type, depth, properties and slope. Such plans shall also show the proposed methods for the disposal of runoff water, slope stabilization, erosion control and drainage. The location of facilities such as waterways, ditches, diversions, grade stabilization structures, retaining walls and subsurface drains shall also be shown with reference to the storm runoff control plan. The grading plan shall be based upon the following minimum criteria:
[a]
The cut face of earth excavations and fills shall be no steeper than the safe angle of repose for the materials encountered and flat enough for stabilization and maintenance. Generally a maximum of 3:1 slope should be used unless specific engineering data shows a steeper slope is stable. For erosion control, maintenance and safety, 4:1 slopes or less are desirable.
[b]
No excavation and filling operations shall affect adjoining property.
[c]
Land to be cut or filled shall be cleared of trees, stumps, roots, brush, boulders, sod and debris.
[d]
Fill material shall be free of sod, roots, frozen soil or other decomposable material.
[e]
The permanently exposed faces of earth cuts and fills shall be vegetated or otherwise protected from erosion immediately upon completion of earth placement.
H.
Ridgelines.
(1)
Structures shall generally be sited away from ridgelines. Wherever possible, structures shall be sited at lower elevations and close to existing roads and vegetation. In steeply sloped areas, structures shall be sited in a manner so as to minimize the amount of disturbance to slopes.
(2)
Structures shall be designed to blend in with the natural surroundings and landscaping. Wood and stone siding and the use of roofing materials with earthtone colors are preferred. Light, bright, and reflective materials should be avoided on the exterior surfaces of structures.
(3)
Roof slopes shall follow the natural contour of the land where possible.
(4)
The location, height, design, arrangement and intensity of outside lighting shall minimize glare and shall be directed and shaded such that light shall not be directed off site. Residential and nonresidential structures may be illuminated to the minimum extent required to provide safe ingress and egress to the structure.
(5)
Vegetation shall be preserved to the maximum extent possible. Every attempt shall be made to limit the amount of cutting necessary for either construction or the opening of views from the subject site so as to maintain the natural vegetation as a screen for structures as seen from public roads and/or other public views. The applicant may be required to preserve existing vegetation or provide new plantings to screen structures.
§ 190-42 Parking.
A.
General. Off-street parking shall be provided to adequately assure the safe and convenient parking of vehicles out of the road right-of-way and in such manner as to afford safe pedestrian access to buildings without traversing a traveled right-of-way.
B.
Maximum standard. Where two or more different uses occur on a single lot, the total maximum amount of parking may be reduced by a specific finding of the Planning Board.
C.
All required off-street parking spaces shall be used solely to park motor vehicles by residents, visitors, patrons or employees. There shall be no sale, repair or storage of vehicles within off-street parking areas.
D.
Adequate parking for handicapped persons shall be provided in conformance with state and federal law.
E.
Appropriate off-street parking requirements for structures and land that do not fall within the categories listed shall be determined in each case by the Planning Board based on the assessment of the parking needs for the proposed use.
F.
Alternate off-street parking requirements to those shown shall be accepted if the applicant demonstrates that such parking arrangements better reflect local conditions.
G.
The size of the parking spaces shall be a minimum of nine feet wide and 18 feet long, except that up to 5% of the spaces may have a minimum width of 8 1/2 feet.
[Amended 9-6-2012 by L.L. No. 3-2012]
H.
To the greatest extent possible, parking areas shall be located in such a way as to minimize visibility from roadways and adjacent properties.
I.
Parking areas of six spaces or more shall have crushed stone, blacktop, or other appropriate surface.
J.
Landscaping.
[Amended 9-6-2012 by L.L. No. 3-2012]
(1)
In parking areas over 20 spaces at least 10% of the interior parking area shall be landscaped with plantings consisting of both shade trees and shrub plantings. The Planning Board shall determine the best mechanism of providing the required landscaped area, which may include the use of landscaped islands. The following guidelines shall apply to parking lot landscaping:
(a)
One tree is required for every 40 linear feet of parking lot landscaping when the parking lot faces an adjacent property or right-of-way.
(b)
Parking lot islands shall have a minimum width of nine feet.
(c)
Trees in parking lots shall have a minimum caliper of two inches.
(2)
The Planning Board may waive or modify the guidelines in this section at its discretion. In determining whether to waive or modify these guidelines, the Planning Board may consider the amount, location and layout of landscaping both within the parking lot and across the entire site.
K.
The maximum finished grade for parking areas shall not exceed 4%.
L.
All parking facilities shall be maintained throughout the duration of their use to the extent necessary to avoid nuisances of dust, erosion or excessive water flow across public ways or adjacent lands.
M.
Snow storage areas shall be indicated on the site plan and shall not interfere with required parking or traffic circulation.
N.
The Board shall have the authority to consider other facts and evidence in determining whether proposed off-street parking is adequate.
O.
Off-street parking requirements. The minimum number of off-street parking spaces provided shall be as provided in Table 3.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 3 is included at the end of this chapter.
§ 190-43 Landscaping.
A.
General. All portions of properties that are not intended for development shall remain in their natural state or be suitably landscaped with the planting of trees and shrubbery. Landscaping shall minimize erosion and stormwater runoff, provide necessary buffering and generally seek to blend the proposed use with the character of the Town.
B.
Landscaping standards.
(1)
Landscaping shall be appropriate to the project, and the natural vegetation cover shall be maintained where possible.
(2)
Plantings shall include plant selection suitable for the specific site. Indigenous species of plants shall be included in the plan whenever possible.
(3)
Healthy trees with diameters of 12 inches or greater measured at chest height shall be marked on the plan, for the developed area only, and preserved to the extent possible.
(4)
Pedestrian walkways shall be covered with crushed stone, bark, gravel, brick, stone, concrete or paved as appropriate, to allow drainage and prevent erosion.
(5)
Construction practice and planting specifications shall follow ANSI Z60.1 American Standards for Nursery Stock.
(6)
Wherever possible, natural vegetation shall be maintained by appropriate construction practices and site layout.
(7)
All planting shown on an approved landscape or site landscape or development plan shall be maintained throughout the duration of the proposed use, and plants not so maintained shall be replaced in accordance with the plan's specifications.
C.
Screening/buffering. A screening buffering area may be required to screen and protect neighboring residential properties from the view of facilities, buildings, and parking areas of the site development, as warranted. These areas are subject to the following:
(1)
Unless waived by the Planning Board, a minimum permanent vegetated buffer of a width of not less than 10 feet nor more than 30 feet shall separate nonresidential uses from adjacent residential properties. Plantings shall be indicated on the site plan and shall meet the following standards:
(a)
Plant materials shall be at a minimum of four feet in height when planted and shall be spaced to form a continuous, solid screen at maturity. Generally, plants/trees shall be spaced apart at distances no greater than 10 feet on center.
(b)
Where appropriate, a wall, fence, or earthen berm of location, height, and design approved by the Planning Board may be substituted for the required planting.
(2)
Modifications. Where the existing topography and/or landscaping provide adequate screening, the Planning Board may modify the planting and/or buffer area requirements.
D.
Frontage plantings. Frontage plantings may be required to complement the architectural character of the site and assist in clearly demarcating pedestrian and vehicular access points to the site. Plant locations and sizes shall be indicated on the plans and meet the following standards:
(1)
Plantings shall be comprised of a mixture of deciduous, evergreen and perennial plant material of varying heights.
(2)
If the frontage planting is in a commercial area with pedestrian sidewalks, deciduous street trees shall be planted at a maximum spacing of 40 feet on center.
E.
Maintenance and bonding. The property owner is responsible for regular weeding, mowing of grass, irrigating, fertilizing, pruning and other permanent maintenance of all plantings as needed. The Planning Board may require a bond to ensure the health of landscape improvements. The term of the bond shall be at the discretion of the Planning Board.
[Amended 9-6-2012 by L.L. No. 3-2012]
F.
Plant species shall be selected from the following list of species unless a substitution is approved by the Planning Board:
[Added 9-6-2012 by L.L. No. 3-2012]
Deciduous Shade Trees: Parking Lot Islands | ||
|---|---|---|
Common Name | Scientific Name | |
Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | |
Black tupelo | Nyssa sylvatica | |
Flowering crab | Malus spp. | |
Honeylocust | Gleditsia triacanthos | |
Pin oak | Quercus palustris | |
Littleleaf linden | Tilia cordata | |
Deciduous Shade Trees: Parking Lot Borders | ||
|---|---|---|
Common Name | Scientific Name | |
Red maple | Acer rubrum | |
Green ash | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | |
American plane | Platanus occidentalis | |
Red oak | Quercus rubra | |
White oak | Quercus alba | |
Witch-hazel | Hamamelis virginiana | |
Evergreen Trees: Parking Lot Borders | ||
|---|---|---|
Common Name | Scientific Name | |
Spruce varieties (native only) | Picea (varieties) | |
Atlantic white cedar | Chamaecyparis thyoides | |
Pine varieties (native only) | Pinus (varieties) | |
Eastern hemlock | Tsuga Canadensis | |
Deciduous or Evergreen Shrubs: Parking Lot Areas | ||
|---|---|---|
Common Name | Scientific Name | |
Euonymous | Euonymous fortunei | |
Spirea | Spirea x bumalda | |
Dwarf blue spruce | Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa' | |
Pfitzer juniper | Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzeriana' | |
Canada yew | Taxus canadensis | |
Virginia rose | Rosa virginiana | |
Summersweet | Clethra alnifolia | |
Spicebush | Lindera benzoin | |
Nannyberry | Viburnum lentago | |
Yew | Taxus x media 'Densiformis,' 'Everflow,' 'Wardii' | |
Dwarf mugho pine | Pinus mugo 'Compacta' | |
Mountain laurel | Kalmia latifolia | |
Arrowwood | Viburnum dentatum | |
American cranberrybush | Viburnum trilobum | |
Winterberry | Ilex verticillata | |
G.
Street level landscaping shall not interfere with visibility.
[Added 9-6-2012 by L.L. No. 3-2012]
§ 190-44 Noise.
A.
Unnecessary, excessive, offensive and nuisance noises from all sources are prohibited.
B.
The Planning Board shall have the authority to specify noise levels and hours at which specified noise levels may be emitted for uses subject to site plan review or special use permit review.
C.
Exemptions. The following uses and activities shall be exempt from noise level regulations:
(1)
Air-conditioning equipment when it is functioning in accord with manufacturer's specifications when it is in proper operating condition.
(2)
Lawn maintenance and snow removal equipment when it is functioning in accordance with manufacturer's specifications and with all mufflers and noise-reducing equipment is in use and in proper operating condition.
(3)
Nonamplified noises resulting from the activities such as those planned by school, governmental, or community groups.
(4)
Noises resulting from any authorized emergency vehicle or warning device when responding to an emergency call or acting in time of emergency.
(5)
All noises coming from the normal operations of railroad trains.
(6)
All noises coming from the normal operations of agricultural activities.
(7)
Noises of church chimes.
§ 190-45 Odor.
A.
With the exception of agricultural activities, no odors may be emitted which are easily detectable and offensive at the property line and which cause annoyance to a person of reasonable sensitivity.
B.
With the exception of agricultural activities, no emission of fly ash, dust, fumes, vapors, toxic gases or other forms of air pollution shall be permitted which can cause any damage to health, animals, vegetation, or other forms of property which can cause any excessive soiling.
§ 190-46 Radioactivity and electrical disturbance.
No activities shall be permitted which:
A.
Emit dangerous radioactivity; or
B.
Create electrical disturbance adversely affecting the operation of any equipment other than that of the creator of such disturbance.
§ 190-47 Vibration.
No vibration shall be permitted which is detectable without the aid of an instrument at the property line or which may cause annoyance to a person of reasonable sensitivity.
§ 190-48 Solid and hazardous waste disposal.
A.
Provision for safe and sanitary storage and disposal of anticipated solid and hazardous process waste shall be shown and/or described on the site plan.
B.
Waste containers shall be effectively screened from public view and view from adjacent properties.
§ 190-49 Fire protection.
Development at the site shall take into consideration that access to the site and the structures must accommodate emergency vehicles.
§ 190-50 Architectural design guidelines.
A.
Intent.
(1)
The design guidelines provide applicants and the Planning Board with guidance as to the form and appearance of development that is desired. The intent of the guidelines is to encourage buildings that are desired and constructed with a form and appearance that is compatible with their surroundings, protect and improve surrounding property values, and support and encourage good design. The guidelines are intended to provide sufficient choice and design to permit applicants to incorporate creative and innovative design solutions.
(2)
These guidelines are intended to encourage structures that are similar in appearance and layout to those historic buildings found on the Main Street of the Village of Greenwich. Specific elements that are encouraged include the construction of small, rather than large, structures which are broken up into multiple elements. Multistory buildings are encouraged. The use of brick, wood, clapboard and stone siding is encouraged. The construction of commercial buildings close to the roadway and to one another is encouraged.
B.
Modification. The Planning Board may modify the guidelines herein upon written determination that such modification is warranted. In considering any proposed modification, the Planning Board shall consider whether granting the modification will be consistent with the purposes of this chapter, will be in the public interest and will consider compensatory design features, such as color, materials and other decorative features.
C.
Covered activities.
(1)
These architectural design standards shall apply to the following buildings, structures or uses exceeding 1,500 square feet or any addition to such structures exceeding 1,500 square feet in the Commercial and Hamlet/Mixed-Use Districts:
(a)
Automobile sales and repair.
(b)
Bank.
(c)
Bar/tavern.
(d)
Boat and machinery sales and repair.
(e)
Convenience store.
(f)
Cultural building/use.
(g)
Drive-through.
(h)
Educational building/use.
(i)
Fast-food restaurant.
(j)
Funeral home.
(k)
Gas station.
(l)
Grocery store.
(m)
Hospital/medical building/use.
(n)
Indoor recreational use.
(o)
Membership club.
(p)
Mixed-use development.
(q)
Motel/hotel/inn.
(r)
Multifamily house.
(s)
Municipal building/use/service.
(t)
Nursing/convalescence home.
(u)
Office.
(v)
Personal service establishment.
(w)
Private utility building.
(x)
Restaurant.
(y)
Retail use.
(z)
Shopping center.
(aa)
Theater.
(bb)
Veterinarian.
(cc)
Warehouse.
(2)
In addition, these standards, as may be modified by the Planning Board, shall apply to the following uses in the Rural Agricultural District:
(a)
Cultural building/use.
(b)
Educational building/use.
(c)
Funeral home.
(d)
Hospital/medical building/use.
(e)
Motel/hotel/inn.
(f)
Municipal building/use/service.
(g)
Office.
(h)
Religious building/use.
(i)
Restaurant.
(j)
Retail use.
D.
Criteria.
(1)
Main entrance. The main building entrance must be designed to be prominent, attractively delineated, covered to protect residents as well as designed to maximize energy efficiency.
(2)
Facade. Building facades exceeding 45 feet in length, and that face the street, must include design measures that increase the building's aesthetic appeal in all of the following areas:
(a)
Provide articulation of the building facade using forms such as porches, terraces, bay windows, dormers, pilasters or other building setbacks; and
(b)
Provide architectural details such as brackets, banding, railings, chimneys, entry columns or shutters which must be provided to be compatible with the better buildings in the neighborhood context; and
(c)
Provide roof shapes for sloped roofs, such as hips, gables or cupolas, that are visually appealing and compatible with the better buildings in the neighborhood context. For buildings with flat roofs, provide a parapet with coping and cornice.
(3)
Front facade. The front entranceway shall be offset at least one foot from the facade and clearly delineated with architectural elements. The owner may designate which facade is the front facade on buildings with frontage on two or more streets.
[Amended 9-6-2012 by L.L. No. 3-2012]
(4)
Roof. The roofline shall have the following design characteristics:
(a)
The roofline shall be broken up at least every 50 feet.
(b)
Gutter lines or driplines of peaked roofs shall not face the street unless they are broken up over each entranceway.
(c)
Roofs must have two or more of the following: parapets concealing flat roofs and mechanical equipment, overhanging eaves, sloped roofs and three or more roof planes.
(5)
Exterior materials. Exterior materials shall be wood, stone, brick, clapboard or other material as approved by the Planning Board. Concrete block exteriors are prohibited.
(6)
Landscaping. Landscaping shall be provided that enhances the building. Landscaping may include indigenous shrubs, berms, decorative fencing, lighting and signage.
(7)
Screening. All exterior mechanical equipment, meters and dumpsters shall be screened.
§ 190-51 Commercial uses.
In addition to the foregoing, no individual commercial store or business may exceed 60,000 square feet in size, inclusive of outdoor display and storage areas. For purposes of this section, individual stores that have one or more separate building pads or footprints which are connected to one another by means of a common walkway shall be considered to be a single store. This section is not intended to regulate shopping centers, which may exceed 60,000 square feet in total size, provided that no individual store exceeds 60,000 square feet.
§ 190-52 Multifamily dwellings.
Standards for multifamily dwellings shall be as follows:
A.
Sidewalks shall be provided, as appropriate, to connect the residential units with parking areas, public streets, recreation areas and other apartment buildings.
B.
Buffers shall be used, as appropriate, to separate the residential units from the recreational areas and to maintain natural areas between multifamily structures. Buffer strips shall consist of trees, hedges, dense plantings, earth berms and/or changes in grade.
C.
Landscaping and screening shall conform to the following minimum standards:
(1)
Units shall be sited for maximum preservation of mature trees (trees of two inches or more in diameter). Where large-diameter shade trees cannot be preserved, new ones shall be planted to replace them.
(2)
Clear cutting of the site area is to be minimized.
D.
Solid waste and recycling receptacles of adequate capacity shall be provided for the maximum number of residents. Receptacles shall be screened from view by fencing or landscaping and properly emptied to prevent odor and unsanitary conditions. The receptacle shall be designed to prevent the escape of litter and waste.
E.
Internal road systems for multifamily developments shall be in conformance with the following standards:
(1)
Double-lane access shall be provided. A road network with two separate access points may be required where justified by site and/or traffic conditions.
(2)
Internal circulation systems shall be able to accommodate all service and emergency vehicles and shall provide for year-round access.
(3)
Private roads within a multifamily development shall conform to Town of Greenwich standards for street design.
§ 190-53 Industrial uses.
Property to be developed for industrial uses shall be developed in accordance with the following standards:
A.
Landscaping and screening shall be provided as follows:
(1)
Existing vegetation shall be used to the greatest extent possible.
(2)
Along a property line facing a residential property, a minimum twenty-foot-wide to fifty-foot-wide buffer strip of evergreen planting shall be provided to effectively screen a heavy industrial use. For a light industrial use, the minimum may be reduced to a ten-foot buffer.
(3)
Along road frontage, a twenty-foot-wide buffer of landscaping shall be provided where appropriate and be designed so as not to obstruct sight distance at points of access for heavy industrial use. Landscaping for light industrial uses may be reduced to a ten-foot-wide buffer.
B.
The following off-street loading standards for heavy industrial uses shall be met by the applicant unless otherwise exempted by the Planning Board:
(1)
There shall be a minimum of one off-street loading space.
(2)
Each off-street loading space shall be at least 15 feet in width and provide adequate access and turning areas.
(3)
Any loading dock facing a road front shall be sufficiently far back from the road to enable the largest permitted tractor-trailer to maneuver into said loading dock without obstructing traffic.
C.
Hazardous material storage must comply with all state and federal regulations.
(1)
Access drives shall be finished with a surface that will assure that it will be maintained to minimize dust and debris. Surface materials may include oil and chip, compact gravel or blacktop.
§ 190-53.1 Residential treatment facilities.
[Added 12-28-2016 by L.L. No. 1-2017]
In addition to the standards contained elsewhere in Article V, the Planning Board shall consider the following in reviewing an application for a residential treatment facility:
A.
The impact on public safety services.
B.
The impact on public education.
C.
The impact on other community services and facilities.