Groton City Zoning Code
§ 218-8.3
Appearance.
A.
Avoidance of uniformity. In the exterior design and appearance of buildings erected in the same residential neighborhood, avoidance of uniformity is intended to prevent the harmful effects of such uniformity in the desirability of immediate and neighboring areas, in the impairment of the benefits, stability and value of both improved and unimproved real properties in such areas and in the loss of taxable revenue to the Town, to preserve rural character and to prevent deterioration of conditions affecting the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the inhabitants.
(1)
No building permit shall be issued for erection of any single- or two-family dwelling if it is like or substantially like any building on any abutting lot or across a street, as hereinafter defined, then in existence or for which a building permit has been issued, in more than three of the following respects:
(a)
Height of the main roof ridge, or the highest point of the roof beams of a flat roof, above the first floor.
(b)
Length of the main roof or roof ridge.
(c)
Width between the outside walls at the end of the building measured under the main roof at right angles to the length thereof.
(d)
Relative location of the windows in the front or any side elevation.
(e)
Relative location with respect to each other of garage, if attached, porch, if any, and the remainder of the building in the front elevation.
(2)
Buildings shall be deemed to be like each other in any dimension with respect to which the difference between them is less than two feet.
B.
Promotion of harmonious development. In order to promote harmony in architectural treatment and avoidance of incongruous or inappropriate character of architectural appearance and arrangement of buildings detrimental to the property values of adjoining owners of the community, no building permit shall be issued for any new building or structure in an R-B, VCB, NB, GB or I District, until plans showing proposed location and external appearance shall have been submitted to the Planning Board for its review and approval.
(1)
The Planning Board shall review and approve, approve with such conditions as the Board may deem appropriate, or not approve the plan as described above within 30 days of its receipt of a plan. A decision of the Planning Board shall require a motion carried by a majority of Board members holding office at the time of the vote, and shall be in writing. No building permit shall be issued by the Building Inspector without written approval of plan by the Planning Board or unless 30 days lapse from the date of the submittal of the plan without action by the Planning Board or without a request from the applicant for an extension of time for the consideration of the plan and approval of said request by the Planning Board.
(2)
The Planning Board may adopt and from time to time amend reasonable regulations for the administration of these requirements.