Symbols. Symbols employed in the Table of Use Regulations shall mean the following:

Applicability. When an activity might be classified under more than one of the following uses, the more specific classification shall govern; if equally specific, the more restrictive shall govern.

Major nonresidential use. Notwithstanding the entries in the Table of Use Regulations for a specific nonresidential use in Subsections C to J, inclusive, a major nonresidential use shall require a special permit from the Planning Board; provided, however, that an urban renewal use shall be exempt from this requirement. For example, a business or professional office in the BC District shall be allowed as of right as long as it does not exceed 9,999 gross square feet in floor area; thereafter, the use shall be classified as a major nonresidential use and shall require a special permit from the Planning Board. The special permit requirement for a major nonresidential use shall supersede the requirement for site plan review set forth in Section 9.5; it shall not supersede the requirement of a variance, when applicable.

Table of Use Regulations. See Appendix A.[1]

General. The following provisions shall apply to all accessory uses and structures:

Accessory uses; all districts. The following accessory uses are specifically permitted in all districts as of right or by special permit:

Accessory uses in the residence districts. The following provisions shall apply to accessory uses and structures in the residence districts:

Accessory uses in the business and industrial districts. In the business and industrial districts, any use permitted as a principal use is also permitted as an accessory use provided such use is customarily incidental to the main or principal building or use of the land. Any use authorized as a principal use by special permit may also be authorized as an accessory use by special permit provided such use is customarily incidental to the main or principal building or use of the land. Any use not allowed in the district as a principal use is also prohibited as an accessory use. Accessory uses are permitted only in accordance with lawfully existing principal uses. In all instances where site plan review and approval is required for a principal use, the addition of any new accessory use to the principal use, where such addition exceeds the thresholds established in Section 9.5, shall also require site plan review and approval.

Home occupation as of right. One home occupation may be allowed on any premises as of right, provided that the home occupation:

Home occupation by special permit. One home occupation may be allowed on any premises by special permit issued by the Zoning Board of Appeals, provided that:

Applicability. This chapter shall not apply to structures or uses lawfully in existence or lawfully begun or to a building or special permit issued before the first publication of notice of the public hearing required by MGL c. 40A, § 5, at which this chapter, or any relevant part thereof, was adopted. Such prior, lawfully existing nonconforming uses and structures may continue, provided that no modification of the use or structure is accomplished, unless authorized hereunder.

Nonconforming uses. The Zoning Board of Appeals may grant a finding to change a nonconforming use in accordance with this section only if it determines that such change or extension shall not be substantially more detrimental than the existing nonconforming use to the neighborhood. The following types of changes to nonconforming uses may be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals:

Nonconforming structures. The Zoning Board of Appeals may grant a finding to reconstruct, extend, alter, or change a nonconforming structure in accordance with this section only if it determines that such reconstruction, extension, alteration, or change shall not be substantially more detrimental than the existing nonconforming structure to the neighborhood. The following types of changes to nonconforming structures may be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals:

Variance required. Except as provided in Section 3.4.5, below, the reconstruction, extension or structural change of a nonconforming structure in such a manner as to increase an existing nonconformity or create a new nonconformity, including the extension of an exterior wall at or along the same nonconforming distance within a required yard, shall require the issuance of a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Nonconforming single- and two-family residential structures. Nonconforming single- and two-family residential structures may be reconstructed, extended, altered, or structurally changed upon a determination by the Director of Inspectional Services that such proposed reconstruction, extension, alteration, or change does not increase the nonconforming nature of said structure. The following circumstances shall not be deemed to increase the nonconforming nature of said structure:

Abandonment or nonuse. A nonconforming use or structure which has been abandoned, or not used for a period of two years, shall lose its protected status and be subject to all of the provisions of this chapter.

Catastrophe or demolition. Any nonconforming structure may be reconstructed after a fire, explosion or other catastrophe, or after voluntary demolition, provided that such reconstruction is completed within 12 months after such catastrophe or after such voluntary demolition, and provided that the building(s) as reconstructed shall be only as great in volume or area as the original nonconforming structure and located on the original building footprint, unless a larger volume or area or a new building footprint is authorized by finding from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Such finding shall be obtained prior to the voluntary demolition of a nonconforming structure. The time for reconstruction may be extended by the Zoning Board of Appeals for good cause.

Reversion to nonconformity. No nonconforming use shall, if changed to a conforming use, revert to a nonconforming use.