Buildings, uses and other site development are properly located on a site;

Adjacent properties are protected from nuisance caused by noise, fumes, and glare of lights;

Significant natural features on a site are preserved as much as possible (i.e., hills, water bodies, wetlands, trees, tree groves, wooded areas, rock outcrops, native plants, wildlife habitats, and other areas of aesthetic and ecological interest);

Adequate parking, loading facilities, drainage and methods of solid waste disposal are provided on-site;

Pedestrianways, access driveways, loading and parking facilities are properly designed and operated for public convenience and safety;

Public or private ways are properly designed and constructed to serve the intended use and provide an adequate level of service; and

Buildings are designed to promote the social and economic viability in order to preserve property values and promoting the aesthetic values of the Town.

A building permit shall not be issued for any of the following, unless a site plan approval has been granted by the Planning Board:

Note: The Planning Board may determine the project is subject to an abbreviated site plan approval in accordance with Planning Board Rules and Regulations Governing the Issuance of Site Plan Approval, as most recently amended.

Any person desiring approval of a site plan shall first obtain an application for site plan approval from the Planning Board office. Prior to filing a site plan application, the applicant is encouraged to review the proposed site plan with the Town departments, boards, and commissions listed on the application. The purpose of this prefiling review is to give the applicant advice and comments prior to submitting a site plan application and thus avoid unnecessary time and cost to the applicant due to unforeseen problems and issues with a submitted site plan.

At the time of filing, the applicant shall submit 11 copies of a completed site plan application and 11 copies of the site plan, conforming to all requirements listed in the Zoning Bylaw, together with all prefiling comments received, to the Planning Board. The Planning Board agent will file a copy of the site plan application and a copy of the site plan with the Town Clerk. Site plans will be circulated by the Planning Board agent to the Fire Department, Police Department, Planning Department, Building Commissioner, Sewer Department, Water Department, Highway Department, Conservation Commission, and the Board of Health. Municipal reviewers must respond, in writing, within 15 days or it shall be deemed said department has no comment(s). Additionally, the comments shall be available to the applicant and the public. For large-scale ground-mounted photovoltaic installations, the applicant shall instead follow the site plan review application and plan requirements set forth in Article 19, § 350-19.3B.

Protection of adjoining premises against seriously detrimental or offensive uses on the site.

Convenience and safety of vehicular and pedestrian movement within the site, and in relation to adjacent streets, property, or improvements.

Adequacy of the methods of disposal for sewage, refuse, and other wastes resulting from the uses on the site, and the methods of drainage for surface water from its parking spaces and driveways.

Adequacy and safety of storage facilities/methods for fuel, refuse, vehicles and other material and equipment incidental to the use of the site.

Provision for emergency access and operations within the site.

Provision for off-street loading, unloading, and parking of vehicles incidental to the normal operation of the establishment.

Final action on the site plan shall be taken by the Planning Board after a public hearing has been held and within 60 days of its submission to the Planning Board. A note shall be placed on the plan, stating, "The above endorsement is not a determination as to compliance with zoning regulations."

Failure of the Planning Board to act within the above-prescribed 60 days shall be deemed an approval and the Planning Board shall forthwith make such endorsement on said plan, and on its failure to do so, the Town Clerk shall issue a certificate to the same effect.

One copy of the approved site plan, signed by the Planning Board, shall be forwarded to the Building Commissioner within five days of final Planning Board action.

Certificates of occupancy.

Temporary certificates of occupancy may be issued for a portion of any building or structure, provided security is posted for the remaining work. The security shall be posted with the Town Treasurer/Collector in the form of a certified check or bank check. No portion of the security posted shall be returned until issuance of the final certificate of occupancy. The amount shall be set by the Planning Board or Planning Board's designated agent. The time to complete such outstanding work will be a part of the temporary certificate of occupancy. The amount of time to complete said work shall be within reason, which will be determined by the Planning Board or Planning Board's designated agent.

The Planning Board shall establish and may periodically amend rules and regulations relating to the administration of this article, including additional regulations relating to the scope and format of reports required hereunder.

The Planning Board shall establish and may periodically amend a schedule of fees for all applications under this article. No application shall be considered complete unless accompanied by the required fees.

The Planning Board shall be responsible for deciding the meaning or intent of any provision of this article which may be unclear or in dispute.

In the event a modification is made to an approved site plan, the applicant shall submit to the Planning Board a written description of the proposed modifications and 11 copies of a revised site plan showing such modification. Modified site plans will, in most instances, be subject to the same review and hearing procedures as was the original filing.

However, for small and insignificant modifications, the Planning Board may determine that a particular modification does not warrant an additional public hearing. Such a determination shall be made only after written request and 11 copies of the plan showing the modifications have been submitted to and reviewed by the Planning Board. A determination that a modification will not require a public hearing shall be made by the Planning Board within 21 days of receipt of the written request and plans, and only after the Planning Board has found that the proposed modification is not significant and is consistent with the previously approved site plan. A copy of the determination and revised plan shall be filed with the Town Clerk, Building Commissioner, and the Engineering Department. Failure by the Planning Board to act on the request for determination of a modification within 21 days shall be deemed as approved.