All parking and loading areas containing over five spaces, including automotive and drive-in establishments of all types, shall be either contained within structures, or designed to perform the following functions:

All standard sized parking spaces shall be nine feet wide by 19 feet long. Compact parking spaces shall be eight feet wide by 18 feet long. (Refer to Section 6.1.3, Computation of spaces.)

The area shall be effectively screened on each side which adjoins or faces the side or rear lot line of a lot situated in any R District.

The area and access driveways thereto shall be surfaced with bituminous or cement concrete material and shall be graded and drained so as to dispose of all surface water accumulation.

A substantial bumper of masonry, steel or heavy timber, or a concrete curb or berm curb, which is backed, shall be placed at the edge of surfaced areas except driveways in order to protect abutting structures, properties and sidewalks.

Any fixture used to illuminate any area shall be so arranged as to direct the light away from the street and away from adjoining premises used for residential purposes in accordance with the site lighting requirements of this bylaw.

There shall not be any vehicle repair for profit or gasoline or oil service facilities or any repair made to any motor vehicles, except on a lot occupied by a permitted automotive use. Any gasoline or oil facilities shall be at least 25 feet from any lot line.

There shall not be any storage of materials or equipment or display of merchandise within the required parking area except as part of approved building operations.

Parking spaces shall not be located within the required front yard area in any district except in a single-family residential district.

Parking and loading spaces shall be so arranged as not to permit backing of automobiles onto any street.

Any portion of any entrance or exit driveway shall not be closer than 50 feet to the curbline of an intersecting street.

Any two driveways leading to or from a street to or from a single lot shall not be within 30 feet of each other at their intersections with the front lot line for an interior lot and 40 feet for a corner lot.

Any entrance or exit driveway in a single-family district shall not exceed 24 feet in width at the property line. Entrance or exit driveways in I or B Districts shall not exceed 24 feet in width at the property line except that lots containing in excess of 24,000 square feet may increase the drive width one foot for every 1,000 square feet in excess of 24,000 square feet of lot area up to a maximum of 40 feet in width. Curb cuts may be 10 feet wider than the allowed driveway width at the street line.

An open air parking space shall be at least five feet from any building or street line.

All off-street parking and loading spaces, accessways and maneuvering areas shall be laid out so as to provide for adequate drainage, snow removal, maneuverability and curb cuts.

There shall be no paving within five feet of any lot line or building line, except that paved accessways shall be permitted, and that such accessways shall be generally perpendicular to any lot line. Paving to any building line shall be permitted for off-street loading docks or doors. Paved walkways five feet or less in width shall be permitted in the required front yard.

The design of all handicapped accessible parking spaces shall conform to the Rules and Regulations of the Architectural Access Board, 521 CMR, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Parking spaces must be clearly marked by painted lines and pavement markings, and signs shall be installed identifying compact spaces and accessible parking spaces, in conformance with the Rules and Regulations of the Architectural Access Board, 521 CMR, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

All access drives and parking lot aisles shall be at least 12 feet wide for one-way traffic and 24 feet wide for two-way traffic. Turning radii at the access drives and around the building shall be sufficient for emergency vehicle access as determined by the Fire Chief or his authorized representative.

Site circulation shall be clarified with the use of directional signage and painted pavement markings. Directional signage shall be located on the site so as to provide safe and adequate passage into, out of, and through the site. Directional signage and pavement markings shall be designed to produce quick recognition without distraction on and off the site. Construction details of all signs and pavement markings must be provided.

Where possible, driveways shall be located opposite similar driveways.

Sharing of access driveways by adjoining properties and uses is encouraged, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1.7, Subsection 12, above.

Left-hand turns and other conflicting turning movements shall be minimized where appropriate.

Driveways shall be located and designed to discourage the routing of vehicular traffic from surrounding roadways through the site.

One professional nameplate for each medical doctor or dental practitioner, provided: such sign shall not exceed one square foot in surface area.

One identification sign for each dwelling unit, provided: such sign shall not exceed two square feet in surface area; if lighted, it shall be illuminated with white light by indirect method only; and it shall not be used other than for identifying the occupancy.

One identification sign for each membership club, funeral establishment, hospital, church, other place of public assembly, community facility or public utility use, provided: the sign shall not exceed 10 square feet in surface area; if lighted, it shall be illuminated with white light by indirect method only; and it shall be set back at least 1/2 of the required depth of the front yard.

One unlighted temporary sign offering premises for sale or lease for each parcel in one ownership, provided: it shall not exceed six square feet in surface area; and it shall be set back at least 10 feet from the street lot line.

One unlighted temporary sign of an architect, engineer or contractor erected during the period such person is performing work on the premises on which such sign is erected, provided: it shall not exceed four square feet in surface area; and it shall be set back at least 10 feet from the street lot line.

One unlighted temporary sign relating to a new residential subdivision during the actual period of construction, provided: it shall not exceed 20 square feet in surface area; and it shall be set back at least 10 feet from any street lot line.

Signs permitted in Section 6.2.2, above, subject to the same regulations.

Signs limited to those which advertise goods, services, or produce manufactured or offered for sale on the premises. General advertising signs shall be prohibited.

One wall sign for each lot street frontage of each establishment, provided: it shall be attached and parallel to the main wall of a building; it shall not project horizontally more than 15 inches therefrom; the surface area of the sign shall not aggregate more than 10% of the area of the wall on which it is displayed, or 150 square feet, whichever is the lesser; and if lighted, it shall be illuminated internally or by indirect method with white light only.

One projecting sign for each lot street frontage of each establishment, provided: it shall be attached to the main wall of a building; it shall not project horizontally beyond a line drawn perpendicularly upward from two feet inside the curbline; it shall be erected at a height not less than nine feet, nor more than 30 feet, above the ground or sidewalk; it shall not exceed 40 square feet in surface area; and if lighted, it shall be illuminated internally or by indirect method with white light only.

One pole sign for each street frontage of a drive-in establishment, provided: it shall not exceed 40 square feet in surface area; no portion of it shall be set back less than 10 feet from any street lot line; it shall not be erected so that any portion of it is over 30 feet above the ground or sidewalk; and if lighted, it shall be illuminated internally by white light only.

One ground sign for each business establishment, provided: it shall not exceed 40 square feet in surface area; it shall be set back at least 10 feet from any street lot line; it shall not be erected so that any portion of it is over 30 feet in height above the ground or sidewalk; and if lighted, it shall be illuminated internally by white light only.

Wall signs permitted in Section 6.2.3, above, subject to the same regulations.

One ground sign for each establishment, provided: it shall not exceed 150 square feet in surface area; it shall be set back at least 15 feet from any street lot line; it shall not be erected so that any portion of it is over 30 feet above the ground or sidewalk; and if lighted, it shall be illuminated internally by white light only.

Signs shall be limited in use to identification signs and to those signs which advertise goods, services, or products manufactured or offered for sale on the premises.

Signs otherwise permitted under Sections 6.2.2 through 6.2.4, above, subject to the same regulations.

One wall sign for up to two walls of each establishment (if an establishment has more than one wall), provided: each such sign shall be attached and parallel to a wall of the building; each such sign shall not project horizontally more than 15 inches therefrom; the surface area of each such sign shall not exceed the lesser of (a) 10% of the area of the wall on which it is displayed, or (b) 350 square feet; and if lighted, it shall be illuminated internally or, if externally illuminated, with white light only.

One pole sign for each street frontage of a principal building, provided it shall not exceed 120 square feet in surface area; no portion of it shall be set back less than 10 feet from any street lot line and the setback distance from the pole sign to each lot line shall be equal to or greater than 1/2 the height of the pole sign; it shall be erected so that no portion of it is over 80 feet above the ground or sidewalk; and if lighted, it shall be illuminated internally.

Roof signs shall be permitted in any B or I District. However, the top of the roof sign shall not be at such a height so that the building on which it is located shall exceed the maximum building height requirement set forth in the Table of Dimensional and Density Regulations[1] as measured from the ground to the top of the roof sign.

Any traffic or directional sign owned and installed by a governmental agency shall be permitted.

Specifically excluded from these regulations are temporary interior window displays or temporary banners for drive-in establishments or automotive establishments, except as provided in Section 6.2.6, Subsection 4, below.

A sign (including temporary interior window displays or banners) or its illuminator shall not by reason of its location, shape, size, or color interfere with traffic or be confused with or obstruct the view or effectiveness of any official traffic sign, traffic signal or traffic marking. Therefore, flashing or animated signs of red, yellow or green colored lights shall not be permitted.

No more than two signs shall be allowed for any one business or industrial establishment in the B or I Districts.

No more than one sign shall be allowed for any one premises in the R District.

The limitations as to the number of signs permitted do not apply to traffic or directional signs which are necessary for the safety and direction of residents, employees, customers and visitors, whether in a vehicle or on foot, of any business, industry or residence.

The light source shall be LED. Other sources may be considered by the Board for low level landscaping lighting.

The luminaires should be the shoebox type or decorative in nature (with interior directional shields), consistent with the architectural theme of the development. Flood and area lighting is unacceptable. All luminaires shall have a total cutoff of all light at less than 90° from vertical. The lighting fixture should only be visible from below.

Reflectors of proper (IES) distribution shall be selected for maximum efficiency. Reflectors and shielding shall provide total cutoff of all light at the property lines of the parcel to be developed.

Developments which abut residential areas or with structures less than 30,000 gross square feet shall be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Where wall pack type luminaires are utilized for exterior illumination, the fixture shall be equipped with a prismatic lens to reduce glare. Means should be designed to a maximum cutoff of 70° from vertical. The location of wall pack luminaires shall not exceed 20 feet, zero inches in height. Wall pack luminaires with visible lamping to normal viewing angles are not recommended.

Minimum footcandle requirement, measured at grade level, is 1.0. Maximum footcandle requirement, measured at grade level, is 8.0.

No direct or sky-reflected glare, whether from floodlights or from high temperature processes such as welding shall be permitted.

All allowed uses in the Table of Use Regulations,[1] except as set forth below.

All special permit uses as authorized in the Table of Use Regulations,[2] except as set forth below.

The requirements of this section shall not apply to any lots of two acres or less currently occupied by lawful uses or structures unless there is a change of use or expansion for which a permit is required under the Zoning Bylaw.

The requirements of this section shall not apply to a single, one-family detached dwelling, but shall apply to a grouping of two or more one-family detached dwellings.

Removal. The landscape shall be preserved in its natural state by minimizing tree and soil removal.

Topsoil. Topsoil shall not be disturbed on a site except on areas of grading indicated on the approved plan required for a permit, or within 20 feet of any structure during residential construction, or for other construction within the minimum prescribed area needed for actual construction activity. Any topsoil removed from these areas during the construction process shall be replaced to a depth of not less than six inches within 20 days after completion of construction, but prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

Grading and topography. Efforts shall be taken to maintain the continuity of the natural topography when building on any site. Cut and fill shall be avoided in all instances possible; rather than the radically altering the topography to conform to structures. Except in areas where terracing is used, when excavation is necessary, grading shall be done in such a way that the resulting contours follow smooth natural curves that conform to the curves of the surrounding landscape. Straight or angular slopes or cuts which interrupt natural topography shall not normally be allowed.

Abrupt changes. Abrupt changes in topography near lot lines which might otherwise result in excessive water runoff, erosion, or hazards shall not be allowed in excess of the following conditions, except by special permit:

Retaining walls. Retaining walls of design and construction approved by the Building Inspector or the Board of Appeals, but not exceeding 12 feet in height, may be built on lot lines, but only where there is not sufficient room to utilize properly stabilized slopes.

Stabilization. Upon completion of grading and replacement of topsoil, slopes shall be appropriately stabilized to prevent erosion. The following guidelines are recommended: slopes greater than 35% should be avoided in most cases; slopes between 25% and 35%, riprap, or terracing should be used; slopes between 10% and 25%, sod, or established vegetation or seedlings in association with webbing material placed over the soil; slopes between 4% and 10%, plant seed in association with webbing material placed over the soil, or heavy mulch or gravel.

Erosion. Appropriate means shall be proposed to prevent erosion during construction.

There shall be no cutting of trees larger than six inches in diameter (diameter measured at five feet above grade), and no wholesale clearing of trees in excess of 20 feet tall from any area larger than 3,000 square feet unless a special permit is granted by the Planning Board.

Outside the areas of actual construction activity, all trees of greater than five inches in diameter (measured five feet, zero inches above grade), should be preserved. If a lot is covered with mature trees of greater than five inches diameter (measured five feet, zero inches above grade), they should not be thinned by more than 50%. Upon completion of construction, trees, flowers, and shrubs of a species suited to the soil and climate of the area and approved by the Planning Board should be planted by the developer, subject to an approved maintenance agreement. These shall be in a healthy condition, and shall be properly planted to insure survival. These new trees and shrubs are intended to replace ones required to be removed in order to facilitate construction, and shall be selected and located with this in mind.

The development, through the use of landscape materials, shall be integrated into the surrounding landscape.

Landscape materials shall be used to protect abutting properties and enhance the aesthetic quality of the environs and the site. The type, size, and caliper of proposed trees will be evaluated in its effectiveness of enhancing the site. The mixed use of shade trees for defining spaces and providing protection from the elements, evergreens for screening and reduction of noise pollution, as well as the use of ground covers, perennials/annuals/bulbs and shrubs shall be approved by the Planning Board.

Removal of mature trees and shrubs shall be minimized.

Objectionable features (such as dumpsters, trash compactors, grease traps, containerized storage and utility boxes) on site shall be screened from neighboring properties, and, if applicable, roadways. Any proposed fencing shall comply with the requirements of the Building Department and the Board of Health. The use of cedar stockade or chain-link fence shall not be allowed without Planning Board permission.

Parking lot areas proposed for a site must be adequately landscaped to give relief from the visual impact of an expanse of impervious surface.

The final landscaping plan shall include provisions to ensure the maintenance of the installation.

Foundation plantings at entry and at building facade facing roadways;

Parking lot interior (such as planting islands);

Screening parking areas, loading areas, rubbish removal bins, and outside storage, if applicable; and

Street line plantings, and perimeter lot line plantings, if applicable.

Walls, fences, and other barrier material, subject to approval of facing materials;

Special paving materials; and

Other unique landscaping features not named in this bylaw which the Planning Board may deem appropriate.

Parking lots with 20 or more spaces should be screened along the perimeter from abutting properties and the street.

For parking lots with 40 or more spaces, an area equivalent to at least 15% of the area of the parking lot should be constructed and landscaped in the interior of the parking lot. The landscaped area should be evenly distributed within the parking lot and should be at least 25 feet in area with no dimension less than five feet. The quantity, species, caliper, and color of the plantings shall be approved by the Planning Board as set forth in the Board's Rules and Regulations.

A landscaping strip should be provided along foundation walls.

For projects requiring site plan review, a colored landscape plan shall be prepared showing the locations, quantity, color of planting, minimum planting height and caliper, mature height, and mature spread. It is recommended that a landscape architect prepare the plan.