In general this chapter is complementary to other Taunton ordinances affecting the use, height, area and location of buildings and the use of premises and of land, but where this chapter imposes a greater restriction in any respect than is imposed by other ordinances, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail.

Taunton zoning regulations shall apply to the Taunton portions of landownerships partly in Taunton and partly in an adjacent municipality as though the landownership were wholly within Taunton City boundaries.

This chapter is authorized and may be amended from time to time in the manner provided in the Zoning Act, MGL c. 40A.

This chapter is adopted by the City of Taunton to regulate the use of land, buildings and structures to the full extent of the independent powers of the City to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the present and future inhabitants.

The objectives of this chapter include, but are not limited to, the following: to lessen congestion in the streets; to conserve health; to secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other dangers; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of population; to encourage housing for persons of all income levels; to facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, water supply, drainage, sewerage, schools, parks, open space and other public requirements; to conserve the value of land and buildings, including the conservation of natural resources and the prevention of blight and pollution of the environment; to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the City, including consideration of the recommendations of the Master Plan, if any, adopted by the Planning Board and the Comprehensive Plan, if any, of the regional planning agency; and to preserve and increase amenities by the promulgation of regulations to fulfill said objectives.[1]

This chapter may be amended as provided in the Zoning Act (MGL c. 40A, § 5).

Amendments to this chapter may be initiated by the submission of a proposed amendment to the Municipal Council. Amendments may be submitted by the Municipal Council, a Board of Appeals, by an individual owning land to be affected by change or adoption, by 10 registered voters in the City of Taunton, by the Planning Board, by the regional planning agency, or by others as provided in the Municipal Charter.

The Municipal Council shall submit proposed amendments to the Planning Board within 14 days of receipt of such amendments.

Before an amendment is adopted, the Municipal Council and the Planning Board shall each hold a public hearing on the proposal. The hearing shall be held within 65 days after the proposed amendment is submitted to the Municipal Council. Notice of the hearing shall be given in accordance with MGL c. 40A. The costs of publication and mailing of notices of the hearing and the costs of holding such public hearing and making a public record of the proceedings at such hearing shall be paid by the petitioner(s), or such costs shall be divided as the Municipal Council shall determine.

Proposals for Zoning Map amendments shall be made in writing, stating the nature, extent and location of the map change proposed, if any, together with three blackline prints of a diagram to scale showing and stating the dimensions in feet of the area proposed to be changed as to zone and a sketch or other explicit identification of the general location of such area in the City. Zoning Map boundary amendments must include a certified list, names and addresses, of all owners of all lands which abut the proposed limits of the boundary amendment and owners of land within 300 feet of the proposed boundary amendment and the owners that fall within the proposed zoning boundary amendment. This list shall be certified by the Assessors' office and be included along with a map of the proposed zoning boundary amendment and legal description. The abutters identified on said abutters list shall be notified by mail at least 14 days prior to the hearing. The fee for filing a zoning ordinance or map amendment shall be $300 by an individual owning land to be affected by the change or adoption, by request of registered voters of a town pursuant to MGL c. 39, § 10, by 10 registered voters in a city or any other nonmunicipal or regional governmental organization allowed by City Charter.[1]