Thomaston City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVI
Religious Uses and Educational Uses
§ 203-130 Minimum lot size.
No religious or educational use shall be established, operated, maintained or located on a lot having an area less than 45,000 square feet.
§ 203-131 Maximum building height.
No building used for any religious use or educational use shall have a height greater than that permitted for any other structure in the zoning district in which it is located.
§ 203-132 Minimum street frontage.
No religious use or educational use shall be established, operated or maintained on a lot having a street frontage of less than 200 feet. In the case of a lot fronting on more than one street, the frontage on each street shall be not less than 200 feet.
§ 203-133 Maximum lot coverage.
All buildings and structures used for religious use or educational use upon a single premises, together with all parking areas, playground or other recreational areas, walkways, sidewalks and impervious surfaces, shall not exceed 30% of the area of the entire premises upon which such use is located.
§ 203-134 Minimum setbacks.
No building or structure occupied or used for religious use or educational use shall be located within 75 feet of the boundary of the premises upon which it is located or a distance from each property line of at least two times the height of such building or structure at its highest point, whichever is greater.
§ 203-135 Required off-street parking.
No religious use or educational use shall be commenced or maintained unless there is available on the same premises where such use is located a sufficient number of off-street parking spaces to accommodate the reasonable needs of such use. No such use shall be commenced or maintained unless the off-street parking available on the premises consists of at least one parking space per two seats or two parking spaces for each two persons who can be legally accommodated, plus one parking space for each employee at the premises. A site plan for each parking area on the premises, including aisles and appropriate landscaping for screening and decorative purposes, shall be approved by the Board of Trustees before any such parking area shall be utilized for the parking of motor vehicles. The parking of any vehicle in any such parking area between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. shall be prohibited. No parking shall be permitted in a front yard or in any required setback area. In approving a site plan pursuant to this section, the Board of Trustees shall determine the number of off-street parking spaces which shall be required in accordance with this section, in the event that there is any dispute regarding such matter.
§ 203-136 Other conditions.
A.
In granting permission for the use of any property for a religious use or educational use, the Board of Trustees may impose such conditions as may be reasonable and proper to mitigate or prevent any adverse effects which such use, or the buildings and structures intended to be used for such use, may have or cause upon the adjoining properties or the neighborhood or the community.
B.
Such conditions may include restrictions, as to maximum building height, maximum lot coverage and minimum setbacks and required off-street parking, more restrictive than those required by this chapter when the Board of Trustees finds a need for such more restrictive conditions.
C.
The Board of Trustees shall not permit or impose any restriction on maximum building height, maximum lot coverage and minimum setbacks and required off-street parking which is less restrictive than the provisions of this chapter.
D.
The Board of Trustees may require, as a condition of approval of any permit for a religious or educational use, that a site plan for the entire premises be submitted to and approved by the Board of Trustees, showing the location and design of all buildings and structures located or proposed to be located on the premises and the location and design of all existing or proposed parking areas, sidewalks, walkways and other impervious surfaces on the premises and the location of all existing and proposed landscaping on the premises and such other features or conditions as may be directed by the Board of Trustees. No construction of any new building or structure, no alteration or renovation of any existing building or structure and no change or alteration in any other feature shown on the approved site plan shall take place without the prior approval of the Board of Trustees.