In order to carry out the purposes of this appendix, the following zoning districts are hereby established:

R-LD residential low density district

R-1 residential district

R-2 residential district

R-3 residential district

R-B residential-business district

GB general business district

CB central business district

M-1 limited industrial district

M-2 general industrial district

PD planned development district

Floodplain districts FP-1, FP-2

Public/open space district

MUD mixed use development district

The locations and the boundaries of the zoning districts established by this appendix, other than the floodplain districts, shall be as shown on the official zoning map which, together with all notations and explanatory matter shown thereon, is hereby made a part of this appendix. The locations and the boundaries of the floodplain districts are shown as described in article IV of this appendix.

The official zoning map shall be dated and endorsed with the signature of the mayor. The official zoning map shall be maintained for public view in the office of the zoning administrator and shall not be removed from that office except for official purposes.

(a)

Whenever an amendment is made to the zoning district boundaries or other matter shown on the official zoning map by ordinance adopted by the town council, the zoning administrator shall see that the amendment is properly recorded on the map, along with the effective date and nature of the amendment. Each amendment shall be recorded as soon as practicable after its adoption.

(b)

The effective date of the adoption of any amendment to the zoning district boundaries, proffers, special use permits, and variances shall be the effective date of the ordinance providing for the amendment. Any delay in or failure to record an amendment on the official zoning map, or any error in depicting the amendment, shall not affect the validity of the ordinance providing for the amendment.

It shall be unlawful for any person to make changes on the official zoning map except by authorization of the zoning administrator for official purposes and in accordance with the provisions of this appendix. Any unauthorized change shall be considered a violation of this appendix.

The zoning administrator shall cause copies of the official zoning map to be made in such numbers, in such form and for such purposes as deemed appropriate by the zoning administrator with the consent of the town council. In the case of any discrepancy between the official zoning map and any copy, the official zoning map shall be the final authority.

In any case where uncertainty exists with respect to the location of a boundary of any of the districts shown on the zoning map, the following rules shall apply:

(a)

Where a discrepancy exists between a district boundary shown on the zoning map and that which is described in the text of the ordinance establishing such boundary, the text of the ordinance shall govern.

(b)

Where district boundaries are shown with specific dimensions, such dimensions shall govern.

(c)

Where district boundaries appear to follow street, alley, property or corporation lines, or appear to follow the centerlines of streets, alleys, or watercourses, such boundaries shall be construed as following such lines. The location of any street, alley, property line, corporation line, or watercourse used as a district boundary shall be the location in existence at the time of adoption of the ordinance establishing the boundary.

(d)

Where district boundaries appear parallel to, perpendicular to, or as extensions of centerlines, property lines or other features, they shall be so construed.

(e)

Where district boundaries are not described in any ordinance and do not appear to follow any center lines, street lines, property lines or other features, the location of such district boundaries shall be determined by measurement on the zoning map in accordance with its scale.

(f)

In any case where none of the foregoing rules establish the location of a district boundary, or where subsequent dispute or uncertainty exists, the location of such district boundary shall be determined by the zoning administrator who will communicate this determination in the form of a letter. The determination is subject to an appeal to the board of zoning appeals in accordance with the provisions of article X of this appendix.

Whenever any street, alley or other public way is vacated by official action, the zoning districts adjoining each side of such street, alley or other public way shall automatically be extended to the center of such vacation, and the area included in the vacation shall be subject to all applicable regulations of the extended districts.

(a)

Any area for which no zoning classification is shown on the official zoning map shall be construed as being within the R-LD residential low-density district unless otherwise designated by ordinance adopted by the town council.

(b)

Any territory hereafter annexed to the town shall be construed as being within the R-LD residential low density district until otherwise designated by ordinance adopted by the town council.