Pursuant to authority conferred by 30-A M.R.S. §§ 4352 and 4353 and in accordance with the provisions of 38 M.R.S. §§ 435 through 448, as amended from time to time, the following chapter is enacted by the City Council.

This chapter and the accompanying Official Zoning Map shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance, City of Waterville, Maine."

The purpose of this chapter is to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the City; to encourage the most appropriate use and prevent the overcrowding of all land; to lessen danger from congestion, fire and other elements; to provide adequate light and air; to promote good civil design and arrangement; to avoid undue concentration of population and to promote wholesome home environments; to improve and beautify the City; to provide harmonious arrangement of residential, commercial and industrial areas; to conserve natural resources and amenities; to provide an adequate street system; to promote the coordinated development of unbuilt areas; to encourage the formation of community units; to provide an allotment of land area in new developments sufficient for all the requirements of community life; and to provide for affordable housing for low-income and moderate-income households.

The provisions of this chapter regulate the use of all land and water areas; the location, use, construction, repair, alteration, height, number of stories and bulk of all buildings and structures; the size and open spaces of real estate, population density and the setback of structures along public rights-of-way and boundary lines. The provisions further provide for traffic safety and general welfare.

In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for promotion of health, safety, convenience and general welfare in the City of Waterville.

A certified copy of this chapter is filed with the City Clerk and is accessible to any member of the public. Copies are available to the public at reasonable cost at the expense of the person making the request. Notice of the availability of this chapter is posted.