Wrentham City Zoning Code

To provide for housing options for a maturing population that reduce maintenance costs and are more affordable than traditional single-family dwellings;

To provide a mechanism for development of a range of housing types and facilities that are responsive to the sociocultural, health care, and recreational needs of senior residents;

To provide for a type of housing development that reduces the demands on municipal services by encouraging energy efficiency, renewable energy opportunities and a cluster design;

To promote development that is in harmony with the Town's natural features and resources, its historic and traditional landscapes, the existing and probable future use of adjacent land, and the general intent of the Zoning Bylaw; and

To establish flexible residential development standards and procedures that will support these objectives.

A senior living community shall be permitted in all districts as noted in § 390-4.2, Use Regulation Schedule, only upon issuance of a special permit and site plan approval from the Planning Board as specified in Article VII and Article IX of this bylaw, and in accordance with the additional requirements specified herein:

A senior living community is intended for people age 55 or over within the meaning as defined in MGL c. 151B, § 4(6) and 42 U.S.C. § 3607(b)(2)(c). As such, buildings and site improvements in a senior living community shall provide for "visitability" and universal design in accordance with the provisions of this article.

In the R-43, R-87, C-1 or C-3 District, the Planning Board may grant a special permit for a senior living community that includes one or any of the following uses:

In the VZB District, the Planning Board may grant a special permit for a senior living community that includes one or any combination of the following uses:

An assisted-living residence or continuing-care retirement community may include the following nonresidential uses primarily for the benefit of residents and their guests, provided that aggregate floor area for the nonresidential uses shall not exceed 10% of the total gross floor area of the buildings in the development. These uses shall be incidental and subordinate to the principal uses in the senior living community.

A senior living community may also include the following uses:

A senior living community (SLC) shall comply with the following density regulations:

Maximum building coverage shall not exceed 35% of the lot area for new construction or expansion of existing structures.

For single-family, cottage dwellings, duplexes or triplex style dwellings, the minimum setback shall be 30 feet from all property lines in the residential districts, unless the Planning Board determines that a reduced setback is necessary to achieve the purposes of this section and will not have a detrimental impact on the neighborhood. The minimum setback from all property lines for assisted-living residence, independent living units, or any buildings in a continuing-care retirement community shall be 50 feet in all districts, except that the minimum setback shall be 100 feet from the side or rear lot line, as applicable, abutting an existing single-family dwelling. Nothing in this section shall preclude the Planning Board from reducing or waiving minimum setback requirements between buildings to internal lots created within the SLC. The first 15 feet of all setbacks shall be preserved as natural vegetation or professionally landscaped trees/plantings.

No dwelling unit in a SLC shall have more than two bedrooms.

The minimum distance between buildings in any SLC shall be 15 feet.

The minimum common open space in the development shall be 30% of the lot area, and not more than 25% of the required minimum common open space shall consist of wetlands (as defined in MGL c. 131, § 40). The upland open space shall be contiguous and usable by residents of the development. For cottage, duplex or triplex style dwellings there shall be at least 5,000 square feet of upland area per unit in the SLC. A permanent conservation restriction running to or enforceable by the Town shall be recorded for the common open space area and shall include restrictions that the land be retained in perpetuity for conservation or passive recreation.

All SLC dwelling units shall be subject to an age restriction described in a deed, deed rider, restrictive covenant, or other document approved by the Planning Board that shall be recorded at the Registry of Deeds and/or Land Court. The age restriction shall limit occupancy of dwelling units to at least one individual age 55 or over and their spouse/partner and may provide for time-limited guest visitation rights of not more than one month per year. The restriction, if the Planning Board so approves and specifies in the special permit, may authorize special exceptions that allow persons of all ages to live in a dwelling unit together with a senior resident for purposes such as care of a senior in ill health or enabling seniors to fulfill legal responsibilities of guardianship or custody. The special permit including age restriction shall run with the land in perpetuity and shall be enforceable by the Town and/or any owner(s) of the SLC dwelling units. In the event of the death of the qualifying owner or occupant(s) of a dwelling unit, or foreclosure or other involuntary transfer of a unit within the SLC, a one-year exemption to the restriction shall be allowed for the transfer of the unit to another eligible occupant.

Minimum off-street parking requirements shall comply with § 390-6.4, except as modified by the following standards:

All streets within an SLC shall be private, and all sewerage, drainage facilities and utilities shall be designed and constructed in compliance with the Town of Wrentham Subdivision Rules and Regulations, except as modified by the following standards:

An SLC may have one freestanding sign at each principal access to the development from a public way, indicating the name and/or street address of the SLC. Such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area per side or four feet in height. The provisions of Article XVIII shall also apply to signage within the SLC.

An SLC shall have an amenity structure designed to allow for a variety of year-round passive and active recreational activities, indoors and outdoors, that support the resident of the SLC. Such uses that may be considered are community program spaces, fitness/therapeutic space, educational, recreational and accessory space; areas for neighborhood meetings and event space; and any other amenities and opportunities that are intended to create and promote an integrated neighborhood-type environment as determined by the Planning Board.

Ownership units. For projects containing homeownership units, not less than 15% of the total housing units constructed in a project shall be affordable.

For projects containing rental units, not less than 25% of the total housing units in any building containing rental units shall be affordable.

For purposes of calculating the number of units of affordable housing required within a project, any fractional unit of 0.5 or greater shall be deemed to constitute a whole unit.

Affordable housing units shall be dispersed throughout the building(s) in a development and shall be comparable to market housing units in terms of location, quality and character, room size, and external appearance.

The selection of qualified purchasers or qualified renters shall be carried out under a marketing plan approved by the Planning Board and shall comply with Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities' (EOHLC) Local Initiative Program guidelines. The marketing plan must describe how the applicant will accommodate local preference requirements, if any, established by the Select Board.

Developers may sell AHUs to the Town of Wrentham, the Wrentham Housing Authority, or to any nonprofit housing development organization that serves the Town of Wrentham, in order that such entity may carry out the steps needed to market the AHUs and manage the choice of buyers.

Affordable housing units shall comply with the requirements of Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to assure that the AHUs are eligible for listing on the Town's Chapter 40B Subsidized Housing Inventory, and affordability shall be assured in perpetuity through the use of an affordable housing restriction as defined in MGL c. 184, § 31.

The Planning Board may approve one or more of the following methods for the provision of AHUs:

Affordable option. A density bonus may be permitted when the proposed community provides affordable housing opportunities consistent with the most recent Wrentham Housing Production Plan. For each affordable housing unit provided under this section, four additional bedrooms may be permitted, subject to the 15% limitation expressed in this Subsection F. Affordable units shall be developed concurrently with the market-rate units in the development. Affordability shall be assured in perpetuity through the use of an affordable housing restriction as defined in MGL c. 184, § 31.

Recreational open space. A density bonus may be permitted when the proposed community provides for public access to recreation facilities and/or recreational fields within the community or when they are deeded to the municipality or open to public use, four additional bedrooms may be permitted subject to the 15% limitation expressed in this Subsection F. Recreational space that is open to public use shall be accessible from a public way, and adequate parking shall be provided to meet anticipated demand.

Open space option. A density bonus may be permitted when the proposed community provides additional open space. For every five acres of land that is donated to the municipality or land trust, four additional bedrooms may be permitted, subject to the 15% limitation expressed in this Subsection F. Land regulated by MGL c. 131, § 40 shall not be used to satisfy this optional incentive.

Provision for off-site locations. The SPGA may accept the off-site location of affordable housing, recreational space or open space for the purpose of satisfying the optional incentive provisions.

Single-family and cottage-style dwelling units shall provide for:

Independent living units and assisted-living facilities shall comply with the accessibility requirements of the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (MAAB).

Outdoor facilities, such as walkways, gardens and recreation areas, shall be designed for universal access.

Architectural planning and design shall incorporate energy-efficient design techniques, such as natural heating and cooling systems, use of sun and wind energy generation systems, and so forth.

Structures located near the project property lines shall be designed and located in a manner that reflects consistency and compatibility with neighboring areas, and shall include appropriate use of building density, heights and design to minimize intrusion on neighbors.

Outdoor recreation or gathering areas, particularly those that may generate significant noise and/or light and glare, shall be located to minimize intrusion on neighboring properties.

Structures shall be clustered to reduce site disturbance and protect open spaces, natural and environmentally sensitive areas.

Site design shall limit large grass areas and provide adequate access to shared amenities.

Building design shall avoid use of long, unbroken facades, and shall include use of balconies, offset walls, trellises and other design elements to provide visual interest.

Building design, colors and materials shall generally correspond to the natural setting of the project site and promote the appearance of the Town's New England character.

Walking trails shall be accessible to all abilities and installed throughout the project to the extent feasible. The preference is to have these trails first located around the perimeter and then throughout the site.

The development shall be served by public water.

The Planning Board reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to impose more stringent standards and/or reduce the number of units to ensure that impacts generated by the project are adequately addressed with the following considerations:

The special permit application, public hearing, and decision procedures shall be in accordance with this article, the Planning Board's Rules and Regulations, and Article VII of this Zoning Bylaw.

The applicant shall submit an SLC special permit application, together with the size, form, number and contents of the required plans and any supplemental information as required in the Planning Board's Rules and Regulations and Article VII of this Zoning Bylaw.

The Planning Board may waive the requirements of § 390-13.5 of this Zoning Bylaw by a supermajority vote where such waivers will allow for better design and/or improved protection of resources.

The proposed SLC will not have adverse effects that outweigh its beneficial effects on either the neighborhood or the Town, in view of the characteristics of the site and of the proposal in relation to that site, considering each of the following:

The design of building form, building location, egress points, grading and other elements of the project could not reasonably be altered to:

The SLC meets the purposes, requirements, and development standards of this § 390-13.5; and

The SLC is consistent with the goals of the Wrentham Master Plan and Housing Production Plan.