Potential Zoning/Land Use Amendments for Fall 2009 Town Meeting

The Planning Board, at its meeting of July 16, 2009, initiated two proposed zoning articles and one proposed land use article for the October 19, 2009 Special Town Meeting. After holding two public hearings on the proposed articles, the first on August 27, 2009, with a subsequent hearing occurring on September 17th, the Board voted to recommend that the revised versions of each article be included on the Town Meeting warrant.

Below is a brief description of each zoning/land use article as it now appears on the warrant. Click on the article to see the proposed language in full, along with a more-detailed synopsis of the article.

Any questions regarding the proposed articles should be directed to Planning Director Glenn Gibbs .

 1. Sustainable Development Measures (Synopsis | Article): Amend the Protective Zoning Bylaw of the Town of Ipswich as follows: “II. APPLICABILITY, C. Municipal Construction Projects” by adding requirement that municipal buildings comply with LEED Certified standards; amend “III. DEFINITIONS” by adding the definitions of “LEED®”, LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID), and “U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL”; amend “VI. E. Screening Requirements” by allowing LID stormwater management practices within vegetative screening setback areas; amend “VII. OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING REQUIREMENTS” by revising footnote to “B. Table of Minimum Parking Requirements” relative to reduction of parking space requirements for special permit uses, revising “G.  Mixed Use Facilities” by elaborating on how space requirements are calculated, revising “K. Design Standards for Parking Facilities” by establishing new requirements for compact cars, stall widths, aisle widths, and curb length, revising “O. Surfacing, Draining and Curbing” by adding requirement for LID stormwater management parking facilities in certain parking facilities, and revising “P. Landscaping” by adding requirement for internal landscaping in paved parking facilities; amend “IX.A. Open Space Preservation Zoning” by revising “5. Development Requirements, e.” by adding LID stormwater management practices to concept plan requirements, and revising “6. Common Driveways” by relaxing current standards; amend “X. SITE PLAN REVIEW” by adding requirements to provide and maintain LID stormwater management practices and by revising current landscaping requirements.

2. Miscellaneous Changes (Synopsis | Article): Amend the Protective Zoning Bylaw of the Town of Ipswich as follows: amend “III. DEFINITIONS” by revising the definition of “MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT” and adding the definition of “FILLING STATION”; amend “V.D. Table of Use Regulations” by revising agricultural-related principal and accessory uses, accessory child care facilities and principal kennels and adding associated footnotes to make consistent with state statute or case law, by requiring special permit for accessory guesthouses and fast food establishments, by requiring restrictive covenants on single-family dwellings with more than one kitchen, and by adding footnote relative to multi-family uses; amend “VI. DIMENSIONAL AND DENSITY REGULATIONS” by revising “F.” and Footnote 2 to Table relative to front setbacks for accessory structures, and revising rear setbacks in Table for uses in the HB District; amend “VII.B. Table of Minimum Parking Requirements” by modifying the descriptions of certain agriculture-related uses; amend “VIII.D. Sign Requirements per Zoning District, 1.f.”, relative to entrance signs for GEPDs and GSPDs; amend “IX.SPECIAL REGULATIONS” by making minor corrective or clarifying revisions to  “C. Water Supply Protection Districts, 7.d.”, “E. Common Driveways, 2.”, “J. Accessory Apartment, 2.j.”, and “O. Green Space Preservation District” title.

3. Scenic Road Designations (Synopsis | Article | Report): Amend the Scenic Road Bylaw of the Town of Ipswich as follows: designate Linebrook Road from Howe Street to Leslie Road, Mile Lane, Old Right Road from Route 1 to Linebrook Road, Paradise Road, and Plains Road as Scenic Roads; amend “DEFENITIONS” by adding definitions of “Abutter”, “Major Branch”, “Posting” and “Tree Warden” and renumber accordingly; by revising the definition of “Cutting and Removal of Trees” to clarify its scope and the applicability to municipal maintenance; revise the definition of “Repair, Maintenance, Reconstruction or Paving Work” by including roadside paths, clearing of trees for line-of-sight improvements, and drainage utilities, and by clarifying the applicability to only such work that involves walls and trees; revising the definition of “Roads” by including features on or partially within the right of way; revising the definition of “Tearing Down or Removal of Stone Walls” to include removal, covering or painting, and by establishing that linear feet are determined cumulatively, not consecutively; amend “CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION AS A SCENIC ROAD” to include trees with seasonal foliage and flower value, or which are part of scenic vistas or that contribute to woodland character; amend “PROCEDURES FOR DESIGNATING SCENIC ROADS” by adding all abutting property owners to the list of people and boards requiring notification of proposed scenic roads; amend “PROCEDURES” by clarifying the application filing requirements; adding the subsections “(5.5) Tree Replacement” to require that removed trees be replaced, “(5.6) Public Shade Trees” to clarify that hearings for shade trees be consolidated with scenic road hearings, “(5.7) Statute of Limitations” to establish a statute of limitations, and “(5.8) Emergency Repair” to allow trees to be cut in emergencies; amend “DRIVEWAY DESIGN GUIDELINES” to address removed stone wall material; amend “ENFORCEMENT” by specifying replacement tree requirements; adding an accruable penalty for failure to comply with the bylaw; clarifying legal remedies available to the Town; and adding a severability clause.