25 -068 Table of Use Dimen Regs SC 2015-07-01ZONING
350 Attachment 18
City of Northampton
Table of Use and Dimensional Regulations
SC District (Special Conservancy)
Description:Example Uses/Structures
All areas are in the FEMA
mapped 100-/500-year floodplain
or in areas determined to be
floodplain along smaller streams.
Most structures built prior to
floodplain mapping and exist
either in the Connecticut River
floodplain/Meadows or Mill
River floodplain. Some historic
business use in Meadows. No
new residential uses allowed
Lot Dimension Requirements Layout Setbacks
Lot Size: existing residential
with public water:
8,000 ft2 minimum (80,000 ft2 if
private water and sewer)
Frontage/Width = 75 feet min.
Depth = 80 feet min.
Setbacks [principal and
detached accessory (Det Acc)
structures]
Front = 10 feet min.
Side = 15 feet min. (4 feet Det
Acc structure)
Rear = 20 feet min. (4 feet Det
Acc structure)
Max. Height = 35 feet (20 feet
Det Acc structure)
Open Space = 50%
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NORTHAMPTON CODE
Lot Size: existing
nonresidential, ground-
mounted PV
40,000 ft2 minimum
Frontage/Width = 175 feet min.
Depth = 200 feet min.
Setbacks
Front = 40 feet min.
Side = 20 feet min. (4 feet
ground-PV)
Rear = 50 feet min. (4 feet
ground-PV)
Max. Height = 45 feet
Open Space = 50%
Any new use (except open space
agriculture or reuse of existing
historic religious/school)
40-acre minimum
Frontage/Width = 175 feet min.
Depth = 200 feet min.
Open Space = 99%
Setbacks
Front = 40 feet min.
Side = 50 feet min.
Rear = 80 feet min.
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Primary Structure
Garage or Parking Structure
Area
ZONING
Design Standards Illustrated
Planning Board may waive, by site plan approval element 2, if it can be shown that a different design meets a pedestrian-scale design
that encourages public/private transition and interface (e.g., similar elements facing internal courtyards or private streets)
1. If a garage or other parking
structure is attached, it must be
set back 20 feet and the
garage/structure shall comprise no
more than 30% of the front facade
of the primary structure. Side
setback may be 10 feet for the
garage only when not used as
living area.
2. Front doors must face the
street. Buildings must have a
covered entry.
Minimum parking for residential
uses
For other uses, see table in § 350-
8.2
1 space per 1,000 ft2 gross living area (round up). No more than 2 spaces required per unit.
Front yard setback may only have parking for a maximum of 2 vehicles.
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Covered
entry
NORTHAMPTON CODE
SC USES ALLOWED
Flood elevation certificates are required prior to any building permit and again prior to any certificate of
occupancy for all substantial improvements as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(any rehabilitation, addition or other improvement of a building when the cost of the improvement equals
or exceeds 50% of the market value of the building before the start of construction of the improvement).
Any new structure may also require approval from the Northampton Conservation Commission under the
Wetlands Protection Act and/or Northampton Wetlands Ordinance.
Uses Allowed By Right: (see above)
Replacement of single-family homes allowed where homes existed or received permits by June 30,
2005. However, such replacements must be built within three years of demolition of previous home
(No new residential structures.)
Attached (to a single-family) accessory dwelling unit not to exceed 900 ft2 gross living area. See
§ 350-10.10. Same setback as for principal structures. Allowed ONLY within homes existing as of
June 30, 2005, and for those that meet all State Building Code and requirements under the Wetlands
Protection Act and Wetlands Ordinance.
Home business up to 25 visits per week as defined in § 350-2.1
Preexisting nonconforming uses (may trigger ZBA permit)
Accessory uses to residential:
Tag sales: temporary sales of personal and household articles
Pets/animals (§ 350-5.3)
Accessory structures, detached (but no larger than 1,000 ft2 of lot coverage or 3% of lot area,
whichever is greater unless it is used for agricultural purposes). See also § 350-6.7.
o Setbacks: 20 feet(front); 4 feet (side); 4 feet (rear)
o Must meet all State Building Code for construction in a floodplain and requirements
under the Wetlands Protection Act and Wetlands Ordinance
Family day care (registration w/Building Commissioner required)
Temporary event as defined in § 350-2.1
Agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, noncommercial forestry, the growing of all vegetables and a
temporary (not to exceed erection or use for a period of four months in any one year) greenhouse or
stand for retail sale of agricultural or farm products raised primarily on the same premises
Rooftop solar hot water and photovoltaic
Accessory solar photovoltaic (PV) ground-mounted on a parcel with any building/use, provided that
the PV is sized to generate no more than 100% or 8 KW of the annual projected electric use of the
non-PV building/use; same setbacks as for detached accessory structures.
Essential facilities
Site Plan Approval Required for the Following:
Any construction (other than for a single-family home) greater than 2,000 ft2
Educational use: nonprofit, any religious use, day care, school-aged child-care program (MGL c.
28A, § 9)
Reuse of historic educational or religious building(s) for: any residential use, live/work space, or
office; provided, however, that no more than 20% of the floor space of the building(s) shall be used
for medical, banking or any offices where a primary function is to provide services to retail
customers or individuals. All such uses approved under this provision shall be within the footprint of
existing building(s) and may only be approved contingent upon protection of all historically
contributing portions of the building with an historic preservation restriction granted to the City of
Northampton in a form acceptable to the Planning Board, with input from the Historical
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ZONING
Commission, as preserving the key character-defining features visible from the road (and not
necessarily meeting federal or state preservation standards for the entire building). The existing
building may be expanded to accommodate elevators and stairwells. Portions of the building that are
not part of the original architecture of the building and which do not contribute to the historical or
architectural significance of the building as determined by the Planning Board, with input from the
Historical Commission, may be demolished. Lot size equal requirements: “existing residential uses”
Solar photovoltaic of any size, ground-mounted—Administrative Site Plan:
1. Over any legal parking lot or driveway;
2. At any landfill site not separate from the site-assigned property by any road; and
3. At an airport not separated from the runways by any road
Parking off site and combined parking. See § 350-8.5 and § 350-8.7.
Creation or expansion of six or more parking spaces.
Parking requirement reduction. See § 350-8.10F.
Residential shared driveways. See § 350-8.8R.
Year-round greenhouse/stand for wholesale and retail sale of agricultural farm products raised on site
Special Permit Approval Required for the Following Uses by Planning Board Unless
Otherwise Noted:
Detached accessory dwelling unit. See § 350-10.10—Zoning Board of Appeals Special Permit
Home business for personal service business by appointment only or home business more than 25
visits etc. See § 350-10.12 for other criteria—Zoning Board of Appeals Special Permit
Airport, including aircraft sales, heliport
Agricultural fair and/or exhibition grounds operated either for profit or not for profit, to promote
agricultural activities, or including, but not limited to, any of the following uses: entertainment,
amusement, sports, recreation, racing, wagering, including “simulcasting” associated with approved
race track activities, storage and handling of animals, judging, showing and auctioning of animals,
consumer trade shows, overnight camping related to authorized events or exhibitions. No other
gaming/gambling activities allowed.
Commercial stable or kennel in which all animals, fowl, or other forms of life are completely
enclosed in pens or other structures. See § 350-10.8 and exemptions MGL c. 40A.
Outdoor commercial recreational use, miniature golf, temporary carnival
Historical association or society and nonprofit museum (may include the residence of a caretaker)
Accessory solar photovoltaic ground-mounted on a parcel with any building or use, between 8 KW
or over 100% but no more than 200% of the annual projected electric use of the non-PV building or
use
Private utility or substation, small-scale hydroelectric generation
Parking lot access for nonresidential uses across a residential lot. See § 350-8.9.
Processing and treating of raw materials, including operations appurtenant to the taking, such as
grading, drying, sorting, crushing, grinding and milling operations. See § 350-10.3.
Removal of sand, gravel, quarry, or other raw material. See § 350-10.3.
Private bridge, tunnel
Railroad passenger terminal
Municipal facility
Heavy public use. See § 350-10.7.—City Council Special Permit
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