PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION - …

1 Adopted September 25, 1972 Effective September 28, 1972 As Amended through November 1, 2017 TOWN OF PLAINFIELD, CONNECTICUT PPLLAANNNNIINNGG AANNDD ZZOONNIINNGG CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONN 1 Table of Contents Section Page 1 Preamble, Enacting Clause, Short Title and Definitions 2 2 Establishment of District, ZONING Map, District Boundaries and Scope of Controls 17 3 Aquifer Protection Overlay District 19 4 Wetlands 22 5 Floodplain Management 22 6 Erosion and Sediment Control

2 23 7 Residential Districts 26 8 Commercial Districts 33 9 Industrial Districts 38 10 Industrial Park District 43 11 Planned Development District 46 12 Special Permits 53 13 Liquor Uses, Gasoline Service Stations, Parking Requirements, Signs and Billboards, Existing Junkyards 91 14 Non-conforming Buildings, Lots and Uses, Abandonment 97 15 General Requirements 99 16 Administrative Provisions, Interpretation.

3 Enforcement and ZONING Board of Appeals 103 17 Separability and Effective Date 107 18 Amendments 108 19 Site Development Plan 110 20 Application Fee Schedule 115 21 Conservation Subdivisions 116 2 SECTION 1 - Preamble, Enacting Clause, Short Title, and Definitions Preamble These ZONING regulations are designed to further the purposes set forth in Chapter 124.

4 Section 8-2 of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of the area of the lot that may be occupied; the size of yards, courts, and other open spaces; the density of population and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence and other purposes; and the height, size and location of advertising signs and billboards within the limits of said town; to divide said town into districts of such manner, shape and area as may best be suited to carry out the purposes of such act; to regulate the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration or use of buildings or structures and the use of land in accordance with a comprehensive plan designed to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to promote health and general welfare; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land.

5 To avoid undue concentration of population; to facilitate the adequate provision for transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements, and with full consideration for the character of the districts and their particular suitability for particular use, and with a view to conserving the value of buildings and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout town. All references to the Connecticut General Statutes refer to revision of 1958, as amended. Enacting Clause, Short Title The Plainfield PLANNING and ZONING COMMISSION , acting under authority of Chapter 124 of the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, hereby adopts and enacts these regulations as the ZONING regulations of the Town of Plainfield.

6 Definitions. For the purposes of these regulations certain terms and words used herein shall be used, interpreted, and defined as set forth in this section. A person includes an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an unincorporated association; shall is always mandatory; a building includes a structure ; a building or structure includes any part thereof; uses or occupied as applied to any land or building shall be construed to include words intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied.

7 The Town is the Town of Plainfield in the County of Windham, State of Connecticut, the PLANNING and ZONING COMMISSION and the ZONING Board of Appeals are respectively the PLANNING and ZONING COMMISSION and the ZONING Board of Appeals of the Town of Plainfield. ACCESSORY. A building or use which is clearly incidental or subordinate to, and customarily in connection with, the principal building or use and is located on the same lot with such principal building or use. Any accessory building attached to a principal building is deemed to be part of such principal building in applying bulk regulations to such building.

8 ACCESSORY APARTMENT. A second dwelling unit contained within a single-family residence building and which is clearly subordinate to the main dwelling unit. 3 AGRI-TOURISM. (Z-2014-0439) (May 1, 2014) The act of visiting a farm for the purpose of enjoyment, education or active involvement in the activities of the farm or operation. Agri-tourism uses may include but are not limited to corn mazes, petting zoos related to farm animals, hay rides, and educational programs. Accessory uses to the agri-tourism enterprise may include refreshments and concessions being served, sale of farm or agricultural related products not produced on site.

9 Any business wishing to utilize the regulations of agri-tourism must be registered as a farm with the State of CT and have a minimum of twenty (20) working acres. AQUIFER. A geological unit capable of yielding usable amounts of water. AQUIFER PROTECTION ZONE. The primary and secondary recharge areas of designated aquifers. The aquifer protection zone is shown on an overlay to the ZONING map. ARCADE. Indoor facilities operated commercially for the playing of billiards, pool, ping-pong, electronic games, and/or other such games and amusements.

10 For the purposes of these regulations any facility operated solely for one of these purposes or a facility operated in conjunction with another permitted commercial use, which contains a combination of 6 or more game tables or electronic games shall constitute an arcade. AUTO RECYCLING FACILITY. (Z-2015-0671) (08/01/2015) A business or place of operation of a business for the efficient, environmentally responsible processing of motor vehicles for reusable components and materials, which shall include: (i) the receipt of unregistered motor vehicles which are no longer intended or in condition for legal use on the public highways ; (ii) removal of batteries and fluids, refrigerants, hazardous substances and precious metals from such vehicles in an environmentally compliant manner.