Branford Zoning Regulations

1 Branford Zoning Regulations Branford , CONNECTICUT. Adopted Amended Effective Zoning Regulations . TOWN OF Branford , CONNECTICUT. These Regulations are the amended Zoning Regulations of the Town of Branford , Connecticut adopted by the Planning and Zoning Commission on April 21, 2011, pursuant to the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut and effective June 1, 2011. Branford Planning And Zoning Commission Ellsworth McGuigan, Chairman Charles R. Andres, Secretary Joseph Vaiuso Stephen Duhamel John B. Lust Joseph Chadwick, Alternate Marcia Palluzzi, Alternate Fred Russo, Alternate Ex Officio James B. Cosgrove, First Selectman Town Staff Jos Giner, AICP , Town Planner Richard H. Stoecker, Assistant Town Planner Janice A. Plaziak, Town Engineer Jennifer F. Acquino, Zoning Enforcement Official Michelle Arbachouskas, Administrative Assistant CONTENTS.

2 SECTION 1 AUTHORITY.. 1. PURPOSES.. 1. JURISDICTION.. 1. INTERPRETATION OF Regulations .. 2. Zoning DISTRICTS.. 3. Zoning MAP.. 4. SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS ..5. USE OF TERMS.. 5. DEFINED TERMS.. 6. SECTION 3 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS ..25. GENERAL.. 25. PURPOSES.. 25. PERMITTED 27. BULK REQUIREMENTS.. 30. [RESERVED FOR FUTURE USE] .. 30. [RESERVED FOR FUTURE USE] .. 30. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.. 31. ACCESSORY USES AND 33. UNDERSIZED RESIDENTIAL LOTS.. 34. HOME BASED BUSINESSES.. 35. SECTION 4 BUSINESS DISTRICTS ..37. CENTER BUSINESS BC DISTRICT.. 37. MIXED-USE DISTRICT.. 38. RESTRICTED BUSINESS (BR) DISTRICT.. 39. LOCAL BUSINESS (BL) DISTRICT.. 41. GENERAL INDUSTRY 1 (IG-1) DISTRICT.. 42. GENERAL INDUSTRY 2 (IG-2) DISTRICT.. 43. COMMERCE PARK (CP) DISTRICT.

3 44. TABLE OF USES - BUSINESS ZONES.. 45. SECTION 5 SPECIAL DISTRICTS ..51. COASTAL MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.. 51. TOWN CENTER VILLAGE 54. ACCESS MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.. 59. PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.. 63. AFFORDABLE HOUSING.. 66. AGE-RESTRICTED HOUSING 72. INCENTIVE HOUSING OVERLAY DISTRICT (IHOD) .. 78. STONY CREEK VILLAGE DISTRICT .. 83. SECTION 6 BASIC STANDARDS ..87. BUILDING LOTS.. 87. DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS.. 88. LANDSCAPING.. 90. TRAILERS AND STORAGE CONTAINERS.. 93. OFF STREET PARKING AND LOADING.. 95. SIGNS.. 103. OUTDOOR LIGHTING.. 108. GRADING AND EARTH REMOVAL ACTIVITIES.. 111. DRAINAGE AND STORMWATER CONTROL.. 116. SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL.. 119. INTERIOR (REAR) LOTS.. 120. DRIVEWAYS.. 122. FENCES AND 125. TOWN-WIDE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS.

4 127. 129. SECTION 7 SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS ..131. MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.. 131. AGE-RESTRICTED HOUSING.. 132. OPEN SPACE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.. 134. ACCESSORY APARTMENTS.. 138. APARTMENT(S) IN A BL ZONE.. 139. GROUP DAY CARE HOMES AND DAY CARE CENTERS.. 139. BED AND BREAKFAST.. 140. HOSPITALS.. 140. MARINAS, SLIP BASINS, BOAT STORAGE AND 141. STORAGE TRAILERS.. 141. CONTRACTOR BUSINESSES AND STORAGE YARDS.. 142. SELF-STORAGE.. 144. COMMERCIAL KENNELS.. 145. COMMERCIAL HORSE 146. DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOWS.. 147. ADAPTIVE REUSE.. 148. FARMERS' MARKETS .. 149. SECTION 8 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS ..151. NONCONFORMITIES.. 151. CONTENTS. Introduction SECTION 9 PROCEDURES ..155. Zoning APPLICATION TYPES.. 155. Zoning PERMIT APPLICATION. (STAFF APPROVAL) .. 156.

5 CERTIFICATE OF Zoning COMPLIANCE. (STAFF APPROVAL) .. 158. USE OF PARCELS CREATED BY FIRST CUT OR FREE SPLIT.. 159. Definitions DESIGN REVIEW FOR THE TOWN CENTER VILLAGE DISTRICT. (TOWN CENTER REVITALIZATION REVIEW BOARD) .. 160. SITE PLAN APPLICATION. (COMMISSION) .. 162. COASTAL SITE PLAN REVIEW. (COMMISSION) .. 166. SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION. (COMMISSION) .. 168. REGULATION AMENDMENT. (COMMISSION) .. 173. Residence Districts MAP AMENDMENT. (COMMISSION) .. 175. MOTOR VEHICLE LOCATION APPROVAL. (COMMISSION) .. 179. APPEAL OF AN ORDER. ( Zoning BOARD OF APPEALS) .. 180. VARIANCE. ( Zoning BOARD OF APPEALS) .. 180. PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL APPLICATIONS.. 181. PROCEDURES FOR DESIGN REVIEW FOR THE STONY CREEK. Business Districts VILLAGE DISTRICT.. 185.

6 SECTION 10 GENERAL Special Districts ADMINISTRATION .. 187. ENFORCEMENT.. 188. BONDING REQUIREMENTS.. 189. Zoning BOARD OF APPEALS.. 191. APPENDICES ..193. Basic Standards 193. Zoning PERMIT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS .. 195. REQUIREMENTS FOR EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL .. 196. SITE PLAN AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.. 197. REGULATION CHANGE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS .. 200. Exception s Special Zoning MAP AMENDMENT REQUIREMENTS .. 201. CUMMULATIVE LISTING OF AMENDMENTS SINCE Requirements Special Procedures Administration Contents SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION. SECTION. AUTHORITY. 1. INTRODUCTION. These Regulations are adopted under the authority of Chapter 124 of the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut (CGS), as amended. Definitions PURPOSES.

7 These Regulations are adopted to: 1. Guide the future growth and development of Branford in accordance with the Plan of Residence Districts Conservation and Development;. 2. Lessen congestion in the streets;. 3. Secure safety from fire, panic, flood and other dangers;. 4. Promote health and the general welfare;. 5. Provide for adequate light and air;. 6. Protect the environment, Business Districts 7. Prevent the overcrowding of land and avoid the undue concentration of population; and 8. Facilitate adequate provisions transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements. 9. Give consideration to the character of each area and its peculiar suitability for particular uses;. Special Districts 10. Conserve the value of buildings and encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout Branford .

8 11. Protect historic factors and resources;. 12. Protect existing and potential public drinking water supplies;. 13. Protect natural resources;. 14. Provide for the development of housing opportunities, including opportunities for Basic Standards multifamily dwellings, consistent with soil types, terrain and infrastructure capacity;. 15. Provide for housing choice and economic diversity in housing, including housing that will meet identified housing needs; and 16. Address and meet all state and federal requirements relating to Zoning . Exception s JURISDICTION. Special Area. Within the Town of Branford , outside the limits of the Pine Orchard Association and the Civic Association of Short Beach, Connecticut, no land, building or other structure shall be Requirements used and no building or other structure shall be constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, Special extended, moved or structurally altered except in conformity with these Regulations .

9 Coastal Site Plan Reviews within Pine Orchard and Short Beach are subject to these Regulations . Procedures Administration Branford Zoning Regulations | |1. SECTION No lot or land shall be divided, altered in shape or size, sold, encumbered or conveyed so as to: 1. Make any use, building or other structure nonconforming or more nonconforming to or with these Regulations ;. 2. Reduce any setback, open space, or off-street parking and loading spaces to less than is required by these Regulations ; or 3. Make any nonconforming setbacks, open space or off-street parking and loading spaces more non-conforming. INTERPRETATION OF Regulations . Prohibited If Not Permitted. 1. The following uses are prohibited in any Zoning district: a. Billboards b. Junkyards c. Occupancy of a travel trailer or tent as a dwelling d.

10 Outdoor storage in a residential district of any inoperable motor vehicle for more than 30 days. e. Outdoor accumulation or storage of used or discarded materials, trash, rubbish, debris, building materials, or parts of motor vehicles or other machinery. 2. In addition to the foregoing expressly prohibited uses, any principal use of land, buildings or structures that is not expressly permitted by these Regulations in a particular Zoning district shall be deemed to be prohibited in that district. 3. For a principal use permitted as of right by these Regulations , accessory uses that are clearly and customarily incidental and are subordinate to the permitted principal use are also permitted. For a principal use requiring a special permit or special exception, the Commission may restrict the scope or nature of accessory uses that will be permitted.