Development standards for development plan review (DPR)
Development plan review is hereby established as the procedure for approval of projects meeting the applicability criteria set forth in this section. DPR shall only apply to the categories of use as depicted and shall not apply to any development that is defined as a major subdivision or major land development.
Development plan review applicants shall employ registered design professionals, including landscape architects, engineers and architects and experts in other disciplines, as necessary, to arrive at a design that optimizes the sense of well-being and sense of place for the residents, maximizes the preservation of green space in the community development process, and minimizes the negative impacts of development on the surrounding neighborhoods, natural systems, and community character. The plan shall reflect, where applicable, community goals as embodied in the comprehensive plan. The planning board may require that the applicant escrow sufficient funds for the town to hire a design consultant to assist the planning board in evaluation [of] the design.
(1) Applicability. The following categories of projects shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter:
a. A change in use at the property where no extensive construction of improvements is sought.
b. An adaptive reuse project located in a commercial zone where no extensive exterior construction of improvements is sought.
c. An adaptive reuse project located in a residential zone which results in less than nine residential units.
d. Development in a designated urban or growth center.
e. Institutional development for educational or hospital facilities.
(2) Permitting authority. The administrative officer shall approve administrative projects submitted, and the planning board shall approve formal projects as described herein.
(3) Development plan review committee. A DPR committee (DPRC) shall be established consisting of the directors of community development and public works, fire chief, inspector of buildings and public safety manager or their designees. The community development director shall serve as the DPRC chair and the community development department (department) shall coordinate the DPR process. The DPRC review shall be advisory to the administrative officer or planning board as applicable.
(4) Procedure.
a. Pre-application meeting. Prior to filing for a DPR (application), an applicant shall meet with the community development department to determine what materials shall be submitted with an application. Within 15 business days after the meeting, the department shall provide to an applicant a list of the plans and documents to be submitted.
b. Application. An application shall be filed with the department in accordance with section 18. It shall include all the items identified at the pre-application meeting unless waived by the community development director. During its review, the DPRC may request any additional materials it deems necessary to render a decision.
c. Certification. The community development department shall certify an application as complete or incomplete within 15 business days after submission.
1. For a complete application, the certification shall include date on which a DPR will be conducted.
2. For an incomplete application, the certification shall identify the application's deficiencies. The application form and the site plan, as determined by staff, shall also be filed electronically and posted on the city's [town's] web site.
d. Referrals. For a complete application, a copy of said application may be forwarded to any appropriate city departments, committees, commissions and boards, as necessary, for review and comment.
e. Plan review. For a complete application, the DPRC shall conduct a DPR within 30 days or at a time acceptable by the applicant and the town. During a DPR, an applicant may submit corrections and additions. A DPR may be continued by vote of the DPRC.
f. Recommendation. Within 14 days after the close of their review, the DPRC shall issue a written recommendation on an application unless the DPRC extends said timeframe up to an additional 20 days by agreement with the applicant.
1. A decision shall be by a majority vote of the DPRC.
2. If an application is recommended for approval, the DPRC may suggest conditions or modifications to a development in order to mitigate impacts and insure compliance with zoning and other city codes and regulations.
3. If an application is recommended for denial, the DPRC shall make findings detailing the basis for denial.
(5) Design standards for commercial and mixed-use developments and adaptive re-use developments (except Boon Street).
a. Building placement and design.
1. Building placement shall be planned so that a consistent setback is ultimately achieved notwithstanding preexisting setbacks which would be considered excessive under these standards.
2. The scale of the building, and the relationship of building masses with yard spaces, shall be compatible with the character of a traditional New England village, or with architectural and development standards that the town determines suitable for the surrounding area.
3. The building height, the roof design and pitch, the proportions of and relationships between doors and windows, and the relationship of the width to the front facade height (massing), shall be compatible with the style of a building in a traditional New England village, or with architectural and development standards that the town determines suitable for the pier area.
4. A building shall have the same materials, or those which are architecturally harmonious, used for all walls and other exterior building components.
5. Additions or alterations to an existing building should be complementary in scale to the original structure, and architectural details, including materials, colors and textures, and shall be treated so as to be compatible with the original architectural style of the building, providing such details preserve and enhance the character of the surrounding area.
6. Mechanical equipment and utility hardware placed on the roof shall be screened from public view with materials harmonious to the building. Utility structures that cannot be placed on the roof shall be located so they are not visible from the street or public open space and shall be screened with landscaping or materials that are compatible with the building.
7. When used, the design and size of exterior lighting and/or window lighting shall be compatible with the building and the adjacent areas. Review of lighting features by the administrative officer or planning board shall include color, lumens, location, design and impact on adjacent properties.
b. Site design and landscaping.
1. The layout and design of all means of vehicular and pedestrian circulation, including interior drives, parking areas and walkways, shall provide for safe interior circulation and separation of pedestrian, vehicular and service traffic.
2. The number of site entrances shall be the minimum necessary for effective traffic control and sharing of access driveways and parking areas by adjoining properties shall be incorporated into the site design wherever possible.
3. Provisions for pedestrian movement, in the form of sidewalks or walkways, shall be made to allow for safe access between parking areas and retail establishments.
4. Bicycle parking facilities shall be provided at all commercial parking areas with a ratio of at least one bicycle space for each 20 car spaces.
5. Landscape treatment shall be provided to enhance architectural features and improve aesthetics. The site shall be planned to achieve a desirable transition between the building and the street, with landscaping required and the use of pedestrian walkways, special lighting, benches and other amenities encouraged.
6. All parking areas should be designed in small groups or courts to lessen visual impacts.
7. Parking lots that front on public streets shall be screened by landscaping or with walls or fencing a minimum of three feet in height. Walls and fences shall be of a scale and material appropriate to the site and surrounding area.
8. The interior of all paved parking areas within the site which exceed 40 spaces shall be enhanced with planted islands, with a minimum of one island for each 20 parking spaces. The planted islands shall be placed so as to prevent long rows of uninterrupted parking spaces and be designed to assist in treatment of stormwater runoff. All islands shall be surrounded by continuous raised curbing.
9. Plantings along the perimeter of parking areas and new streets should include either evergreen species, or street trees of at least 3.5-inch caliper planted at intervals of 35 feet. Planted islands may include shrubs, plants and other live vegetation, but should include one tree of at least three-inch caliper. Species to be selected shall be tolerant of high salt concentrations and heavy wind conditions.
10. Only nursery grown plant materials shall be accepted, and all trees, shrubs and ground covers shall be planted according to accepted horticultural standards. The owner shall be responsible for maintaining the landscaping and for replacing all dead or diseased plant materials on at least an annual basis. Failure to adequately maintain required plantings may result in such work being performed by the town at the owner's expense.
11. Screening of refuse areas, service and storage yards and exterior work areas shall be accomplished by use of walls, fencing, plantings or a combination of these.
(6) Boon Street Commercial Area—Additional requirements.
a. Building placement. A new building shall be placed as close as feasible to the street, no further than necessary or desirable from the five foot front yard setback. Building placement shall be planned so that a consistent setback is ultimately achieved notwithstanding preexisting setbacks which would be considered excessive under these standards. Benches and bicycle racks may be placed within the five-foot front yard setback.
b. Signage. The following standards for commercial signs in the special district shall supersede those regulations contained in subsection 7.18(i)(2), commercial signs. All new proposed commercial signage shall be subject to review by the planning board as part of the design and site plan review process.
c. One wall-mounted sign on the entrance facade shall be allowed per business unless there is also either a rear or side entrance to said business, in which case a second wall-mounted sign shall be allowed. The principal business sign shall not exceed 15 square feet in area nor 70 percent of the length of the entrance facade; the secondary business sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area.
1. A projecting sign shall be allowed in place of a flush-wall mounted sign. The projecting sign shall have a minimum clearance of ten feet and shall not exceed 15 square feet in area.
2. All moving message signs are prohibited.
3. No sign, window opening, store facade, or the like shall be internally illuminated without approval of the planning board.
d. All new or extended utilities in the Boon Street business zone shall be installed underground
e. Parking requirements. Parking requirements for development shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. As part of the site plan review of any new development, the applicant shall present a parking plan to the planning board that addresses existing parking, projected demand and a means of addressing this demand.
1. The parking plan shall take into account available on-site and off-site parking.
2. Shared parking among different businesses and uses is encouraged. Approval by the planning board of a parking plan for development within the special district shall supersede the parking standards contained in subsection 7.9, automobile parking space.
3. Applicants may be required to file a report, prepared by a traffic engineer.
4. The amount of front yard setback along a street occupied by parking should be minimized for sites undergoing redevelopment, while all parking shall be placed behind the building(s), if practicable, for sites undergoing new development.
5. No new parking areas shall be located within the front yard.
(7) Design standards for residential developments and residential adaptive re-use projects.
a. New multi-family developments shall comply with the standards of section 17.2 of these regulations.
b. Adaptive reuse residential developments shall comply with the following:
1. Section 17.2, sub-sections (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7 as applicable), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14) .
(8) Development of power generating stations (Use Code 482).
a. Development plan review will be applied to all minor solar power generating stations. All major solar stations shall be reviewed under the subdivision land development regulations.
b. Development plan review will be applied to wind energy generating facilities.
c. Development plan review will be applied to hydro-electric power generating facilities.
(9) Developments of educational or hospital facilities shall comply with the following regulatory standards:
a. Building placement and design.
1. Building placement shall be planned so that a consistent setback is ultimately achieved notwithstanding preexisting setbacks which would be considered excessive under these standards.
2. The scale of the building, and the relationship of building masses with spaces, shall be compatible with the character of a traditional New England fishing village, or with architectural and development standards that the town determines suitable for the port area.
3. The building height, the roof design and pitch, the proportions of and relationships between doors and windows, and the relationship of the width to the front facade height (massing), shall be compatible with the style of a building in a traditional New England fishing village, or with architectural and development standards that the town determines suitable for the port area.
4. A building shall have the same materials, or those which are architecturally harmonious, used for all walls and other exterior building components.
5. Additions or alterations to an existing building should be complementary in scale to the original structure, and architectural details, including materials, colors and textures, shall be treated so as to be compatible with the original architectural style of the building, providing such details preserve and enhance the character of the surrounding area.
6. Mechanical equipment and utility hardware on the roof shall be screened from public view with materials harmonious to the building. Utility structures that cannot be placed on the roof shall be located so they are not visible from the street or public open space, and shall be screened with landscaping or materials that are compatible with the building.
7. When used, the design and size of exterior lighting and/or widow lighting shall be compatible with the building and the adjacent areas. Review of lighting features by the planning board shall include color, lumens, location, design and impact on adjacent properties.
b. Signage. Standards for commercial signs shall be those regulations contained in subsection 7.18(i)(2), commercial signs.
c. Site design and landscaping.
1. The layout and design of all means of vehicular and pedestrian circulation, including interior drives, parking areas and walkways, shall provide for safe interior circulation and separation of pedestrian, vehicular and service traffic.
2. The number of site entrances shall be the minimum necessary for effective traffic control, and sharing of access driveways and parking areas by adjoining properties shall be incorporated into the site design wherever possible.
3. Provisions for pedestrian movement, in the form of sidewalks or walkways, shall be made to allow for safe access between parking areas and retail establishments.
4. Bicycle parking facilities shall be provided at all commercial parking areas designed for 50 or more cars, with a ratio of at least one bicycle space for each 20 car spaces.
5. Landscape treatment shall be provided to enhance architectural features and improve aesthetics. The site shall be planned to achieve a desirable transition between the building and the street, with landscaping required and the use of pedestrian walkways, special lighting, benches and other amenities encouraged.
6. The amount of frontage along a street occupied by parking should be minimized for sites undergoing redevelopment, while all parking shall be placed behind the building(s), if practicable, for sites undergoing new development. No new parking areas shall be located within the front yard. If possible, all parking areas should be designed in small groups or courts to lessen visual impacts.
7. Parking lots that front on public streets shall be screened by landscaping or with walls or fencing a minimum of three feet in height. Walls and fences shall be of a scale and material appropriate to the site and surrounding area.
8. The interior of all paved parking areas shall be enhanced with planted islands, with a minimum of one island for each 20 parking spaces. The planted islands shall be placed so as to prevent long rows of uninterrupted parking spaces and be designed to assist in treatment of stormwater runoff. All islands shall be surrounded by continuous raised curbing.
9. Plantings along the perimeter of parking areas and new streets should include either evergreen species, or street trees of at least 3.5-inch caliper planted at intervals of 35 feet. Planted islands may include shrubs, plants and other live vegetation, but should include one tree of at least three-inch caliper. Species to be selected shall be tolerant of high salt concentrations and heavy wind conditions.
10. Only nursery grown plant materials shall be accepted, and all trees, shrubs and ground covers shall be planted according to accepted horticultural standards. The owner shall be responsible for maintaining the landscaping and for replacing all dead or diseased plant materials on at least an annual basis. Failure to adequately maintain required plantings may result in such work being performed by the town at the owner's expense
11. Screening of refuse areas, service and storage yards and exterior work areas shall be accomplished by use of walls, fencing, plantings or a combination of these.
d. Street and utility design.
1. Streets should be designed for pedestrian safety and residential security, bearing in mind that wide streets encourage speeding.
2. Public sewers are required.
3. Public water is required.
e. Conservation design.
1. Historic or cultural resources should be protected from destruction.
2. Natural habitats should be protected from disturbance or over use; green space should be maintained per a specific conservation plan.
3. Drainage facilities shall be designed and constructed to minimize increases in runoff and sedimentation and to mitigate pollution impacts.
(10) In Historic Districts the following regulatory standards apply:
a. Residential DPR's shall present a design concept that extends throughout the planned neighborhood, and shall reflect and interpret traditional New England architectural styles to create a favorable environment for modern living. The administrative officer or planning board may require that the applicant provide funds to hire a professional consultant (architect, landscape architect or other design professional) to evaluate the proposed design.
b. Design elements for residential DPR's in historic districts shall include:
1. Buildings should be similar in materials to traditional New England designs, and may include buildings with clapboard siding, cedar shingles, and fieldstone.
2. Where possible, buildings should have gabled roofs with pitches between 8/12 and 12/12, with the orientation of gable ends either parallel or perpendicular to the street line.
3. Where possible, each house should front on a street or green with a pedestrian accessway.
4. Porches or landscape features are encouraged and should mediate between the public and private elements of each house lot.
5. Developers should reserve attractive, useable space for common use.
6. Where proposed development areas abut adjacent developed properties an evergreen visual buffer shall be established.
7. Sidewalks are encouraged.
(Ch. 1117, § 14, 12-18-2023; Ch. 1137, § 6, 6-16-2025)