- Home
- Boards & Committees
- Boards
- Planning Board
- Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments
Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments
Zoning Bylaw Amendments for ATM - May 1, 2023
Public Hearing #1: January 9, 2023 - Presentation - summary of zoning changes with examples
Public Hearing #2: February 6, 2023
Public Hearing #3: March 6, 2023
- Existing Zoning Bylaw 02-27-23
- Redlined Zoning Bylaw - Combine - 02-27-23
- Redlined Zoning Bylaw - Comparison - 02-27-23
March 6, 2023 - Due to staff transitions, the Planning Board voted to withdraw their warrant article to reorganize the Medfield Zoning Bylaw from this year's Annual Town Meeting with the intent to resubmit the article for a future town meeting.
posted: 11/30/22
LEGAL NOTICE
Download PDF of Legal Notice HERE
Pursuant to the provisions of MGL ch. 40A §5, the Medfield Planning Board will hold a public hearing at 7:35 p.m. on Monday, January 9, 2022, via ZOOM, for the purpose of accepting public comments on the following proposed amendments to the Town of Medfield Zoning Bylaws:
Item 1: Article ##: To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Medfield Zoning Bylaw by: (1) Reorganization of the Zoning Bylaw (per “crosswalk” chart below); (2) making certain minor substantive changes to help effectuate the goals of the Bylaw Reorganization; (3) making nonsubstantive, ministerial amendments to the Zoning Bylaw providing for consistency with the General Laws and internally with regard to spelling, capitalization, citation of numbers and General Laws references; and further, to vote to amend the Town of Medfield Zoning Bylaw current Article 19: Solar Photovoltaic Facilities Overlay District (PVOD), 300-19.4 Solar Photovoltaic Overlay District and Table 19.5 and proposed Section 10.4.3 and Table 10.4.5 by adding the Medfield State Hospital Zoning District to the list of allowable zoning districts for certain ground-mounted, canopy, and rooftop solar energy systems.
List of specific changes:
- Reorganization per crosswalk (below)
- Section references and cross-references were updated
- Blue italics in text indicate former bylaw citation as a marker for the reader during this amendment process but will be deleted from the new version
- Definitions Section: italics to be incorporated into definition for context as needed
- Duplicate definitions for “Applicants” and “Application” and “As of Right” and “By-Right” were relocated from different individual sections so they were merged/massaged to have just one definition
- Changed “Penn Central RR” to “MA Department of Transportation” in 8.5.2.A
- Changed title from “Floodplain Definition” to “Floodplain Boundary” in 10.1.2
- New substantive change: Added MSHD to Section 10.4.3 and Table 10.4.5 for various solar energy systems
all as set forth in a document entitled “Medfield Zoning Bylaw Reorganization V3-11/21/22” on file in the offices of the Town Clerk and Town Planner, and also available on the Town’s website at http://www.town.medfield.net, and to authorize the Town Clerk to renumber or take any other action necessary to format this new bylaw to fit within the reorganization of the Town's existing bylaws if approved by this Town meeting, or do or act anything in relation thereto.
Proposed Zoning Bylaw | Existing Zoning Bylaw | ||
New Section | New Title | Existing Section | Existing Title |
Art. 1 | PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY | 1 | SCOPE |
|
| 1-1 | Title |
1.1 | Purpose | 1-2 | Authority |
1.2 | Authority | 1-3 | Purpose |
1.3 | Applicability | 4.1 | Interpretation and Application Applicability |
1.4 | Amendments | 15.1 | Amendment |
1.5 | Severability | 15.2 | Validity |
|
| 15.3 | Effective date [not needed] |
New Section | New Title | Existing Section | Existing Title |
2 | DEFINITIONS | 2 | DEFINITIONS |
New Section | New Title | Existing Section | Existing Title |
3 | DISTRICTS | 3 | ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS |
3.1 | Establishment of Districts | 3-1 | Division into districts |
3.2 | Zoning Map | 3-2 | Zoning Map |
3.3 | Interpretation of Zoning Map | 3-3 | Boundaries of districts |
New Section | New Title | Existing Section | Existing Title |
4 | USE REGULATIONS | 5 | USE REGULATIONS |
4.1 | General Provisions | 5.1 | Applicability |
4.2 | Table of Uses | 5.2 | Permitted uses |
4.3 | Supplemental Use Regulations | 5.3 | Uses subject to other regulations |
4.4 | Accessory Uses | 5.5 | Agricultural District |
New Section | New Title | Existing Section | Existing Title |
5 | DIMENSIONAL REGULATIONS | 6 | AREA, HEIGHT, AND BULK REGULATIONS |
5.1 | General Provisions | 6.1 | Applicability |
5.2 | Table of Dimensional Regulations | 6.2 | Table of Area Regulations |
5.3 | Supplemental Dimensional Regulations | 6.2 | Area regulations |
New Section | New Title | Existing Section | Existing Title |
6 | NONCONFORMING USES, STRUCTURES, AND LOTS | 9 | Nonconforming Uses, Structures and Lots |
6.1 | General Provisions | 9.1 | Application of nonconformity |
6.2 | Nonconforming Uses | 9.2 | Extension or alteration Change |
6.3 | Nonconforming Structures | 9.7 | Moving |
6.4 | Nonconforming Lots | 9.3 | Reduction or increase |
6.5 | Restoration; Abandonment or Non-Use | 9.5 | Restoration Abandonment |
New Section | New Title | Existing Section | Existing Title |
7 | GENERAL REGULATIONS |
|
|
7.1 | Off-Street Parking | Art. 8 | Off-Street Parking and Loading Regulations |
7.2 | Signs | Art. 13 | Sign Bylaw |
New Section | New Title | Existing Section | Existing Title |
8 | SPECIAL REGULATIONS |
|
|
8.1 | Open Space Residential Zoning | 7 | Open Space Residential Zoning |
|
|
|
|
8.2 | Inclusionary Zoning | 14.6 | Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw |
8.2 | Historic Properties | 5.6 | Historic Properties |
8.3 | Earth Removal | 12 | Rules and Regulations Governing Earth Removal Uses |
8.4 | Personal Wireless Communications Facilities | 17 | Personal Wireless Communications Facilities |
8.5 | Adult Uses | 18 | Adult Uses |
New Section | New Title | Existing Section | Existing Title |
9 | SPECIAL DISTRICT REGUATIONS |
|
|
9.1 | Agricultural District | 5.6 | Agricultural District |
9.2 | Medfield State Hospital District | 20 | Medfield State Hospital District |
New Section | New Title | Existing Section | Existing Title |
10 | OVERLAY DISTRICTS |
|
|
10.1 | Floodplain District | 10 | Floodplain District |
10.2 | Watershed Protection District | 11 | Watershed Protection District |
10.3 | Aquifer Protection District | 16 | Aquifer Protection District |
10.4 | Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Facilities Overlay District | 19 | Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Facilities Overlay District |
New Section | New Title | Existing Section | Existing Title |
11 | ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT | 14 | ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT |
11.1 | Enforcement | 14.1 | Building Inspector and/or Zoning Enforcement Officer |
11.2 | Compliance | 14.2 | Permits required |
11.3 | Board of Appeals | 14.9 | Board of Appeals |
|
| 14.10 | Special permits by Board of Appeals |
|
| 14.11 | Variances |
11.4 | Planning Board | 1.4 | Planning Board |
|
| 14.13 | Appeal periods |
11.5 | Special Permits | 14.10 | Special permits by Board of Appeals Special permits by Planning Board Duty to supply plans and specifications Special permit time limits |
11.6 | Site Plan Approval | 14.12 | Site plan approval by Planning Board |
11.7 | Appeals | 14.13 | Appeal periods |
Summary: This article seeks voter approval of first step in a phased approach to modernizing the Town’s Zoning Bylaws, the need for which was identified during the 2019-2021 master planning process and the Planning Board’s recent “Zoning Diagnostic” study. A Zoning Bylaw is used by a wide range of people, including but not limited to town officials, board and committee members, homeowner applicants, and developers (and their representatives). The ability for people to find the zoning bylaw is essential. The ability to understand and utilize a zoning bylaw is more nuanced. However, this can be made easier when it is organized in a logical order and format. It is also important to note that people (town officials, board members, and applicants) must read, interpret, and “apply” the Zoning Bylaw based on past practice, state law, and based on specific proposals. The need to update and advance the Zoning Bylaw overtime can be challenging, but is critical to support neighborhoods, provide economic growth, and to make the town more business friendly.
While a Zoning Bylaw is not typically read like a novel, the readability of a zoning bylaw is important to ensure that potential applicants, board and committee members, and town officials can be sure that all the regulations are applied consistently and accurately. A Zoning Bylaw should anticipate and clearly articulate requirements for a wide range of normal uses and those that require more scrutiny. A well-crafted Zoning Bylaw can reduce the need to “interpret” regulations, which can often lead to confusion, when it includes accurate definitions, clear requirements, and is applied consistently. Finally, a Zoning Bylaw should evolve and change to meet and support broader goals of the community overtime. Two-thirds vote required
*This meeting will be held remotely on ZOOM. Instructions to view or listen to the meeting are included on the meeting agenda on the Town’s website. All town boards and other interested parties wishing to be heard should appear at the time and place designated. There will be an explicit time during the hearing for public comments. Interested parties are urged to reach out to Town Planner Sarah Raposa at sraposa@medfield.net (508) 906-3027 with any questions, comments, or concerns about access to the materials, attending the virtual meeting, or other related matters. The full proposals may be viewed on the Planning Board’s webpage on the Town’s website at www.town.medfield.net.
PAUL MCKECHNIE, CHAIR
MEDFIELD PLANNING BOARD
Hometown Weekly:
- December 22, 2022
- December 29, 2022
Floodplain Zoning Draft 09/19/22 - delay to 2024
9/19/22 - Zoning Bylaw Reorganization
11/7/22 - Zoning Bylaw Reorganization (based on Zoning Diagnostic)
- Bylaw reorganization draft
- A - table of uses draft
- B - table of area regs draft
- C - table of height-bulk draft
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Zoning Bylaw Amendments for STM - June 2022 re Medfield State Hospital (TBD)
posted 05/20/22: LINK TO DOCUMENT
Item 1: Article ## To see if the Town will vote to amend the Medfield Town Code Article 300-20 Zoning “Medfield State Hospital District” by revising the following sections as follows:
- § 300-20.3B.(1)(d) North Field is a rolling field to be maintained as passive open space, and possible agricultural use; and the reuse of existing Building 13 with ancillary parking, infrastructure, and landscaping within the buildable portion as delineated on the MSHD Map.
- § 300-20.5 Permitted uses.
Table 1 | ||||||
Permitted Uses in MSHD | ||||||
Use | MSH North | |||||
A. The Green | B. Cottage/ Arboretum | C. Core Campus | D. North Field | E. West Slope | F. Water Tower | |
Table 1 | ||||||
RESIDENTIAL USES | ||||||
Multi-family dwellings | NO | NO | YES |
NO, except, redevelopment of Building 13 within the buildable portion as delineated on the MSHD Map and related parking. | YES | NO |
- § 300-20.13 Design guidelines.
Table 3 | |||
Design Guidelines for MSHD and Dimensional Requirements | |||
Sub-Zone/Area | Footprint | Frontage | Height |
North Field | New construction of structures that support public recreation and arts use allowed through special permit. Structures must not impact the viewshed or night sky. The portion of the North Field area that may have new construction with a special permit may not exceed 360 feet north of the center line of North Street. Existing Building 13 may be redeveloped/rehabilitated for multi-family residential; limited to existing building footprints, plus the area of previous porches, plus ancillary parking, infrastructure, and landscaping. | Structures must be sited so as not to impact the viewshed. | |
HOMETOWN WEEKLY:
- Thursday, May 19, 2022
- Thursday, May 26, 2022
------
Zoning Bylaw Amendments for ATM 2022 (May 2, 2022)
Zoning Bylaw Amendments for ATM 2022
posted 11/30/21: LINK TO DOCUMENT
Final Language as of March 7, 2022
Revised Language as of February 8, 2022
Public Hearing #1: January 10, 2022
Public Hearing #2: February 7, 2022
Item 1: Article ##: To see if the Town will vote to amend the Medfield Town Code Chapter 300 Zoning Attachment 1 Table of Use Regulations, by adding the new section in bold as follows:
| Use | A | RE | RT | RS | RU | B | BI | IE |
2 | Public, Semi-Public/Institutional | ||||||||
PROPOSED 2.2.a |
rev 2/7/22: Community facility for the distribution of food and necessities | SPPB | SPPB | SPPB | SPPB | SPPB | PB | PB | PB |
Item 2: Article ##: To see if the Town of Medfield will vote to amend the Town of Medfield Zoning Map, adopted pursuant to Medfield Town Code Chapter 300, Zoning, Section 3.2, by: 1.) locating new Well 3A and adding the 2,000 linear foot dimension as defined by Medfield Zoning Bylaw Article 16.2 definition of Well Protection District and 400’ public well or wellpoint no construction radius per § 300-16.5; and 2.) fixing a display error so that the boundary of the Well Protection District coincides with the 2,000 linear foot dimension as defined by Medfield Zoning Bylaw Article 16.2 definition of Well Protection District.
Existing Zoning Map: LINK
Proposed Zoning Map: LINK
PB review 11/01/21
Zoning Bylaw Amendments for ATM 2021 (May 3, 2021)
03/02/21 - Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments for ATM 2021 as voted out by the Planning Board on March 1, 2021 - FULL TEXT (final)
03/01/21 - Finalize language for proposed zoning bylaw amendments: No edits to items 1-5 and Item 6: PVOD revisions for 03/01/21
02/22/21 - PVOD Working Draft for Review (Redlined Text)
01/20/21 - Documents relating to PVOD Intro to Solar Zoning Guidance Document (MAPC, Jan 21)
- Existing Text of Article 19
- Proposed Text of Article 19
- Redlined Text of Article 19 (existing and proposed language in one document)
01/06/21 - Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments for ATM 2021 - FULL TEXT
Pursuant to the provisions of MGL ch. 40A §5, the Medfield Planning Board will hold a public hearing at 7:35 p.m. on Monday, February 1, 2021, via ZOOM, for the purpose of accepting public comments on the following proposed amendments to the Town of Medfield Zoning By-laws:
- Item 1: Proposed Rezone of 37 Janes Avenue
- Item 2: Article ##: Adult-Only Retail Tobacco Store
- Item 3: Article ##: Food Trucks / Mobile Food Vendors
- Item 4: Article ##: Encroachment Of Decks, Porches, Etc., Into The Required Setback
- Item 5: Article ##: Permitting for Accessory Structures (i.e. Sheds) Under 200 sf
- Item 6: Article ##: Solar Photovoltaic Facilities Overlay District (PVOD)
01/04/21 - Medfield Solar Bylaw & Amendments to Section 300-19 (PVOD)
01/04/21 - Carry-over amendments from ATM 2020 (dropped from warrant due to COVID-19)