In all districts, no existing building or structure shall be externally enlarged to an extent greater than 30% except in conformity with a site plan approval, as defined in Article VII: Site Plan Approval of these bylaws, issued by the Planning Board. This provision applies only to the initial enlargements or additions, regardless of size. The 30% threshold shall be the lesser calculation of the perimeter, area or volume enlargement. Any subsequent additions, regardless of size, shall likewise require site plan approval. This provision shall not apply to single detached dwellings.

In accordance with General Laws c. 40A, and notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, this bylaw shall not prohibit or restrict the use of land or structures for religious purposes or for educational purposes on land owned or leased by the commonwealth, or any of its agencies, subdivisions, or bodies political, or by a religious sect or denomination or by a nonprofit educational corporation.

The purpose of a "buffer zone" shall be to mitigate certain effects of permitted uses in any district upon any abutting lot(s), permitted use(s) or zoning district(s). Buffer zones may incorporate the following elements used either separately or in combination as the approving authority requires: preserved natural vegetation, professionally landscaped tree/plant or natural material, artificial screening/fencing material or other similar items. Nothing in this section shall prohibit or limit other approving authorities from requiring additional materials to be placed in any buffer zone to mitigate the effects of drainage, flooding, contamination or similar acts upon the bordering lot(s) from said lot/development.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this bylaw to the contrary, if a portion of a parcel of land with a building in existence on April 26, 2004, which has street frontage on Route 1A and is located in a B-2 or C-2 District, becomes included within the street layout of Route 1A, whether by means of a governmental taking or by means of a voluntary grant by the owner of such parcel, no violation of the front yard and/or buffer zone requirements of this bylaw shall result, so long as, after such taking or voluntary grant is effected, said parcel with building continues to have at least 75% of the required minimum front yard and at least 50% of the required buffer zone in effect for the district in which the parcel with building is located as of the date the taking is made or the grant is delivered to the appropriate governmental authority.

Land clearing, excavation, gravel removal, or clear cutting of trees in anticipation of any use permitted or authorized by these Zoning Bylaws, bylaws and regulations of the Town of Wrentham and the Planning Board, or laws of the commonwealth, is prohibited prior to issuance of all required approvals, permits, variances, licenses, and authorizations, unless the proposed municipal use or improvement is necessary to comply with the terms of an order issued by a state or federal court or administrative agency, provided that document of a final order is submitted to the Zoning Enforcement Officer no less than 48 hours before the commencement of any related site work. Limited clearing and excavation is permitted to obtain necessary survey and engineering data.

Any use permitted in § 390-4.2: Use Regulation Schedule. or the expansion of any nonconforming use must provide off-street, on-site loading areas and permitted outside storage in accordance with following Subsections A through E.

A. Loading and storage areas must be physically separated from parking areas and driveways.
B. Loading and storage area lighting should be minimal, consistent with safe use. Tall lighting structures should be avoided.
C. Loading and storage areas will be constructed of durable, all-weather material and shall provide sufficient drainage.
D. Loading and storage areas in excess of 5,000 square feet are to be set off by natural, landscaped screening.
E. Loading and storage areas are not to be constructed within front yard, rear yard, or side yard setback areas.

A. No new structure or building may be erected, constructed, established, altered, repaired, enlarged, or moved and no new premises, land, or lot may be put to a new use or occupied except in conformity with these Zoning Bylaws.
B. Construction or operations under a building permit, special permit, site plan approval, or variance shall conform to any subsequent amendment to these Zoning Bylaws unless the use or construction is commenced within six months of issuance of the approval, and in cases involving construction, unless construction is completed within the time limit specified in the approval.

In order to provide for the public interest by the preservation of open space in perpetuity, variations in residential housing development patterns which allow for development more harmonious with natural features and Town growth policies than traditional residential development, to promote the maximum possible protection of open space, visual quality and aquifer and other natural resource protection, and to encourage efficient provision of necessary utilities and community services, the following regulations are established for open space preservation development (OSPD) within the Town of Wrentham. In making any and all determinations under this bylaw, the Planning Board shall always compare the impact of an open space development with potential conventional development, and may approve open space development only if the proposal is superior to a conventional development.

Open space preservation development shall be allowed in all districts, subject to the requirements of this bylaw for such district, and in accordance with the additional requirements specified herein.

A. Any parcel of land located within a zone permitting OSPD containing eight acres or more may be considered for an OSPD, subject to a special permit issued by the Planning Board.
B. After an OSPD application has been submitted, no utility installation, no ditching, no grading of land or lots, no excavation except for purposes of soil testing, no dredging or filling, and no construction of buildings or structures shall be done on any part of the development site until the application has been reviewed and approved as provided by these regulations.
C. No OSPD will be approved within an established single-family residential neighborhood if the Planning Board determines that such land use would have a detrimental effect upon the surrounding property.
D. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant for an OSPD special permit to demonstrate to the Planning Board that this form of land development will be as or more appropriate than conventional patterns of residential subdivision development for the particular site being considered.
E. All dwellings to be built on the site shall be located at least 500 feet from any public ways in existence at the time of submission of the OSPD proposal to the Planning Board. This distance may be reduced by the Planning Board.

A. Detached single-family dwellings, including any accessory uses, as permitted in the Zoning Bylaw for the district in which the land lies.
B. Uses permitted within the common open space as described in these regulations.

A.Density. The total area of the tract proposed for OSPD shall be at least eight acres. The total number of lots that would be normally allowed under a conventional subdivision for the zoning district in which the site is located. The maximum number of lots possible shall be determined by the layout of a preliminary sketch plan showing the total number of lots which could be obtained by utilizing a conventional grid subdivision. The burden of proof shall be upon the applicant. The required minimum tract area, as well as the calculation of the number of lots allowed by a conventional grid subdivision, as specified above shall be exclusive of: B.Reduction of dimensional requirements. The Planning Board may grant a reduction in the dimensional requirements of the underlying zoning regulations for all portions of an OSPD, if the Planning Board finds that such reduction will result in better design, improved protection of natural and scenic resources, and will otherwise comply with these regulations, provided that the percentage of the reduction in minimum lot size and street frontage requirements allowed under this bylaw shall not be greater than an amount equal to the percentage of the total OSPD which is to be set aside for common open space times 1.1. (Explanation: If 30% of the land area is to be set aside for common open space, the Planning Board may grant up to a 33% reduction in the minimum lot size and street frontage requirements.) In no instance shall any lot deviate from the following Table of Minimum Requirements: C. Development standards. Prior to the issuance of a special permit for an OSPD, the Planning Board shall find, and the applicant shall submit the information necessary to demonstrate that the following standards have been met:

A. Within an OSPD, no less than five acres, nor less than 30% of the total land area, shall be devoted to common open space. The common open space shall not include land set aside for roads and/or parking uses. No more than 50% of the common open space may contain land considered as wetland resource areas, other than isolated lands subject to flooding as defined in any regulations promulgated by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to MGL c. 131, § 40, as such regulations or statute may from time to time be amended.
B. The common open space shall be designed and maintained in accordance with the following standards:

A.Common open space in an OSPD shall be conveyed to: 1) the Town of Wrentham for park or open space use; 2) a nonprofit corporation, the principal purpose of which is the conservation of open space; or 3) a corporation or trust owned or to be owned by the owners of lots within the development. It shall be the Planning Board's decision as to which of the above ownership options shall be used. If a corporation or trust owned by the owners of lots is utilized, ownership thereof shall pass with the conveyance of the lots. In any case, where such land is not conveyed to the Town, a perpetual restriction, running to and enforceable by the Town, shall be recorded, provided that such land shall be retained in perpetuity in an open and natural state and shall not be built upon for residential use or developed for accessory uses such as parking or roadways.
B. If the common open space is not to be conveyed to the Town, then the applicant shall include as part of the road covenant a provision that the common open space will be deeded as approved by the Planning Board. In addition, the lots shall not be released until proof of transfer of ownership has been provided to the Planning Board.
C.If the common open space is not to be conveyed to the Town, the application for an OSPD special permit must include a description of how and when the common open space will be preserved in perpetuity to standards satisfactory to the Planning Board and Town Counsel. The applicant shall also provide as part of the common open space proposal an agreement empowering the Town to perform maintenance of the common open space in the event of failure to comply with the program included in the application pursuant to the preceding sentence, provided that, if the Town is required to perform any maintenance work, the owners of lots within the OSPD shall pay the cost thereof and that the cost shall constitute a lien upon their properties until said cost has been paid. The Conservation Commission shall act as the Town's land manager in overseeing the management of the common open space land.
D. Forms of all documents necessary to convey or restrict the common open space shall be submitted to the Planning Board for approval prior to the close of the public hearing. Failure to provide forms satisfactory to the Planning Board and Town Counsel shall be grounds for denial of the permit.

This article establishes the comprehensive regulations and conditions under which signs are permitted in the Town of Wrentham in accordance with the powers permitted set forth in MGL c. 40A and MGL c. 93, § 29. It is intended that these regulations shall act as guidelines for the protection of the visual environment of the Town; the safety, convenience, and welfare of the public.

A. Signs bearing noncommercial messages shall be allowed in all districts and are subject to the rule that no sign shall be posted more than 30 days in advance of the date of the subject to which it refers and shall be removed within seven days of the subject to which it refers, if the subject matter (issue) is of topical/temporal matter. (No permit required.)
B. Residential Districts (R-30, R-43 and R-87). Noncommercial signs in residential districts, excluding those permitted by § 390-18.4A, shall be no more than 14 square feet in area.
C. Business (B-1) and Commercial (C-1 and C-2) Districts. The provisions of § 390-18.5A notwithstanding, noncommercial signs in business and commercial districts shall be governed by the same size and setback restrictions which govern commercial signs permitted by § 390-18.5B through D.

A. Residential uses (No permit required.): B. Signs identifying other lawful or lawfully nonconforming uses: C. One nonilluminated sign for an approved accessory use (home occupation business or bed-and-breakfast), not to exceed eight square feet in area and located on the lot.
D. Permitted antique, secondhand, junk dealers shops are allowed one nonilluminated sign, not to exceed eight square feet in area.
E. One freestanding sign for each Town-owned community facility or other nonprofit facility, not to exceed 14 square feet and located on the lot; and one wall, projecting, or roof sign, not to exceed eight square feet in area.
F. One freestanding sign for each public road frontage of a Town conservation area, not to exceed 14 square feet in area and located on the lot.
G. A sign denoting the name of a way may be placed at the intersection of a public way and a private way and/or at the intersection of two nonposted private ways. Said sign shall not exceed one square foot in area; if more than one sign is necessary at such intersections, then all such signs shall be affixed to a single sign post, frame, structure, or other support. (No permit required.)
H.Public safety, informational, street and highway signs may be placed by the Board of Selectmen, Department of Public Works (DPW), Chief of Police, Fire Chief or School Committee. In addition, those boards or commissions where the majority of the members are appointed by the Board of Selectmen may cause signs to be placed, upon written approval of the Board of Selectmen. Wherever possible, the placement, size, type, construction of said sign shall be in the spirit and harmony of the regulations contained in this article. The repair and maintenance shall be at all times in conformance with this article. (No permit required.)
Note: Signs of a permanent nature placed on Town-owned land may require a public hearing in accordance with the provisions contained in the Town bylaws.
I. Site plan approval. Wherever site plan approval is required, it will include review and approval of sign; location, type, size, use and illumination plus any other criteria deemed appropriate by the approving authority.

A. Any sign permitted in the Residential Districts (R-30, R-43 and R-87) and subject to the same provisions.
B. In general, two signs are permitted for each business in a Business or Commercial District. For businesses that have frontage on more than one public way, one additional freestanding sign of not more than 1/2 the square-foot area of the first freestanding sign is permitted, but must be placed at least 200 feet away from the first sign. Freestanding signs shall be set back at least 20 feet from any lot line.
C. A single business on a single lot in a B-1 District is permitted one freestanding sign, not to exceed 10 square feet; and either one wall, projecting, roof, or awning sign not to exceed eight square feet. If a freestanding sign is not used, then the total square-foot area of the other sign shall not exceed 18 square feet. In a C-1 District, signs may be increased by 50% in size. Freestanding signs shall be set back at least 20 feet from any lot line.
D. Sign permitted for row commercial and planned business developments (more than one business on a single lot):




E. Site plan approval. Wherever site plan approval is required, it will include review and approval of signs; location, type, size, use and illumination. The Planning Board shall have the authority to vary the terms of this Article XVIII: Sign Regulations in connection with the granting of any site plan approval upon finding that such variance shall not be detrimental to the intent of § 390-18.1: Purpose and intent.

A. A sign denoting the name of a way may be placed at the intersection of a public way and a private way and/or at the intersection of two nonposted private ways. Said sign shall not exceed one square foot in area and, if more than one sign is necessary at such intersections, then all such signs shall be affixed to a single sign post, frame structure, or support.
B. Signs indicating name of resident(s) or activity are not permitted.
C. Signs are permitted at the intersections of public ways which service commercial areas, lawfully nonconforming businesses in residential areas, or Town community facilities.

A. No sign shall be in excess of 15 feet in height.
B. No sign shall be constructed in a manner that obstructs public passage. Freestanding signs located at a corner shall have at least six feet of vertical clearance from the ground to the bottom of the sign, to allow for a line of sight through the sign. This area shall not be blocked with plantings or the like.

A.Changeable-copy signs. When necessary to inform the public of changing events, activities, dates, times, and other matters of important interest; the Sign Inspector may issue a permit for a changeable-copy sign not to exceed eight square feet in area for a period of up to 14 days. No person(s) and/or group shall receive an additional permit prior to 30 days after the last permit granted to said person(s) and/or group. Permits may be granted without a waiting period to different users of a sign with common ownership; e.g., rental firm. Signs must be legible and in good repair at all times. Signs may be located either on-premises or off-premises.
B. Accessory signs. Accessory signs are permitted. Total area cannot exceed seven square feet. No one sign can exceed six square feet in area. Must be on-premises only.
C.Directional, informational, or safety signs. In addition to the other permitted signs, directional, warning or traffic signs necessary for the safety and convenience of residents, customers, employees, and visitors are permitted in all areas. Signs shall not exceed one square foot in area, and a maximum of four will be allowed per site. The Sign Inspector may grant exceptions to this subsection on a case-by-case basis if he finds that the site requires more or larger signs. May be located either on-premises or off-premises. In addition, any SPGA may specify a larger sign during the site plan approval process. (No permit required.)
D.Inflatable sign. Permits for inflatable signs shall issue subject to the same regulations as for changeable-copy signs (Subsection A), except that total surface area cannot exceed 32 square feet and must be on-premises. The applicant shall state the size (dimensions) of the sign as follows: total surface area, maximum height of principal structure and length of any supports/tethers and, if the sign is to be flown above the ground, the height at which it is to be elevated, in the unit of measure specified.
E. Temporary signs. Temporary signs cannot be used for more than 90 days (except subdivision lot plan signs, which shall be removed within 30 days from the date of the last lot being sold), but temporary signs are permitted in all zones; some may require a permit from the Sign Inspector. The sign shall be removed at the end of the period unless a renewal application has been approved. The Sign Inspector shall ensure that signs shall be legible. F. Signs shall be removed within seven days of issuance of occupancy permit or transfer of ownership. G.Illumination of signs. If signs are illuminated, it shall be done so by an external or direct light source. Light bulbs or tubes shall not be visible to the motoring public from a public way. Signs may also be illuminated by internal lighting (indirect lighting), provided that the light source is shielded and focused not to extend beyond sign border. At no time shall the lighting of any sign constitute a safety hazard or a public nuisance. Directional signs, internally lighted, are permitted when not in excess of two square feet in area. No illumination of a sign shall interfere with an abutter's use of his property.
H. Animated and/or flashing signs. Animated and/or flashing signs or signs with beacons attached are prohibited.
I. Mailboxes. Numerals identifying street numbers and/or letters naming the occupant of a building may be placed on both sides of a mailbox or on a door; letters not to exceed 2.5 inches in height, numerals not to exceed four inches in height. Advertising on mailboxes is not permitted.
J. Banners or flags. The use of banners or flags to call attention to a business or activity are prohibited, unless determined to be an accessory sign by the Sign Inspector. Banners used for Town festivals are permitted. The use of established governmental flags is allowed, provided the use is consistent with the established standards of display and the intent is to demonstrate "patriotic" support for that governmental unit. The area of any governmental flags displayed shall not be included in the total square footage allowed at a site for signs. Flag-type signs for accessory use is permitted in accordance with the regulation for accessory signs.

A. Enforcement, permits, and penalty. B. Signs not complying with this article. C.Maintenance. A sign shall be maintained in a safe and secure manner and in a good state of repair, including paint or surface material. If the Sign Inspector finds that a sign does not comply with this (maintenance) section of this article, written notice of noncompliance and the reasons therefor shall be sent, by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person or persons to whom the permit was issued. If the specified defects in the sign have not been corrected or the sign removed within 30 days, the Sign Inspector shall revoke the permit and shall notify the person(s) to whom the permit was issued that the sign is now in violation of this article and must be removed.
D. Abandoned signs. When the Sign Inspector finds that a sign has been abandoned, whether or not a permit has been issued, written notice ordering its removal shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested: E. Removal of abandoned signs or signs in violation of this article. If a sign on public property is not removed within 21 days of issuance of an order, the Sign Inspector shall remove or arrange for the removal of the sign. The sign shall be stored by the Sign Inspector in a safe location for 60 days, after which time it may be appropriately disposed of. Any costs incurred shall be borne by the sign owner.
F. Appeals. Any individual aggrieved by a decision of the Sign Inspector may appeal to the Wrentham Zoning Board of Appeals as provided under MGL c. 40A.
G. Severability. Should any provision of the article be held invalid, such provision shall be considered severable and such invalidity shall not affect the remainder of the provisions herein.
H. As part of any site plan approval application for a project in a Business or Commercial Zone, the Planning Board shall have the authority to waive strict compliance with the terms and provisions of Article XVIII: Sign Regulations, provided such waiver will not be detrimental to the intent of § 390-18.1: Purpose and intent.; provided, further, that the Planning Board shall have no authority to grant by waiver an off-premises sign located in any Residential District in Town.

The Wrentham Housing Authority shall be exempt from the minimum lot size requirements of Article III: Zoning Districts and the area, width, front, side, rear yard setback requirements and the open space provisions of Article VI: Development Regulations. The Housing Authority shall comply with all other zoning requirements and is limited to development in Zoning Districts R-30, R-43, R-87. Any development proposal by the Housing Authority shall be subject to site plan approval by the Planning Board under Article VII: Site Plan Approval.