Town of Wrentham - General Requirements

Additions and enlargements

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.

Basic requirements

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.

Buffer zones

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.

A. No parking area or any cleared surface, paved or not, including ingress/egress way(s), on any lots in any Retail Business (B) or Commercial Industrial (C) Zoning Districts shall be located closer than a minimum distance specified by the approving authority to any property line that separates the subject lot in said zoning districts from any lot line(s) in all Residential (R) Zoning Districts. Such minimum distance shall constitute a "buffer zone", which shall be preserved in a natural state, or landscaped with either natural or a combination of natural and artificial screening/fencing materials or other similar items, as required by the approving authority.

B. Minimum distances.

(1) Minimum distance - "buffer zone":

(a) Retail Business District 1 (B-1): 50 feet.
(b) Retail Business District 2 (B-2): 100 feet.
(c) Commercial Industrial (C) District: 75 feet.
(d) Route 1 North (C-1N), Route 1 South (C-1S) District: 75 feet.
(e) Commercial - 3: 100 feet

(2) The approving authority may require a greater minimum distance to further mitigate the effects of the probable noise levels, hours of operation, exterior artificial lighting, intensity of development of the subject lot and use, and any other directly relevant factors. In no case shall the increased minimum distance be greater than a factor of 2, unless said increased minimum distance is agreed to mutually without duress by the applicant.

C.Site plan. As part of the site plan and/or special permit approval process, the approving authority may require either suitable full or partial perimeter buffer zones between bordering lots and/or uses, located in either the same zoning district or in an abutting nonresidential district. The approving authority shall indicate the need, minimum distance and nature of any required buffer zone in its decision. In no case shall any buffer zone be greater than that distance specified in Subsection B for the appropriate district in which the lot/use is located.

Front yard and buffer zone compliance exemption

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 in anticipation of use

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.

Loading areas and outside storage requirements

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.

New construction and new uses

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.

Open Space Preservation Development

Purpose

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.

Applicability

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.

General requirements

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.

For more information on permitted uses, minimum requirements, use and design standards, and ownership and management, see Article XVII: Open Space Preservation Development

For more information on Application Requirements and Review Procedures, see Open Space Preservation Development on the Procedures page.

Sign Regulations - Nonresidential On-premises signs permitted in Business (B-1 and B-2) and Commercial (C-1 and C-2), Route 1 (C-1N and C-1S) and Village Zone (VZA and VZB) Districts.

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, Commercial, Route 1 or Village Zone 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 or VZA Districts are 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, C-1N, C-1S or VZB 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):

(1) Multiple business or activities on a single lot may establish one freestanding sign for the complex according to the following Table 18.5D(1):

Frontage (feet)	Size of Sign (square feet)
Up to 160	20
Over 160	40

(a) Freestanding signs shall be set back at least 20 feet from any lot line. 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.
(b) On lots with 320 feet frontage and over, two freestanding signs, not less than 160 feet apart, each not to exceed 40 square feet, are permitted. Freestanding signs shall be set back at least 20 feet from any lot line.

(2) Each business is permitted one wall, projecting, roof, or awning sign. The square-foot area of said sign shall be dependent upon its distance from the center line of the nearest public way according to the following Table 18.5D(2):

Distance (feet)	Size of sign (square feet)
Less than 50	6 is permitted
More than 50	8 is permitted
More than 100	10 is permitted

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.

Sign Regulations - Residential On-premises signs permitted in Residential Districts (R-30, R-43 and R-87).

A. Residential uses (No permit required.):

(1) One sign per lot which displays the name of the house or the names of the people residing therein and the Assessor's residence number or street/road/lane/way number, not to exceed two square feet in area on each side and located on the lot; or
(2) Two signs not to exceed two square feet in area placed on either side of an entrance drive and located on the lot; or
(3) One quarterboard sign attached to a building or fence, not to exceed six square feet in area.

B. Signs identifying other lawful or lawfully nonconforming uses:

(1) One double-faced sign which displays the name of the activity or business conducted therein, said sign not to exceed six square feet on each side and located on the lot; or
(2) A quarterboard sign or other sign attached to a building; said sign not to exceed 12 square feet in area.

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 Select Board, 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 Select Board may cause signs to be placed, upon written approval of the Select Board. 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.

Wrentham Housing Authority

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.

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