HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-04-22August 30, 1978
Boston, Massachusetts
The foregoing amendments to zoning by-laws adopted
under Articles 68 and 70'of the warrant for the
North Andover Annual Town Meeting held April 22, 1978,
are hereby approved.
TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER
DAS~ Lo~o, Town ~lerk
SLEC'I'IOlV DEPARTMENT
TOW~ BUILDING
No~ ~OVER, MASS. 0184~
Hbnorable Francis X. Bellotti.
ARTICLE 70. (Con't)
Under the aforesaid ARTICLE 70 it was voted unanimous, to adopt the article
ae amended.
A. Amend Sections 2.68. 2.69 and 2.70 as so renumbered by adding "(setbacks)" after
the phases defined thereby.
B. Section 4.130 (6) change to read as follows: "Public service corporation and
energy or resource recovery facility."
C. Section 6.1 (2) amend by striking therefrom the phrase "otherwise by the Board
of Appeals" and inserting in place thereof the phrase "otherwise by the provi-
sions of a variance granted by the Board of Appeals."
D. Section 6.4 strike from the last sentence the words "Permission of" and insert
in place thereof the words "~ variance granted by."
All requtrementsof the law have been complied with.
ATTEST:
TOWN CLERK
FRANI]I~ X, BI'L, LnlTI
ATTOR NE:y GII:N £RAL,
The COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
DEPARTMENT OF.~THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
JOHN Wo MO OORMAGK rotate OF'FlOE IllUlLOINI3
ONE: A~HIIURTON FI. AGE, lOmTON O~IOG
August 30, 1978
Daniel Long
Town Clerk
Town Hall
North Andover, Massachusetts 01845
Dear Mr. Long:
I enclose the amendments to zoning by-laws adopted
under Articles 68 and 70 of the warrant for the North
Andover Annual Town Meeting held April 22, 1978, with
the approval of the Attorney General endorsed thereoh.
Very truly yours,
Assistant Attorney General
By-Laws Division
HFO'C/alg
Enclosure
hRTICLE: 68
Amendments to the Zoning ~ByiLaw
April 22, 1978
Section I amend by adding after the ,,Commonwealth of Massachus-
etts:'' as ameDded by Chg~ter 808, Acts of 9975 and as they may
be further amended,'"---
2. By changing the designation of the concluding paragraph, of Sec-
tion ~ from "9'" to "91" and by inserting before it the following
new paragraph: "9, controling the use of bodies of water, includ-
ing watercourses?
5- Amend Section 2.59 by inserting the words: "The Planning Board
shall act as the Special Permit Granting Authority dealing with
Cluster Development, Planned Development District and the Water-
shed District as authorized by Section 1 of Chapter ~OA."'
4. Section 2.62 amend by Striking therefrom, the phrase "...Special
Permit granted as an exception under Section 4..." and inserting
thereof, the phrase "...a permit granted under the guidelines
of Section 9---"
5- Amend by adding a new: "Section 2.65 Special Permit Granting
Authority? The Planning Board shall be the granting authority
of all special permits to Cluster Development,' Plaq~ed Develop-
ment District and the Watershed District. The Board of Select-
men shall be the granting authority of all special permits per-
taining to non-accessory signs as specified in Section 6.52 ef
this by-law. The Board of Appeals shall be the granting authority
of all Other special perm'its allowed in this zoning by-law.
Renumber the sections following this section accordingly."
6. Section 2.63 Amend by striking therefrom the words, "Board of
Appeals" and inserting thereof, the words, "the appropriate
Special Permit Granting Authority."
Section 4.128 amend by adding:
7'(8)(a) Farming of field crops and row crops, truck gardens, orchards,
plant nurseries, and greenhouses.
(b) On any lot of at least five (5) acres, the keeping of a total
of not more than five (5) of any kind or assortment of animals
or birds in addition to the household pets of a family living
on such lot, and for each additional acre of lo~ size to nine
(9) acres the keeping of one additional animal or bird; but
not the keeping of'any animals, birds, or pets~of persons not
resident on such lot.
(c) On any lot of'at least ten (IO) acres, the keeping of any
number of animals or birds regardless of ownership and the
operation of equestrian riding academies, stud farms~ dairy
farms, and poultry batteries.
(d) The sale of products raised as a result of the above uses on
the subject land.
Section ~.939 amend by adding:
8il2)(a) Farming of field crops and row crops, truck gardens, orchards,
plant nurseries, and greenhouses, t ~
(b) On any lot at l~ast three (3) acres, the keeping of not more
than three (3) of any kind or assortment of animals or birds
in addition to the household'pets of.a family living on such
lot, and for each additional acre of lot size to nine (9)
acres the keeping of one additional animal or bird; but not
the keeping of any animals, birds~ or pets of persons not
resident on such lot.
(c) O~ any. lot of at least ten (lO) acres, the keeping of
number of animals or birds regardless of ownership and the
operation of equestrian riding academies, stables, stud
farms, dairy farms, and poultry batteries.
(d) The sales"of products raised as a result of the above.uses.
on the subject land.
Section 5.1 (7) strike therefrom "offense, and Two Hundred ($200.00)
dollars for" and substitute the word "and."
Section 6.8 (3) Strike out the concluding thirty seven words of the
section and insert in place therof the words "...five years from
the date of endorsement of the definitive plan by the Planning Board."
Amend Section 8.4 by inserting after the final word "permitted," the
words "...by a special permit or otherwise by the North Andover Board
of Appeals. Pre-existing non-conforming structures or uses, however,
maybe extended or altered, provided that no such extension or alter-
ation shall be permitted unless there is a finding .by the Board of
Appeals, that such change, extension or alteration shall not be. sub-
stantially more detrimental than the existing non-conforming use
to the neighborhood."
Amend Section 8.2 (4) by deleting in its entirety and inserting
thereof the words, "Such change shall be approved by a special per-
mit or otherwise by the Board of Appeals,"
Amend Section 8.3 by inserting after the word "permitted" in the
final phrase of this section, the following conclusion: "by a
special permit or otherwise by the Board of Appeals acting under
G.L. Chapter ~OA."
Section 9.1 Amend by adding after the second sentence thereof the
following sentence: "if the Building ~nspector is so informed in
writing and declines to act~'he shall within fourteen (4it) days of
his receipt of such information give to his informant, in writing,
his reasons for refraining from taking any action."
Section 9.2 Strike the concluding sections of this entire Zoning
By-law and insert in place thereof the following:
9.2 BOARD OF APPEALS
9.24 APPOINTMENT AND ORGANIZATION
There shall be a Board of Appeals of five Members.and not more
than three Associates Members, which shall have and ~xercise all
the powers provided under G.L. Chapter 40A~ and which shall hear
and dec~de all matters specifically referred to the Board of Appeals
by the North Andover Zoning By-law and other matters referred to
such Board by statute. The Board of'Appeals Members'and Associate
Members shall be appointed by the Selectmen in the manner provided
by statute.~
Within two (2) weeks of the beginning of each calendar year, the
Zoning Board of Appeals shall organize and elect a Chairman and
clerk from within its o~n membership.
The length of terms of the members of the Board of Appeals shall
be such that the term of one member expires each year. A member
of the Board of Appeals may be removed for cause by the Board of
Selectmen only after written charges have been made and a public
hearing has been held.
Vacancies caused by dismissal,'resignation, death or any other
cause~ shall be filled in the same manner as Zoning Board of
Appeals members are appointed.
~9.22 POWERS OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS
The Board of Appeals shall have the following powers:
~t To hear and decide actions and appeals as provided herein.
,To hear ~nd decide applications for appropriate special
permits and variances which the Board of Appeals is required
to act upon under this By-law2
9.3 SPECIAL PERMIT '
The Special Permit Granting Authority shall adopt rules and
regulations for the conduct of its business relative to the
issuance of special permits. A copy of these rules and reg-
ulations shall be filed with the Town Clerk. The rules and
regulations shall contain, as a minimum, a description of the
size, form, con-tents, style and number of copies and number of
plans and specifications to be submitted and the procedures
for submission and approval of special permits.
The Special Permit Granting Authority may grant a Special
Permit within the framework of this By-law only after holding
a public hearing which must be held within sixty five (65)
days after the applicant files for such Special Permit. The s~t'y-five
$~ day period shall be deemed to have begun with the filing of
~he application with the Special .Permit Granting Authority.
The applicant is responsible for transmitting a copy of the
application for a special permit within twenty four (2~) hours
of the filing of the application with the Planning Board or the
Board of Selectmen to the Town Clerk. 'If an application for
a special permit is to be filed with the Board of '~ppeals, the applicant
shall file the application with the Town Clerk, who shall transmit the app~li~ation
~o the Board of Appeals within ~Wen~y-four (24) hours.
9.31 CONDITION FOR APPROVAL OF SPECIAL PEPd~T
(1) The Special Permit Granting Authority shall not approve any
such application for a Special Permit unless it finds that
in its ~udgement all the following conditions are met:
(a) The specific site is an appropriate location for suc~ a
use, structure or condition.
(b) The use as developed will not adversely affect the neigh-
borhood.
(c) There will be no nuisance or serious hazard to vehicles'~'
or pedestrians.
(d) Adequate and appropriate facilities will be provided for
the proper operation of the proposed use.
(e) The Special Permit Granting Authority shall not grant any
Special Permit unless they make a specific finding that the
use is in harmony with the general purpose and intent of
this by-law.
(2) In approving a Special Permit, the Special Permit Granting
Authority may attach~such conditions and safeguards as are
deemed necessary to protect the neighborhood suc$ as but not
limited to the following:
(a) Requirements of front, side or rear yards greater th~n the
minimum required by this by-law.
(b) Requirements of screening parking areas or other parts of the
premises from adjoining premises or from the street, by
walls~ fences, planting, or other devices as specified by the
Special Permit Granting Authority.
(c) Mod~,fica~lon of the exterior features or appearances of the
structure.
(d) Limitation of size, number of occupants, method or time of
operation, or extent of facilities.
(e) Regulation %f number, design, and location of access drives
or other traffic features.
(3) Special permit granted under the provisions contained herein
shall be deemed to have lapsed after a two-year period from
the date on whic~ the special permit was granted unless sub-
stantial use or construction has commenced. If the applicant
can show good cause why substantial use or construction has
not commenced within the two-year period, the Special Permit
Granting Authority, at its discretion may extend the special
permit for an additional one year period. Included within,
the two-year period stated above, is the time required to pursue
or wait the determination of an appeal from the provision of
this by-law.
(4) The Special Permit Granting Authority may, within the guidelines
for special permits contained herein, allow accessory uses
whether located on the same lot as the principal use or not,
wherever necessary in connection with scientific research~'
scientific development or related production provided that the
Special Permit Granting Authority finds thatthe proposed ac-
cessory use does not substantially derogate from the public good.
(5) Within ninety (90) days 'following the date of the public hearing,
the Special Permit Granting Authority shall take final action
in the matter in order to issue any special permit provided for
in this zoning by-law, there shall be at least four of the five
members of the granting authority ~oting in favor of issuing
the special permit.
(6) A special permit granted under the provisions of this by-law
shall not take effect until: (a) the Town Clerk certifies on
a copy of the decision that twenty (20) days have elapsed witha
out filing of an appeal or that any appeal filed has been dis-
missed or denied. (b) The certified decision has been recorded
at the owners expense in the Essex CountY Registry ~f Deeds,
indexed in the grant or index under the name of the record owner,
and noted on the owners, certificate of title. (c) If the special
permit involves registered property, the decision, at the owners
q expense, shall also be filed with the recorder of the laud court.
(7) The Special Permit Granting Authority shall cause to be made a
detailed record of its proceedings indicating the vote of each
member upon each question, or i£ absent or failing to vote,
indicating such fact, and setting forth .clearly, the reason or
reasons for its decision of its official actions, copies of all
which shall be filed within fourteen (l~) days in the office of
the Town Clerk and shall be a public record. Notice of the
decision shall be mailed forthwith to the petitioner o~applicant,
to the parties in interest designated herein, and to every person
present at the hearing who requested that notice be sent to him
and stated the address to which such notice was ~o be sent. Each
notice shall specify that appeals, if.any,shall be made pursuan~
as to Section 17 of Chapter ~OA and shall be filed within twenty (20)
days after the date of filing of such notice in the office of the
Town Clerk. The decision shall also contain the names and addresses
of the owner and identification of the land and/or structures ~.-~
affected (if a variance procedure -.how the variance complies
with the statutory requirements for issuing~variance). "Certi-
fied copies of the decision shall be filed with the appropriate
~ ~pec~l Permit Granting Authority and the Town Clerk.
9.32 TEMPORARY PERMIT
The Board of Appeals may grant a temporary special permit
for'use or ocou. pancy permi.t for a period of not more than one
year at a time, subject to a singlerenewal. Such permits
shall be subject to conditions imposed by the Board related to
safeguarding the character of the district affected and shall
be processed in ~gcordance with the procedures provided herein
for the granting of Special Permits. ~
9.4 VARIANCES AND APPEALS
The Zoning Board of Appeals shall have the power upon appeal
to grant variances from the terms of this zoning by-law where
the Board finds that owing to circumstances relating to soil
conditions, slope, or topography of the land or structures and
especially affecting such land or structurgs bub not affecting
generally the zoning district in general, a literal enforcement
of the provisions of this by-law will involve substantial hard-
ship, financial or otherwise, to the petitioner or applicant~
and that 'desirable relief may be granted without substantial
detriment to the public good and without nullifying or substan-
tlally derogating from the intent or purpose of this by-law.
Additionally, an appeal may be taken to the Zoning Board of
Appeals as provided herein by a person aggrieved by reason of
his inability to obtain a permit or ~nforcementaction from the
Building Inspector, by the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission,
or by any person including an officer or Board of the Town of
North Andover, or an abutting city or town, aggrieved by any
order or decision' of the Building Inspector or other administra-
tive officials in violation of any provisions of this by-law.
Any petition for an appeal above, must be taken within thirty
(30) days of the date of the order or decision is being appealed,
by filing a notdce of appeal, specifying the grounds thereof
with the Town Clerk~ who shall forthwith transmit copies of the
appeal to such officer or board, whose order or decision is being
appealed, and to.the Zoning Board of Appeals. Such officer or
Board shall forthwith transmit to the Zoning Board of Appeals ~
all documents and paper'~onstituting the records of the~case ~
which the qppeal is taken.
(~) No petition for a variance or appeal shall be granted until
a public hearing is held on-the matter by the Zoning Board
of Appeals within sixty five (65) days after the Zoning
Board of Appeals receives the petition from the Town Clerk.~
(2) The Zoning Board of Appeals must make its decision on a
petition for a variance or appeal within seventy five (75)
days after the date of the petition is filed with the Town
Clerk. In order to grant a petition for a variance or an
appea~, four of the five memb~rs~of the Board must concur.
If the Zoning Board of Appeals fails to act within the time
limits specified herein, the petition for a variance o~ appeal
shall be deemed granted.
(a) In the case of a variance, the Zoning Board of Appeals may
impose conditions, safeguardsand limitations of time and
use, however, these conditions cannot require continued owner-
ship of the land or structure to which the variance pertains
by the applicant, petitioner or owner. Furthermore, if the
rights huthorized by the variance are not exercised within
one year of the date of the grant, they shall lapse and
may be reestablisbed only after notice and a new hearing.
(3) The Zoning Board of Appeals shall cause to be made a detailed
record of. its proceedings indicating the vote of each member
upon each 'question, or if absent or failing to vote,'indicat-
ing such fact, and setting forth clearly, the reason, or reasons,
for its decisionL.and of its official actions, copies of all
which shall be filed within fourteen (l~) days in the office
of the Town ~lerk-and shall be a public record. Notice of
the decision shall be mailed forthwith to the petitioner, app-
licant or appellant, to the parties in interest designated
herein, and to every person present at the hearing who requested
that notice be sent to him and stated the address to which
such notice was to be sent. Each notice shall specify that
appeals, if any, shall be made pursuant to Section 17 of Chapter
4OA and shall be filed within twenty (20) days after the date
of filing of such notice in the office of the Town Clerk.
The decision shall also contain the names and addresses of the
owner, and identification of the land and/or structure affected
(if a'variance procedure - how. the variance complies with the
statutory requirements for issuing a variance). Certification
that copies of the decision~have been filed with the Planning
Board and Town Clerk are required.
9-5 AMENDmeNTS TO ZONING'BY-LAW
This by-law shall be adopted and shall be amended from time
to time by a two-thirds vote at an annual or special town meeting.
Amendments to this by-law may be initiated by submission of the
amendment to the Board of Selectmen by any of the foil?wing: A) Board
of Selectmen; B) Zoning Board of Appeals; C) by an individual own~
lng land to be affected by the amendment, D) by request of registered
voters of the Town pursuant to Section 10 Chapter 39 of the Mass.
General Laws; E) by the Planning Board; F) by the Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission.
9.51 SUBMISSION OF AMENDMENT TO PLANNING BOARD
Within fourteen (14) days of the receipt of an application.
for an am~endment to this by-law, the Board of Selectmen shall-
submit the proposed amendment to the Planning Board for review.
The Planning Board shall hold a public hearing on any North
Andover Town Meeting warrant article to amend the Zoning By-law
or the zoning map and shall report its recommendations theron, if
any, to the Town Meeting.'
Each warrant article to change the zoning map shall explicitly
state the nature, extent and location of the map change proposed
and shall be accompanied by:
(1) Three blackline prints of a diagram to scale showing and stating
clearly the dimensions in fe~t of the land area proposed to be
changed as to'zone.
(2) Also a sketch or other exTlicit identification of the location
of such land in relat~ion to the majority of the rest of the town.
9.52 Pb~L!C HEARINGS
Within sixty-five (65) days after receipt of a proposed amend
ment~from the Board of Selectmen~' or within sixty five (65) days
after the re9eipt of an application for a special permit; the
'Plan~ing Board or the Zoning Board of Appeals, as the case may
be, shall hold a public hearing, notice of which shall be pub-
lished in a newspaper of general circulation covering the Town
once dn each of two successive weeks. The first publication
may not be less than fourteen-(l~) days before ~the day of the
hearing, (the~date of the public hearing shall not be counted.
in the fourteen (l#) days).
Additionally,, notification of the public hearing shall be
posted in a conspicuous place in the N6rth Andover Town Hall
for a period of not less than fourteen (~) days before the
date of the hearing. Further, notification of the public hear-
ing shall be sent to the Massachusetts Department of Community
Affairs, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, Planning Board
of all abutting cities and towns prior to public hearing date.
Notice of the public hearing shall include: l) the time and
place of hearing, 2) the subject matter, 3) place where texts
and maps may be inspected.
9.55 REPORTBY PLANNING BOARD
No vote to adopt the proposed amendment shall be taken by
the town meeting until the report with recommendations by the
Planning Board has been submitted to the Town Meeting or until
twenty one .(~2~) days after said hearing has elapsed without sub-
mission Of said reports Or submissions. After such notice, hear-
ing and report, or after twenty one (2~) days shall have lapsed
after such hearing, without submission of such report, the Town
Meeting (annual or specified) may adopt, reject, or amend any
such proposed amendment.
9.54 FAILURE TO ADOPT
If the Town Meeting fails to vote to adopt any proposed by-
law amendment within six months after the hearing described
heretofore no action shall be taken thereon until after a sub-
sequent public hearing is held with notice and report as hereto-
fore provided.
'9.55 REPETtTIVEPETITION
If any proposed by-l~w amendment thereto is acted upcn un-
favorably by the Town Meeting (annual or special) it shall not
be acted upon again for a period of two years from the date of
the unfavorable action unless the Planning Board recommended in
favor of the petition in the report.
9.56 PROCEDURAL DEFECTS
In.accordance with Chapter 40A no claim or invalidity of
this by-law or any amendment to this by-law arising out of a
possible defect in the procedure of adoption or amendment shall
be made in any legal proceeding and no state, regional, county
or municipal officer, shall refuse, deny or revoke any permit,
approval or certificate because of anylsuch claim of invalidity
unless such claim is~made Within one hundred twenty (~20) days
after the adoption of the by-law or amendment.
Notice specifying the court, parties, invalidity claim, and
date of filing is filed together with a copy of the petition,
with the Town Clerk within seven (7) days after commencement of
the action.
9.57 EFFECT OF SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS
Tn the case of amendments to this by-law or changes in the
districts or the boundaries subsequent to the date this by-law
becomes effective, the right to continue the use or maintenance
of any building, structure or premises which was lawful when
such amendments or change became effective shall not be impaired
by any such amendment or change, except as provided by statue,
specifically: that construction or operations under a building
permit or special' permit shall conform to any subsequent amend-
ment unless the use or construction is commenced within a period
of not less than six months after the issuance of the permit,
(the date of issuance shall be considered to be date on which
the building permit was issued or in the case of a special per-
mit, the date on which the Planning Board voted final action)
and in cases involving construction, unless such construction
through completion as continuously and expeditiously as is
reasonable.
9.6 CONFLICT OF LAWS
In general, this By-law is supplementary to other North Andover
By-laws affecting the use, height, area and location of buildings
and structures and the use of premises. Where this By-law im-
poses a greater restriction upon the use, height, area and loca'
tion of buildings.and structures and the use of premises than
is imposed by other By-laws, the provisions' of this By-law shall
control.
9.7 VALIDITY
The invalidity of any section or provision of this By-law
shall not invalidate any other section or provision thereof.
9.8 REPETITIVE PETITIONS
When 4) the Planning Board denies an application for a
special permit or 2) the Board of Appeals denies a petition
or a variance; no application on the same matter may be heard
and acted favorably upon for a two year period unles~ the foll-
owing conditions are met:
tn the case of 4) above, four of the'five members of the
Planning Board find that these arc'specific and material changes
in the conditions upon which the previous unfavorable action
was based, and describes such changes in the records of its
proceedings, and only after a public hearing.at which such
consent will be considered and after notice ms given to parties
in interest.
In the case of 2) above, the Zoning Board of Appeals may
not act favorably upon a petition which has been previously
denied wiShin a two year period of time unless four of five
of the meJbers of the zoning Board of Appeals find that there
are specific and material changes in the conditions upon Which
the previous unvabor~ble action was based and describes such
changes in the records of its proceedings and only after a
public hearing, held by the Planning Board at which consent
allow the petitioner to repetition the Zoning Board of Appeals
will be considered and after notice is given to parties of
interest and only with four of the five members of the Planning
Board vbting to grant consent..
'9~ WI~HDRAVAL WITHOUT PREJUDICE
Any petition for a variance which has been transmitted to
the Zondng Board of Appeals or any application for a special
permit which has been transmitted to the Planning Board may
by withdrawn, without prejudice by the petitioner prior to the
publication of notice a pdblic hearing thereon, but thereafter
be withdrawn without prejudice only with approval (majority
vote) of the Zoning Board of Apoeals or Planning Board respec-
tively. ,, -
AMENDMENT~ TO THE ZONING BY-LAW APRIL 22, 1 978
AR~iCLE 70.
~A. Amend Sections 2.68, 2.69 ar%d 2.70 as so renumbered by addin~t(s~tbacks)~fter
the phrases defined thereby.
!~. Section 4.730 (6) change to read as follows: "Public service corporation and
energy or resource recovery facility."
Section 6.1 (2) amend by striking therefrom the phrase "otherwise by the Board
of Appeals" and inserting in place thereof the phrase "otherwise by the provi-
sions of a variance granted by the Board of Appeals."
Section 6.4 strike from the last sentence the words "permission of" and insert
in place thereof the words "a variance granted by."