11.d.NorthamptonZonngEXTRACT-MixedUseBYRIGHTZONING
350 Attachment 9
City of Northampton
Table of Use, Dimensional and Density Regulations
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CB)
Uses Allowed by Right-combinations are
permitted, including accessory uses, structures
and share driveways (unless otherwise noted)
If checked, site plan
approval required by
Planning Board
See § 350-11.1 (new
construction of 2,000+
triggers site plan)
If checked, special
permit approval
required by
designated board
Dimensions
(same for all uses)
Landscaping
(same for
all uses)
Minimum
Parking
(same for
all uses)
Building
Design
(same for
all uses)
All retail, retail marijuana,1 wholesale and business
sales and supply of goods and services
Lot size = 0
Frontage/Width/Depth = 0
Setbacks:
Front = Maximum 5 feet
Side = 0
Rear = 0
Minimum height = 30 feet
Maximum height = 70 feet
The Planning Board may grant
a special permit to allow a
building to be set farther back
or to a lower height if it finds
that a greater setback or lower
height is necessary to preserve
historic buildings or character,
allow for urban pedestrian
malls that encourage street-
level activity, or that proposed
construction is a minor
addition to an existing
building. (See diagram.)
Landscaping and pedestrian
malls or plazas shall be
constructed between the
building and the front lot line,
and no parking is permitted in
this area. In the CBD, these
mall and plaza areas qualify as
open space.
Open space: see landscape/
screening
Site/Parking lot
landscaping: See
§ 350-8.9 for
additional land-
scaping
A 30-foot-wide
buffer strip shall be
planted along the
boundary with any
residentially zoned
lot. It shall contain a
screen of plantings of
vertical habit in the
center of the strip not
less than three feet in
height at the time of
occupancy of such
lot. Individual shrubs
shall be planted not
more than five feet
on center, and
individual trees
thereafter shall be
maintained by the
owner or occupants
so as to maintain a
visually impervious
screen (upon
planting) year-round.
At least 50% of the
plantings shall be
evenly spaced.
The buffer may be
reduced to a min-
imum 20-foot width
if the Planning Board
finds that a sight-
impervious wall or
fence will be erected
of appropriate
0*
See also
§§ 350-8.2
through 350-
8.11 for
location,
construction,
layout, require-
ments for
parking lots.
*Note: No new
parking re-
quired for any
reuse or new
construction,
except in the
case of new
footprint/con-
struction for
theaters,
churches,
gyms, places of
public
assembly with
seating, hotels/
motels and/or
nightclubs. See
table in § 350-
8.1C for re-
quirements.
See Central
Business
Archi-
tecture
review
criteria,
Chapter
156
Office (drive-through only allowed by special
permit)
Office with drive-through √√ Planning Board
Restaurant (drive-through not allowed), bar,
entertainment, community center
Hotel/Motel
Trades, artist’s space
Temporary event
Health/Athletic club, indoor recreation, membership
club operated for profit or nonprofit
Any residential use above the first floor, any
residential use located to the rear of otherwise
permitted nonresidential uses that occupy a space at
least 20 feet deep, and any residential use on a
property which does not abut on a public way or
public park (however, not classifying rail trails as
public parks) maintained by the City. Home
businesses are considered residential uses for these
purposes.
Commercial or public parking facility or the addition
of 6 or more parking spaces √
Single or multimodal passenger terminal
Facilities for essential services, municipal facility
Education, religious use, day care, school-aged
child-care program (MGL c. 28A, § 9), family day
care (with registration with Building
Commissioner); historical association, and nonprofit
museum (residence of a caretaker must be above
first floor only)
Agricultural uses
Telecommunication antennas on existing towers or
other structures which do not require the
construction of a new tower (in accordance with
§ 350-10.9)
√
350 Attachment 9:1 09 - 01 - 2014
NORTHAMPTON CODE
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CB)
Uses Allowed by Right-combinations are
permitted, including accessory uses, structures
and share driveways (unless otherwise noted)
If checked, site plan
approval required by
Planning Board
See § 350-11.1 (new
construction of 2,000+
triggers site plan)
If checked, special
permit approval
required by
designated board
Dimensions
(same for all uses)
Landscaping
(same for
all uses)
Minimum
Parking
(same for
all uses)
Building
Design
(same for
all uses)
Veterinary hospital in which all animals are kept
inside permanent buildings
Private utility substation or similar facility or
building √
Power plant and/or district utility √√ Planning Board
New telecommunications structures/facilities (in
accordance with §§ 350-2.1 and 350-10.9)√√ Planning Board
Research and development facilities √
See above.
Existing trees and
ground cover should
be preserved in this
strip, reducing the
need to plant
additional trees.
Trees may not be cut
down in this strip
without site plan
approval.
All landscaping shall
be maintained in a
healthy growing
condition, neat and
orderly in
appearance, and free
of refuse and debris.
All plantings shall be
arranged and
maintained so as to
not obscure the
vision of traffic.
See above. See above.
More than one curb cut (>1 existing may remain
unless change of use triggers site plan)√√ Planning Board
Access to parking over residential lot; see § 350-8.9 √√ Planning Board
Rooftop solar hot water and photovoltaic N/A None 0 None.
Install-
ations must
be main-
tained in
good
condition
Solar photovoltaic of any size, ground-mounted:
1. Over any legal parking lot or driveway;
2. At any landfill site not separated from the site-
assigned property by any road; and
3. At an airport not separated from the runways by
any road.
√Same setbacks as setbacks
for other accessory
buildings in the district
Sufficient land-
scaping within the
setbacks to
provide effective
visual separation
350 Attachment 9:2 09 - 01 - 2014
ZONING
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CB)
Uses Allowed by Right-combinations are
permitted, including accessory uses, structures
and share driveways (unless otherwise noted)
If checked, site plan
approval required by
Planning Board
See § 350-11.1 (new
construction of 2,000+
triggers site plan)
If checked, special
permit approval
required by
designated board
Dimensions
(same for all uses)
Landscaping
(same for
all uses)
Minimum
Parking
(same for
all uses)
Building
Design
(same for
all uses)
Accessory solar photovoltaic ground-mounted on a
parcel with any building or use, provided that the PV
is sized to generate no more than 200% of the annual
projected electric use of the non-PV building or use
√√ Planning Board Setbacks:
Front = 50 feet
Side = 50 feet
Rear = 50 feet
And such open space as
applies to the principal
building
See above 0
Reuse of an historic educational or religious building
for any residential use on the ground floor or any
other commercial use not otherwise allowed in the
district, provided that such use is within the footprint
of the existing building. The existing building may
be expanded to accommodate elevators and
stairwells, provided that all historically contributing
portions of the building are retained and covered
with an historic preservation restriction granted to
the City of Northampton in a form acceptable to the
Planning Board, with input from the Historical
Commission, as preserving the key character-
defining features visible from the road (and not
necessarily meeting federal or state preservation
standards for the entire building). Portions of the
building that are not part of the original architecture
of the building and which do not contribute to the
historical or architectural significance of the
building as determined by the Planning Board, with
input from the Historical Commission, may be
demolished.
√
Medical marijuana √
Notes:
1 No establishment shall be located within 200 feet of a preexisting public or private school providing education in kindergarten or any of grades 1 through 12. Building facades and
property must be consistent with the character of the neighborhood, including such items as transparent storefront windows with a view into the interior of the building. Security measures
must appear from the outside of the building to be consistent with the character of the neighborhood.
350 Attachment 9:3 09 - 01 - 2014
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350 Attachment 19
City of Northampton
Table of Use, Dimensional and Density Regulations
PLANNED VILLAGE DISTRICT (PV)
Uses Allowed by Right (by right unless otherwise
noted): any mix or their accessory
uses/structures, including common drives
See § 350-11.1 (new
construction of 2,000+
square feet triggers
site plan)
Use By Special
Permit Approval
Required by
Designated Board
(if checked)Dimensions Landscaping
Minimum
Parking
Building
Design
Reuse of contributing structures in the National
Register of Historic Places for any residential use or
community facility listed in this table, tradesman,
business offices and services, miscellaneous
professional offices, research and development
facilities, and manufacturing. Also for retail uses or
restaurants, when the gross floor area in these uses
does not exceed 10% of the gross floor area of the
building or complex of historical buildings being
redeveloped under this section. For all uses under
this table entry, the Planning Board must find that
the rehabilitation and reuse, and all future
alterations, will be done in accordance with U.S.
Department of Interior Standards for Rehabilitating
Historic Buildings, and in particular that, to the
extent practicable, historically significant exterior
facades are preserved or restored and original
rooflines are preserved.
√
Lot size = 0
Frontage/Width/Depth/Set-
backs = 0
Maximum height = 40 feet
(may be increased to 60
feet, provided buildings are
articulated such that any
portion of a building over
40 feet is set back at least
20 feet from all property
boundaries)
Open space = 0
0
Master planned mixed-use villages, overall project
requires a minimum of 15 acres and Planning Board
special permit for mix and layout of project in
accordance with § 350-10.15.
√√ Planning Board Project lot = 15-acre
minimum
Project frontage = 75 feet
Project depth = 200 feet
Setbacks from project
boundary:
Front = 20 feet
Side = 15 feet
Rear = 20 feet
Maximum height = 40 feet
(may be increased to 60
feet, provided buildings are
articulated such that any
portion of a building over
40 feet is set back at least
20 feet from all property
boundaries)
Project open space = 40%
Must be proposed
by applicant and
approved by
Planning Board
As necessary;
project-
dependent
Must be
proposed
by
applicant
and
approved
by
Planning
Board
350 Attachment 19:1 09 - 01 - 2014
NORTHAMPTON CODE
PLANNED VILLAGE DISTRICT (PV)
Uses Allowed by Right (by right unless otherwise
noted): any mix or their accessory
uses/structures, including common drives
See § 350-11.1 (new
construction of 2,000+
square feet triggers
site plan)
Use By Special
Permit Approval
Required by
Designated Board
(if checked)Dimensions Landscaping
Minimum
Parking
Building
Design
Any residential structure or mix thereof as part of
the overall master planned project and not exceeding
85% of gross floor area of commercial uses in the
village (This cap shall no longer apply when the
project reaches 400,000 square feet of commercial
uses in the PV Zoning District.): single-family
dwelling, two-family, three-family multifamily or
townhouse development. Any accessory buildings.
Lot size = 0
Frontage/Width/Depth/Set-
backs = 0 (layout must
allow for pedestrian and
vehicular gridded village
network to allow
circulation consistent with
requirements in § 350-
10.15 and as approved in
the special permit for the
master plan)
Per approved
master plan
special permit
No more than
2 per unit
Per
approved
master plan
special
permit
Any shared driveway serving residential lots as part
of an approved master plan. Driveways may be
designed consistent with village center
developments that do not meet the standards in
§ 350-2.1, Definitions, for shared driveways when in
the view of the Fire Chief there is adequate
emergency access.
Rooftop solar hot water and photovoltaic N/A None
0
None.
Install-
ations must
be main-
tained in
good con-
dition with
painting,
structural
repairs and
security
maintained
and fac-
ilities no
longer
being used
dismantled
within 90
days.
Solar photovoltaic of any size, ground-mounted:
1. Over any legal parking lot or driveway;
2. At any landfill site not separate from the site-
assigned property by any road; and
3. At an airport not separated from the runways by
any road.
√Same setbacks as setbacks
for other accessory
buildings in the district
Sufficient land-
scaping within the
setbacks to pro-
vide effective
visual separation
Accessory solar photovoltaic ground-mounted on a
parcel with any building or use, provided that the PV
is sized to generate no more than 200% of the annual
projected electric use of the non-PV building or use
√√ Planning Board Setbacks:
Front = 50 feet
Side = 50 feet
Rear = 50 feet
And such open space as
applies to the principal
building
350 Attachment 19:2 09 - 01 - 2014
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350 Attachment 12
City of Northampton
Table of Use, Dimensional and Density Regulations
HIGHWAY BUSINESS DISTRICT (HB)
Allowed Uses (by right unless otherwise noted) -
any mix or their accessory uses/structures,
including common drives
If checked, site plan
approval required by
Planning Board
See § 350-11.1 (new
construction of 2,000+
triggers site plan)
If checked, special
permit approval
required by
designated board
Dimensions
(same for all uses)
Landscaping
(same for
all uses)
Minimum
Parking
(same for
all uses)
Building
Design
(same for
all uses)
All retail, retail marijuana,1 wholesale and business
sales and supply of goods and services (retail above
90,000 square feet not allowed)
Lot size = 0
Frontage = 0
Setbacks:
Front = 0; measured
from beyond a required
10-foot tree belt, 6-foot
sidewalk
Side = 0
Rear = 0
Minimum height = 20 feet
Maximum height = 65 feet
Open space: see landscape/
screening requirements
Width/Depth = 0
See Design
Standards below for
required treatment
for curb to
developed area
0
As part of site
plan, applicant
must show
plan for park-
ing
1 bike rack per
10 parking
spaces up to
15 required
(indoor or
outdoor).
Storage must
allow locking
of bicycles to
racks or inside
storage con-
tainers.
See also
§§ 350-8.2
through 350-
8.11 for
location, con-
struction, lay-
out, require-
ments for lots.
If off-street
loading is
necessary, it
must be shown
on any site
plan sub-
mission that
might other-
See
standards
below.
Applicable
for all
projects that
trigger site
plan review.
The
Planning
Board may
waive any
or all for
intermediate
site plan
projects.
Office
Restaurant, bar, entertainment
Drive-through establishments, including restaurants
with drive-through windows and other uses with a
drive-through function
√
Temporary event
Artist space, trades
Research and development facilities
Hotel/Motel
Health/Athletic club, indoor recreation, membership
club operated for profit or nonprofit
Adult establishments which display live or private
booth nudity and adult establishments with adult
material. See § 350-10.13. No portion of such use
shall be less than 500 feet from any church/house of
worship, day-care center, park, playground, school,
residence or other adult establishment.
√√ Planning Board
Outdoor commercial recreation use √
Residential use above the first floor, home
office/occupation
Commercial or public parking facility or the addition
of 6 or more parking spaces √
Single or multimodal passenger terminal
Municipal facility
Manufacturing, motor freight terminal and
warehousing associated with adjacent commercial
and industrial uses
√
Facilities for essential services
Veterinary hospital in which all animals are kept
inside permanent buildings
Automotive repair (not junkyard) or service with or
without convenience commercial √
350 Attachment 12:1 09 - 01 - 2014
NORTHAMPTON CODE
HIGHWAY BUSINESS DISTRICT (HB)
Allowed Uses (by right unless otherwise noted) -
any mix or their accessory uses/structures,
including common drives
If checked, site plan
approval required by
Planning Board
See § 350-11.1 (new
construction of 2,000+
triggers site plan)
If checked, special
permit approval
required by
designated board
Dimensions
(same for all uses)
Landscaping
(same for
all uses)
Minimum
Parking
(same for
all uses)
Building
Design
(same for
all uses)
wise be re-
quired.
(See above.)
Telecommunication antennas on existing towers or
other structures which do not require the
construction of a new tower (in accordance with
§ 350-10.9)
√
New telecommunications structures/facilities (in
accordance with §§ 350-2.1 and 350-10.9)√√ Planning Board
New commercial structures or substantial
improvements in FP, meeting all requirements under
the State Building Code, Wetlands Protection Act,
and City ordinances
√
Educational, religious use, day-care, school-aged
child-care program (MGL c. 28A, § 9), family day
care (with registration with Building
Commissioner); historical association and nonprofit
museum (residence of a caretaker must be above
first floor)
Agricultural uses
Indoor junk cars, motor vehicle accessories, scrap
metal. See § 350-8.8L.√
Private utility, substation, or similar facility or
building √
Storage of a fluid other than water (as principal use)√
More than one curb cut (>1 existing may remain
unless change of use triggers site plan)√√ Planning Board
Access to parking over residential lot; see § 350-8.9 √√ Planning Board
350 Attachment 12:2 09 - 01 - 2014
ZONING
HIGHWAY BUSINESS DISTRICT (HB)
Allowed Uses (by right unless otherwise noted) -
any mix or their accessory uses/structures,
including common drives
If checked, site plan
approval required by
Planning Board
See § 350-11.1 (new
construction of 2,000+
triggers site plan)
If checked, special
permit approval
required by
designated board
Dimensions
(same for all uses)
Landscaping
(same for
all uses)
Minimum
Parking
(same for
all uses)
Building
Design
(same for
all uses)
Reuse of an historic educational or religious building
for any residential use on the ground floor or any
other commercial use not otherwise allowed in the
district, provided that such use is within the footprint
of the existing building. The existing building may
be expanded to accommodate elevators and
stairwells, provided that all historically contributing
portions of the building are retained and covered
with an historic preservation restriction granted to
the City of Northampton in a form acceptable to the
Planning Board, with input from the Historical
Commission, as preserving the key character-
defining features visible from the road (and not
necessarily meeting federal or state preservation
standards for the entire building). Portions of the
building that are not part of the original architecture
of the building and which do not contribute to the
historical or architectural significance of the
building as determined by the Planning Board, with
input from the Historical Commission, may be
demolished.
√
Medical marijuana √
Notes:
1 No establishment shall be located within 200 feet of a preexisting public or private school providing education in kindergarten or any of grades 1 through 12. Building facades and
property must be consistent with the character of the neighborhood, including such items as transparent storefront windows with a view into the interior of the building. Security measures
must appear from the outside of the building to be consistent with the character of the neighborhood.
350 Attachment 12:3 09 - 01 - 2014
ZONING
350 Attachment 8
City of Northampton
Table of Use and Dimensional Regulations
URC District
Description: Example Structures
Primarily residential
with range of building
and unit configurations
allowed: single, multi-
family, townhouse,
home businesses
allowed.
Some mixed uses and
institutional uses
allowed, see list.
Lot Dimension
Requirements Layout/Setbacks For All Uses
Lot Size
2,500 ft2 minimum
(min.) per unit
Frontage/Width = 50
feet min.
Depth = 75 feet min.
Setbacks
Front =10 feet min.
Side = 10 feet* min.
Side = 20 feet min. if
building taller than 40
feet
Side = 0 feet on one
side for zero lot line
Rear= 20 feet min.
Max . Height = 50 feet
See Educational Use
Overlay District for
other height
requirements within the
overlay.
Open Space = 30%
min.
20’ if building taller than 40’
350 Attachment 8:1 12 - 01 - 2015
NORTHAMPTON CODE
Design Standards Illustrated
Planning Board may waive, by site plan approval, elements 2, 3, 4 if it can be shown that a different design meets a
pedestrian-scale design that encourages public/private transition and interface (e.g., similar elements facing internal
courtyards or private streets)
1. If a garage or other
parking structure is
attached, it must be set
back 20 feet and the
garage/structure shall
comprise no more than
30% of the front facade
of the primary
structure.
2. Front doors must
face the street. For
units extending behind
front units, where
entries orient to the
side lot, 20-foot side
setback shall apply
unless other means to
create a buffer/private
outdoor space to
adjoining property are
approved by the
Planning Board.
Buildings must have a
covered entry.
Covered entry
20' 20' 20' 20' 10' 10'
10' 10'
street
Max. 30% of
total combined
area of facades
Max 30% of total
combined area of
facades
Connector elements must be
set back & include glazed
openings that face the street
Living space
above
DOESN’T FIT
Max. 30% of
total combined
area of facades
Living space above
Exceeds 30% of total
combined area of facades
Garage or Parking Structure
Area
Primary Structure
350 Attachment 8:2 12 - 01 - 2015
ZONING
3. For new buildings,
setback, scale, massing
should fit within the
block face.
4. Parking for more
than 5 cars shall be
distributed on the site
to minimize impact to
the neighborhood
character, which shall
be accomplished by
small groupings of
spaces surrounded by
landscaping or parallel
parking along a narrow
driveway to mimic an
alley. Driveways wider
than 15 feet shall be
visually buffered from
side lot lines through
setbacks or screening to
adequately block car
headlights.
Minimum parking for
residential uses
For other uses see table
in § 350-8.2.
1 space per 1,000 ft2 gross living area (round up). No more than 2 spaces required per unit.
Doesn’t fit
350 Attachment 8:3 12 - 01 - 2015
NORTHAMPTON CODE
URC USES ALLOWED
Uses Allowed By Right:
• Single-, two -, three-family multifamily, townhouses with six or fewer units
• Attached (to a single-family) accessory dwelling unit not to exceed 900 square feet gross living area.
See § 350-10.10. Same setback as for principal structures.
• Home business up to 25 visits per week as defined in § 350-2.1
• Zero lot line single-family; see § 350-10.14
• Accessory uses to residential:
Tag sales: temporary sales of personal and household articles
Pets/Animals (§ 350-5.3)
• Accessory structures, detached (but no larger than 1,000 ft2 of lot coverage or 3% of lot area,
whichever is greater, unless it is used for agricultural purposes). See also § 350-6.7. Setbacks:
Front: 20 feet
Side: 4 feet
Rear: 4 feet
• Family day care (registration w/Building Commissioner required)
• Preexisting nonconforming uses (may trigger ZBA permit)
• Cemetery
• Temporary event as defined in § 350-2.1
• Agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, noncommercial forestry, the growing of all vegetables and a
temporary (not to exceed erection or use for a period of four months in any one year) greenhouse or
stand for retail sale of agricultural or farm products raised primarily on the same premises
• Rooftop solar hot water and photovoltaic
• Accessory solar photovoltaic (PV) ground-mounted on a parcel with any building or use, provided
that the PV is sized to generate no more than 100% or 8 KW of the annual projected electric use of
the non-PV building or use. Same setbacks as for detached accessory structures.
• Solar photovoltaic of any size, ground-mounted over any legal parking lot or driveway
• Municipal facility; facilities for essential services
Site Plan Approval Required for the Following:
• Any construction (other than for a single-family home) greater than 2,000 square feet
• The addition of a principal structure to a parcel where one already exists.
• Educational use: nonprofit, dormitories, any religious use, day care, school-aged child-care program
(MGL c. 28A, § 9) and historical association or society and nonprofit museum (may include the
residence of a caretaker). See also educational use overlay standards.
• Parking off-site and combined parking. See §§ 350-8.5 and 350-8.7.
• Creation or expansion of six or more parking spaces
• Parking lot access for nonresidential uses across a residential lot. See § 350-8.9.
• Parking requirement reduction. See § 350-8.10F.
• Residential shared driveways. See § 350-8.8, Expansion of parking by more than six spaces.
• Telecommunications antennas located on existing telecommunications towers or other structures
which do not require the construction of a new tower (in accordance with § 350-10.9)
• Reuse of historic educational or religious building(s) for any residential use, live/work space, or
office; provided, however, that no more than 20% of the floor space of the building(s) shall be used
for medical, banking or any offices where a primary function is to provide services to retail
customers or individuals. All such uses approved under this provision shall be within the footprint of
existing building(s) and may only be approved contingent upon protection of all historically
contributing portions of the building with an historic preservation restriction granted to the City of
Northampton in a form acceptable to the Planning Board, with input from the Historical
Commission, as preserving the key character-defining features visible from the road (and not
350 Attachment 8:4 12 - 01 - 2015
ZONING
necessarily meeting federal or state preservation standards for the entire building). The existing
building may be expanded to accommodate elevators and stairwells. Portions of the building that are
not part of the original architecture of the building and which do not contribute to the historical or
architectural significance of the building as determined by the Planning Board, with input from the
Historical Commission, may be demolished.
Special Permit Approval Required for the Following Uses by Planning Board Unless
Otherwise Noted:
• Detached accessory dwelling unit (see § 350-10.10—Zoning Board of Appeals special permit)
• Home business for personal service business by appointment only or home business more than 25
visits, etc. (see § 350-10.12 for other criteria—Zoning Board of Appeals special permit)
• Any multifamily or townhouse project creating seven or more units in one or more phases within a
five-year period. Any such project shall comply with the following:
A. Buildings and parking.
1) The first row of buildings along a street shall face the street and add to the streetscape.
There shall not be any parking, except incidental to a driveway or roadway, between
the first row of buildings and the street. Parking shall be located behind buildings or
designed otherwise to minimize view from the public street.
2) The area between the property and the road pavement shall be made to be pedestrian
friendly, with sidewalks, street furniture, trees and other vegetation, all of which shall
be in conformance with City standards. All landscaping incorporated as part of the
applicant’s design between the street and the building(s) shall facilitate and enhance
the pedestrian use of sidewalks and other areas adjacent to the building. Such
streetscape may include rebuilding by the applicant, as necessary, of granite curbs,
ADA-compliant concrete sidewalks, tree belts, and drainage improvements
incorporating low-impact development standards for any necessary drainage
improvements triggered by these changes.
3) Buildings that abut existing residential properties shall incorporate building
articulation alongside facades. Building projections shall be incorporated for any side
façade that is longer than 30 feet.
4) Front facades shall have setbacks consistent with other buildings within the block or
provide a different setback that is necessary to address any natural resources
constraints.
B. Streets and roadways.
1) Projects shall connect to all surrounding neighborhoods with bicycle and pedestrian
access to the extent possible.
a) For projects that have more than one vehicular access, driveways and roadways
shall internally and externally connect to each other and dead-end streets shall be
avoided whenever possible. Dead-end roadways and driveways shall never
exceed 500 feet and, to the extent possible, must include a bicycle and pedestrian
connection from the dead-end street to a street, common area, park or civic space.
b) For projects that have a single vehicular access, such access shall not exceed 500
feet and pedestrian access shall also be provided directly from any street to
residential units.
2) The design standards for the length of dead-end streets, protection of natural features,
sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, landscaping, utilities, and the construction method and
materials for water lines, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, fire protection, sidewalks,
private roads and other infrastructure shall be those set forth in Chapter 290,
Subdivision of Land. These standards shall apply even for private roadways and
driveways that are not part of a subdivision, unless waived by the Planning Board.
3) Driveways and private roadways shall be designed to function as private alleys, or
shared streets with pedestrians and cyclists, and engineered to keep speeds below 15
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miles per hour, or yield streets with separate sidewalks as shown in the subdivision
regulations. Such sidewalks shall connect to sidewalks along adjacent streets.
4) Vehicular access shall connect to surrounding streets as appropriate to ensure safe and
efficient flow of traffic within the surrounding neighborhood and to mitigate increases
in traffic on nearby streets.
5) Preexisting paths historically used as bicycle and pedestrian trails shall be preserved
to the extent possible and marked with appropriate signage.
C. Park space.
1) All projects shall include a park/common area fully designed and constructed to be
integrated into the project, which area shall be easily accessible and available for
residents of the project. At a minimum, this space shall be 300 square feet or 30
square feet per dwelling unit of buildable land area, whichever is greater.
2) All such space shall be contiguous unless waived by the Planning Board upon finding
that it is in the public interest and consistent with the intent and purpose of this
section.
D. Environment and energy. Buildings shall meet one of the following environmental
standards:
1) Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating for the building envelope at least 25%
lower than the current municipal standard at the time the special permit is requested,
but in no event shall the HERS rating be greater than 47 for units of 1,200 square feet
or less, and no greater than 41 for units larger than 1,200 square feet. Alternatively,
for units of 1,200 square feet or less, the Planning Board may consider a comparable
energy standard to the HERS rating of 47 after consultation with the Building
Commissioner.
2) U.S. Green Building Council LEED New Construction Gold or Neighborhood
Development Gold Certified.
E. Size, access and affordability.
1) Buildings shall meet one of the following standards:
a) 11% of the units shall be “affordable units” as that term is defined in § 350-2.1 of
the Code of the City of Northampton; or
b) Contain 25% or more of the units no larger than 1,200 square feet gross floor
area.
2) Equal access. All projects shall provide equal access to all building amenities, park
and civic space and public entrances to buildings to residents of both affordable and
non-affordable units.
F. Internet connectivity. All projects that include infrastructure making internet connectivity
available shall do so without differences in quality, capacity or speed to residents of both
affordable and non-affordable units.
• Educational use: private for-profit colleges, schools, etc.
• Mixed-use buildings/lots, live/work (mixed residential/work)—All uses may be on any floor;
business uses are limited to miscellaneous professional and business offices and shall not include
banking, real estate and insurance offices or retail, personal and consumer service establishments,
medical doctors, dentists or chiropractors.
• Community center
• Nursing homes, assisted living
• Lodging house
• Bed-and-breakfast/tourist home
• Halfway house
• Membership club operated as a not-for-profit corporation, as defined by MGL c. 180, excluding any
adult establishments which display live nudity
• Filling of any land. See § 350-10.4.
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• Filling of water or wet area. See § 350-10.3.
• Funeral establishment
• Crematory meeting accessory structure setbacks
• Year-round greenhouse/stand for wholesale and retail sale of agricultural farm products raised on-
site
• New telecommunications facilities (in accordance with §§ 350-2.1 and 350-10.9)
• Accessory solar photovoltaic ground-mounted on a parcel with any building or use, between 8 KW
or over 100% but no more than 200% of the annual projected electric use of the non-PV building or
use; same setbacks as for detached accessory structures
• Private utility, substation or district utility
• Heavy public use—City Council special permit
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