Size Limitation Provision

A proposal to change the City of Easthampton Zoning Ordinance to provide an upper size
limitation of 50,000 square feet (SF) gross floor area for most buildings, structures, and
commercial developments.
In its entirety, the proposal includes adding a new subsection, 6.10, and making minor changes
to existing zoning ordinance subsections 2.1, 8.12, 8.62, 8.72, 9.32, and Table 6-1. All proposed
additions and changes are as follows:
To SECTION VI. AREA, HEIGHT AND BULK REGULATIONS, add the following subsection:
6.10 Size Provision
In all zoning districts, no Structure (including but not limited to any Building attached or
detached), shall exceed 50,000 (fifty thousand) square feet of gross floor area in the aggregate.
This size provision shall not apply to the Industrial Zoning District for the uses listed under the
Wholesale, Transportation and Industrial Principal Uses in Table 5-1 titled Easthampton
Table of Use Regulations within this zoning ordinance. Except for this limited exception, this
size provision is otherwise fully applicable to the Industrial Zoning District.
The gross floor area of all Structures (including but not limited to any Building attached or
detached) included within a Planned Business Development shall be aggregated, and the total
shall not exceed 50,000 (fifty thousand) square feet of gross floor area in the aggregate.
The gross floor area of all Structures (including but not limited to any Building attached or
detached) included within a Planned Unit Development for Mixed Uses shall be aggregated,
and the total shall not exceed 50,000 (fifty thousand) square feet of gross floor area in the
aggregate.
Change the following existing subsections as shown:
(New language in blue, stricken language in red)

8.1 Planned Business Development

8.12 General Description
A Planned Business Development shall mean a development constructed on a lot or lots under
single or consolidated ownership at the time of the application, planned, developed, operated
and maintained as a single entity containing one or more structures to accommodate retail and
service uses and shall be at least 5 acres in size conform to the size provision in Section 6.10 of
this ordinance.
Planned Business Developments are permitted a reduction in the parking requirements
contained in the Table of Off-Street Parking Regulations provided that the Special Permit
requirements (Section 12.7) of the ordinance are met as well as additional requirements herein
specified.

8.6 Planned Unit Residential Development for Affordable Housing

8.62 General Description
A "Planned Unit Residential Development" shall mean a development containing a mixture of
residential uses and building types, including single family dwellings, townhouses, two-family
dwellings or multifamily dwellings, and open space. A planned unit residential
development may be allowed by special permit to exceed the normal density requirements for
the district to the extent authorized by this ordinance provided that standards for the
permanent protection of open space, the provision of affordable housing, and other
standards specified herein are met. A Planned Unit Residential Development shall be exempt
from the size provision in Section 6.10 of this ordinance

8.7 Planned Unit Development for Mixed Uses

8.72 General Description
A "Planned Unit Development for Mixed Uses" shall mean development containing a mixture of
residential uses and building types, including single family and multifamily dwellings, business
uses and industrial uses. A Planned Unit Development for Mixed Uses may be allowed by
special permit to exceed the normal density requirements for the district to the extent
authorized by this ordinance provided that standards for the provision of affordable housing
and other standards specified herein are met. Planned Unit Development for Mixed Uses shall
conform to the size provision in Section 6.10 of this ordinance.
9.3 Transfer of Development Rights
(Approved by the City Council on January 17, 2006)

9.32 Transfer of Development Rights:

a. Transfer of Development Rights provides for increased density of residential and
commercial development in the designated Receiving Area, when suitable open space land in
the Sending Area is permanently preserved from development. The transfer of development
rights is accomplished by the execution of a Conservation Restriction, and the increased density
is permitted by the issuance of a Special Permit, both as hereinafter provided. The Transfer of
Development Rights shall conform in all respects to the size provision in Section 6.10 of this
ordinance, and in no event shall a Receiving Area be allowed to exceed the limitations set forth
therein.
In Table 6-1 Easthampton Table of Area Regulations, change the Area Square Footage of
Minimum Required Lots for a Planned Business Development in the Neighborhood Business
(NB) and Highway Business (HB) zoning districts from 5 acres to 3 acres.
Change the definition of Floor area, gross found in SECTION II. DEFINITIONS to read as follows:
The sum of the gross horizontal area of all floors of a building measured from the interior faces
of the exterior walls. It does not include cellars, unenclosed porches, attics, spaces designed
and used for accessory heating and ventilating equipment or required parking, or any floor
space in accessory or detached buildings or structures not designed or used for human
occupancy or retail display and sale of goods.