ZONING BYLAW - Town of Charlton

proposed use, as well as other relevant information to assist the Board in determining the need
for additional parking for motor vehicles.
5.17.2.3 To minimize the visual impact of parking lots and promote pedestrian use, parking
lots shall occupy no more than 1/3 of the lot frontage of the proposed use, and no more than
seventy-five (75’) in a stretch.
5.17.2.4 Parking areas shall include provisions for the parking of bicycles in locations that are
safely segregated from automobile traffic and parking.
5.17.2.5 A minimum of five percent (5%) landscaping and green space must be provided for
all parking areas. This area shall not include the buffer zones, but shall include all internal
landscaped islands in the parking areas.
5.17.2.6 The number of parking spaces required for a given site may be on another site within
the district. Such off-site parking must be established by legal documentation satisfactory to
Town Counsel, and a copy filed in the office of the Town Clerk.
5.17.2.7 Common parking areas shall be permitted for mixed-use developments which have
different hours, days and/or seasons of peak parking demand. The Board may, in approving
development within the District, permit individual parking standards to be reduced for separate
uses where it can be demonstrated that adequate parking will be made available on a shared
basis. The Board may require written easements or other assurances to enforce shared parking
arrangements. Where practicable, the Planning Board may require common driveways and
interconnected parking lots in order to facilitate shared parking.
C. Pedestrian Amenities
5.17.3.1 Provision for safe and convenient pedestrian access shall be incorporated into plans
for new construction of buildings and parking areas and should be designed in concert with
landscaping plans. New construction should improve pedestrian access to buildings, sidewalks
and parking areas and should be completed with considerations of pedestrian safety,
handicapped access and visual quality.
5.17.3.2 If no public sidewalk exists across the frontage of the lot, a paved sidewalk of at least
four feet in width shall be provided within the front yard setback and to the maximum extent
possible; the sidewalk shall be designed to create a continuous pedestrian walkway with the
abutting properties.
5.17.3.3 At a minimum, fifty percent (50%) of the walls of ground floor spaces directly facing
streets shall have transparent window and door openings, placed at the eye level of pedestrians
(between 3’ and 8’ above grade). The Planning Board may waive this standard for redevelopment
if compliance would create an economic hardship or cause undesirable changes to
the façade of the building. To allow people to see interesting things inside buildings, fixed
interior walls shall not obscure views into the building.
5.17.3.4 Commercial and office building should include features such as awnings, canopies,
bay windows, plazas, balconies, decorative detail, public seating, and well-designed lighting to
encourage visual interest for pedestrians.
D. Mixed Use Projects
Charlton Zoning Bylaw, 09/2012 86