§ 17.04.174. Special permits—Site plan review.

The city council adds a new zoning control procedure to be known as site plan review which shall require a permit for (1) all multi-family or apartment development in excess of twelve units; and (2) all development where the area of any new structure is fifteen thousand square feet or more excluding single-family homes and related accessory structures.

A.

Purpose: The purpose of the site plan review permit procedure is to ensure:

1.

That the design and construction of developments will not create a detrimental impact to neighborhoods or to the environment;

2.

That development will be in harmony with surrounding areas;

3.

Compliance with all the requirements set forth in the zoning ordinances of the city of Quincy with appropriate city agency review and public input;

4.

Appropriate safeguards and impact mitigation for all such development.

B.

Permit Granting Authority. The permit granting authority shall be the planning board. This will ensure departmental review by the planning department and incorporation into the final development plans all appropriate city agency recommendations. The permit shall be a written authorization which will include the conditions and special conditions deemed necessary and appropriate by the planning board, acting as the permit granting authority (PGA) and shall be recorded and enforced as special permits issued by the zoning board of appeals.

C.

Procedure. This procedure for the PGA shall be in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. Ch. 40A, and Section 17.04.170 of this chapter, the same as required for a special permit. In order to receive a permit under site plan review, a vote of at least four members of the five members of the PGA board shall be required.

The applications for the permit under site plan review shall be processed in accordance with a defined system that assures city and public review and consistent with the Massachusetts General Laws and the rules and regulations as adopted by the PGA.

D.

Provisions for Development Plans. Site plan(s) and profile drawings of the proposed development signed and stamped by a professional land surveyor and/or registered professional engineer shall be filed with the PGA. The plan(s) and profile shall show both existing and proposed:

1.

Access and egress to and from the site;

2.

Lot lines and easements, if any;

3.

Building and structures;

4.

Topography with appropriate contours;

5.

Surface water bodies, wetlands and area subject to the one hundred year flood evaluation;

6.

Soil profiles, if required;

7.

Landscape features, walls, walks, and lighting;

8.

Landscaping proposed as determined appropriate and consistent with the screening required by Section 17.36.070 of this chapter;

9.

Location of parking areas required by Sections 17.28.030 through 17.28.050 of this chapter and facilities for internal vehicular and pedestrian circulation;

10.

Site drainage and supporting data, if required;

11.

Location of site utilities and supporting data, if required;

12.

Loading facilities as required by Section 17.28.070 of this chapter;

13.

Traffic study, if required by the PGA, given the proposed development of the site and the expected traffic impact; and

14.

Architectural drawing of the proposed building(s) and structure(s), if required by the PGA.

E.

Criteria for Approval. The PGA shall ensure that there will be reasonable use of the site consistent with its underlying zoning subject to the following criteria:

1.

Adequate capacity of local streets to accommodate traffic to be generated by the proposed use. In addressing this criteria, the PGA may consider projections of increased traffic volumes due to the proposed development and its impact on existing streets and the ability of the applicants to mitigate the traffic impacts at the site and affected adjacent streets and ways;

2.

Adequacy of the public infrastructure to service the area and the immediate vicinity of the site. The public infrastructure includes the city's water, sewer and public safety protection;

3.

Protection of adjoining properties against serious detrimental uses by providing for adequate site drainage, offensive sounds and sights and landscaped screening and buffers;

4.

Convenience and safety of vehicular and pedestrian movement within the site and location of driveways and adjacent streets;

5.

Adequacy of parking and loading arrangements; and

6.

Adequacy of the methods for disposal of water, sewerage and refuse and other wastes resulting from the permitted use on the site.

Note: All applicants requiring special permit(s) under M.G.L. Ch. 40A and Section 17.04.170 of this chapter and/or requiring variance(s) under M.G.L. Ch. 40A and Section 17.04.160 of this chapter shall be exempt from said site plan review.

(Ord. 96-072)