ARTICLE 8. Planned Multi Family Housing District

8.1 Planned Multi-Family Housing District (PMFH)

8.1.1 Statement of Purpose

The Planning and Zoning Commission of the Borough of Stonington recognizes the need to provide a variety of housing opportunities to meet the needs of a diverse population. This zone is designed to allow single family, two-family, and multi-family dwellings in such a way that is compatible with, and enhances the village character of the Borough. This zone is designed to accommodate larger sites, which, due to their shape, access, and former use, may not be appropriate for uniform single family development.

8.1.2 Permitted Uses and Use Categories

8.1.2.1 Permitted Principal Uses

Single-family dwellings (no more than one dwelling may be permitted as of right on any one lot pursuant to this section)

Two-family and multi-family dwellings existing on September 15, 1986, provided that no additional dwelling units may be added pursuant to this section

Publicly owned buildings, parks, and open space

8.1.2.2 Permitted Accessory Uses

Customary home occupations, subject to §3.5

Accessory uses listed in §3.4.1

8.1.2.3 Special Permit Uses

Two-family dwellings subject to §8.1.9

Multi-family dwellings

Professional or business offices, supplies, and services

The following personal services: athletic club, barber shop, beauty shop, dry-cleaning without on-premises cleaning, and tailor shop

8.1.3 Bulk Requirements

Minimum required lot area: 40,000 square feet

Minimum frontage: 100 feet

Maximum lot coverage: 35 percent (35%)

Minimum yard widths:

Front: 10 feet

Side: 10 feet

Rear: 10 feet

Maximum building height: 30 feet, except the Commission may, by special permit, approve buildings not to exceed 30 feet above base flood plain elevation or 30 feet above finished grade in accordance with §3.3.5.3, whichever is higher.

Maximum floor area for single-family dwellings: 6,000 square feet

8.1.4 Off-Street Parking

Off-street parking will be provided in accordance with §2.8 of these Regulations.

8.1.5 Signs

All signs shall be in accordance with §3.7 of these Regulations.

8.1.6 Environmental Protection

All development is subject to the requirements of §3.3 of these Regulations.

8.1.7 Site Plan Review

All development is subject to the site plan review requirements of Section 9 of these regulations.

8.1.8 Additional Planned Multi-Family Housing Requirements

8.1.8.1 Density: No proposal for multi-family housing shall include residential densities in excess of 18 units per acre, and no single development shall include more than 30 units total.

8.1.8.2 There shall be no more than 12 dwelling units per building, and no building shall exceed 160 feet in its greatest horizontal dimension.

8.1.8.3 The minimum floor area of a dwelling unit in a multi-family dwelling shall not be less than 750 square feet.

8.1.8.4 All multi-family dwellings shall be separated from existing residential buildings not included in the multi-family housing district by at least 30 feet.

8.1.8.5 No outside storage will be provided unless it is completely screened from view from any adjoining residential property or street. Refuse containers shall be screened from view and provided in sufficient numbers to accommodate refuse from all residents in a sanitary and odorless manner.

8.1.8.6 All driveways, access roads, interior circulation roads, and parking areas shall be paved, curbed, and storm drained, except where otherwise required by the Commission for purposes of conservation or environmental protection. Driveway points of intersection with public streets shall be designed to provide adequate visibility along such public streets. All driveways, access roads, parking areas, and interior circulation roads shall be privately owned and maintained, except that the Commission may require the provision of public access to waters of the State in accordance with coastal area management goals and policies. Parking areas shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from any residential structure.

8.1.8.7 Sidewalks shall be required on any street, driveway, access road, or interior circulation road on which the development is located, unless the Commission finds that sidewalks would not be of significant value or that they would detract from the character of the proposed development. All sidewalks, outside the public right-of-way, shall be privately owned and maintained.

8.1.8.8 The Commission may require a maximum of fifteen percent (15%) of the total lot area to be set aside for permanent open space and recreation areas. Active recreation areas shall be located, prepared, and equipped, as determined by the Commission so as to adequately meet the needs of the occupants of the development. Required yard areas may not be counted as open space. All open space shall be useable for passive or active recreation, and the Commission may require the exclusion of land unsuitable for such purposes, such as wetlands and floodplains, from the total lot area set aside for such purposes. Unless otherwise required for public access to the waters of the State or unless the developer proposes otherwise, such open space shall be for the private benefit of the residents of the development.

8.1.8.9 Utilities shall be placed underground.

8.1.8.10 Fire hydrants shall be installed, as required by the Fire Marshal.

8.1.8.11 Suitable landscaping, as determined by the Commission, shall be provided on all lots on which a multi-family dwelling is located, and shall at a minimum meet the requirements of §3.2 of these Regulations as applicable. The Commission may require the installation of a buffer strip to provide an effective barrier between a multi-family development and single-family residences on adjacent properties and/or environmentally sensitive areas, such as tidal wetlands, inland wetlands, and coastal waters.

8.1.8.12 The applicant shall submit an architectural rendering of each typical unit type

8.1.8.13 Lighting fixtures shall be directed downward and shall be shielded to prevent artificial light from projecting onto adjacent properties. The Commission may require submission of a lighting plan indicating the placement and design of the lighting fixtures and their anticipated projections.

8.1.8.14 All development in the PMFH zone shall conform to the requirements of §2.6 of these regulations.

8.1.8.15 The application shall include a report detailing how the proposed development, including, but not limited to, any mechanical units, will conform to the Connecticut noise control regulations, Regs. Conn. State Agencies §22a-69-1 et seq., as the same may be amended from time to time. The report shall indicate the approach to be adopted by the applicant in minimizing the noise impact of the project on neighbors.

8.1.8.16 Private roads and parking areas shall not be gated, barricaded or otherwise physically obstructed except as may be specifically permitted by the Commission.

8.1.8.17 Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.14 of these Regulations, multi-family housing may include multiple principal structures on the same lot.

8.1.9. Conversion to Two-Family Dwelling

No application for a Special Permit to allow a two-family dwelling shall be accepted by the Commission except for the establishment of such use in a building existing on December 1, 1981. No such conversion to two-family dwellings shall be approved by the Commission unless the following requirements are met:

8.1.9.1. The proposed conversion is contained entirely within a building which existed on December 1, 1981, and in those portions of such building which so existed on said date, such that the only building square footage which the Commission shall consider for conversion shall be that existing on the effective date of these Regulations, with the exception of stairways, elevator shafts, hallways, and other required accessory spaces not used for dwelling purposes; provided, however, that the sum of such spaces shall not exceed ten percent of the total building square footage as it existed on December 1, 1981.

8.1.9.2. The proposed conversion will be in harmony with the architectural character of the building.

8.1.9.3. There shall be a minimum lot area of 3,500 square feet required for each dwelling unit (7,000 minimum for a two-family dwelling).