TOWN OF CORNWALL


ZONING REGULATIONS




Table Of Contents


Article I General Requirements And Administration 1

1.1 Statement of Purpose 1
1.2 General Requirements 1
1.3 Administration 2
1.4 Zoning Permits 2
1.5 Violations and Penalties 3
1.6 Other Permits 3
1.7 Interpretation of Regulations 3


Article II Zones And Zoning Map 4

2.1 Zones 4
2.2 Zoning Map 4
2.3 Boundaries of Zones 4
2.4 Housatonic River Overlay Zone 5
2.5 Aquifer Protection Overlay Zone 5
2.6 Flood Hazard Area Overlay Zone 5
2.7 Planned Conservation Zone 5


Article III Permitted Uses And Special Permit Uses For All Zones 7

3.1 Uses Permitted in Any Zone 7
3.2 Uses Not Permitted in Any Zone 7
3.3 Special Permit Uses Permitted in Any Residential Zone 7
3.4 R-1 Residential Zone 8
3.5 R-3 Residential Zone 8
3.6 R-5 Residential Zone 9
3.7 GB General Business Zone 9
3.8 HR Housatonic River Overlay Zone 10
3.9 AP Aquifer Protection Overlay Zone 10
3.10 FH Flood Hazard Area Overlay Zone 11

3.11 CP Cornwall Plains/Town and Special Use Zone 12


Article IV Minimum Lot And Dimension Requirements FOR All Zones….. 15


Article V Supplementary Regulations 17

5.1 Definition 17
5.2 Minimum Livable Floor Area 17
5.3 Minimum Accessway 17
5.4 One Use Per Lot 18
5.5 Mixed Uses 18
5.6 Junk 18
5.7 Mobile Homes 18
5.8 Yard Sales 19
5.9 Tennis Courts and Swimming Pools 19
5.10 Temporary Permits for Fairs, etc. 19
5.11 Solar Access 19


Article VI Site Plan Requirements 20

6.1 Applicability 20
6.2 Decision Time Limit 20
6.3 Purpose of Site Plan 20
6.4 Bond 20
6.5 Time Limit on Construction 21
6.6 Site Plan Requirements 21

Article VII Erosion And Sediment Control Plan Requirements 23

7.1 Applicability 23
7.2 General Requirements 23
7.3 Plan Requirements 23
7.4 Issuance or Denial of Certification 24
7.5 Conditions Relating to Soil Erosion and Sediment Control 24
7.6 Inspection 24
7.7 Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Definitions 24

Article VIII Special Permit Requirements 26

General Requirements

8.1 Applicability 26
8.2 Application, Site Plan 26
8.3 Special Permit Involving Inland Wetlands 26
8.4 Required Hearing and Decision 26
8.5 General Standards 27
8.6 Guarantee of Performance 28
8.7 Recording 29

8.8 Violations and Revocation 29

Specific Requirements

8.9 Educational, Religious, Philanthropic Uses 29

8.10 Accessory Apartments 30

8.11 Conversion of Residences and/or Structures to Apartments 31

8.12 Apartment Use in a Business Building 32

8.13 Room and Board or a Bed-and-Breakfast Establishment 33

    1. Roadside Produce Stands, Greenhouses, Garden Centers,

Nurseries or Landscape Services 33

8.15 Gasoline Stations, Motor Vehicle Dealers and Repairers 33

    1. Recreational Campgrounds 34

Home Uses

8.17 General Standards for Home Uses 35

8.18 Traditional Home Enterprise 36

8.19 General Home Occupations 37

8.20 Shop and Storage Use by Contracting and Building Tradespeople 37

8.21 Major Home Business 38

Other Uses

    1. Lots for Single Family Residential Use in a Residential Zone Located on

a Private Street or for Two Lots Served by a Common Accessway 39

8.23 Antennas, Towers and Wireless Communication Facilities 39

8.24 Housatonic River Overlay Zone 40

8.25 Town or Non-Profit Sponsored Affordable Multi-Family Housing 41

8.26 Town or Non-Profit Sponsored Lot 41

8.27 Permanent Sawmill for Limited Commercial Use 42


Article IX Signs And Parking 45

9.1 Statement of Purpose 45
9.2 Definition of Sign 45
9.3 Signs Not Regulated 45
9.4 Application of Regulation 45
9.5 Nonconforming Signs 45

9.6 Types of Signs Permitted 46

9.7 Measurement of Maximum Sign Area and Freestanding Sign Height 46

9.8 General Requirements for All Signs 46

9.9 Signs Permitted in All Zones Without A Zoning Permit 47

    1. Signs Permitted in All Residential Zones Subject to a

Zoning Permit or Special Permit 48

9.11 Signs Permitted in All Zones Subject to a Zoning Permit 48

9.12 Requirements for Signs in General Business Zones 49

    1. (reserved)

    2. (reserved)

Parking and Loading

    1. Off-Street Parking 50

    2. Off-Street Loading 51


Article X Utilities, Streets, Accessways And Landscaping 52

10.1 Water Supply 52
10.2 State Highway Connection 52
10.3 Streets, Driveways and Accessways and Landscaping 52
10.4 Screening for Privacy 52


Article XI Planned Conservation Zone 54

11.1 General 54
11.2 Statement of Purpose 54
11.3 Submission Requirements 54
11.4 Procedure 55
11.5 Findings and Approval 55
11.6 Detailed Plans 55
11.7 Maximum Dwelling Units, Location, and Minimum Area Requirements 56
11.8 Minimum Permanent Open Space and Protected Land 56
11.9 Standards for Protection of Open Space 57
11.10 Standards for Design and Construction of Roads 57

Article XII Reserved


Article XIII Reserved


Article XIV Excavation of Earth Materials 58

14.1 General Provisions 58
14.2 Commercial Earth Excavation Permit 58
14.3 Application Requirements 59
14.4 Standards and Regulations Concerning Conduct of Operation 59
14.5 Permit Approval and Renewal 61


Article XV Nonconforming Lots, Structures And Uses 63

15.1 Statement of Intent 63
15.2 Definitions 63
15.3 Restrictions on Nonconforming Lots 64
15.4 Restrictions on Nonconforming Structures 64
15.5 Restrictions on Nonconforming Uses 64
15.6 Repairs and Maintenance 65
15.7 Construction in Progress 65

15.8 Nonconforming Uses Located on Route 7 66


Article XVI Definitions And Interpretations 69

16.1 General 69

16.2 Rules 69

16.3 Definitions 69


Article XVII Appeals And Variances 73

    1. Appeals 73

    2. Variances 73

Article XVIII Amendments 73

18.1 Procedure 73

18.2 Notice 73


Article XIX Separability 73

19.1


Article XX Effective Date and list of subsequent amendments 74