ARTICLE IV
SECTION 25.12 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
A. Zoning Permit
No building or other structure, or part thereof, shall be constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, extended, moved or structurally altered until an Application for a Zoning Permit has been approved by the Zoning Officer. No land, building or other structure, or part thereof, shall be used or occupied, or changed in use, until an Application for a Zoning Permit therefore has been approved by the Zoning Officer and until a Zoning Permit therefore has been issued by the Zoning Officer certifying conformity with these Regulations. No Zoning Permit, however, is required for a farm, forestry, truck garden or nursery use when no building or other structure is proposed. All Applications for a Zoning Permit shall be submitted and approved in accordance with the provisions of Section 25.34 B and all Zoning Permits shall be issued in accordance with said Section.
B. Conflict With Amendments
No Application for a Zoning Permit shall be approved by the Zoning Officer authorizing plans, construction or uses which do not conform to any proposed amendment of these Regulations if the first notice of a hearing on such amendment has been published in a newspaper as required by the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut. If, however, the proposed amendment has not been adopted and made effective within sixty (60) days from the date of such first published notice, the Application for a Zoning Permit shall be promptly approved by the Zoning Officer.
C. Prohibited Uses in All Districts
Any other provisions of this Regulation notwithstanding, and except as provided hereinafter, the following uses shall be prohibited in all districts.
1 Any use which is noxious, offensive, or objectionable by reason of the emission of smoke, dust, gas, odor or other form of air pollution; or by reason of the deposit, discharge, or dispersal of liquid or solid wastes, in any form, in a manner or amount so as to cause permanent damage to the soil or any stream or to adversely affect the surrounding area; or by reason of the creation of noise or vibration, or electromagnetic disturbance perceptible beyond the boundaries of the lot on which it is situated,; or by reason of illumination by artificial light or light reflection beyond the limits of the lot on, or from which, such light or light reflection emanates; or which involves any dangerous fire, explosive, radio-active or other hazard or which can cause injury, annoyance, or disturbances to any of the surrounding properties or to their owners and occupants; any other process or use which is prejudicial to health, safety or the general welfare.
2 Junk yards
3 Trailer camps or mobile home parks.
4 Manufacture or storage of ammunition, explosives or fireworks
5 No land in any district may be used for the disposal of materials which have radio-active levels which could present a danger to health. No such materials shall be stored or handled except in accordance with Regulations of all relevant Federal, State and City Agencies.
D. Professional Offices in Residences
Professional Offices in Residences, where permitted, shall comply with the following;
Said office shall be conducted by a professional residing on the premises. Not more than two (2) non-resident assistants shall be employed by any such professional resident.
Said office shall be incidental and subordinate to the residential use of the building, and shall not occupy more than fifty percent (50%) of the area of the ground floor of the principal building. No office shall be conducted in an accessory building.
In no manner shall the appearance of the building be altered or shall the office within the residence be conducted in a manner that would cause the premises to differ from its residential character, either by the use of colors, materials, construction, lighting, sizes or the emission of sounds, noises or vibrations.
E. Buffer Area Requirements
Buffer areas shall be required for commercial uses, industrial uses and multi-family uses abutting residential uses.
1. Buffer Requirements:
In cases where a commercial use, industrial use abuts a residential use, a green belt buffer area at least 25 feet in depth, and located on the commercial, industrial parcel shall be provided and maintained by the owner of such parcel. This area shall not be used for the storage of materials or parking of vehicles. Trees and shrubs shall be planted against the property lines to give a screen at least 15 feet deep using approved, hardy, indigenous plant species. At least 50% of the plantings shall be evergreen of which at least 60% shall be six (6) feet in height or taller at time of planting. The balance of the buffer area shall be planted and maintained as lawn. Existing suitable, natural growth shall be preserved where practicable and supplemented with new planting in accordance with the above standards. Permanent structures such as fences, walls, and earth berms may be approved in lieu of plantings. Such measures shall be in conformance and in the opinion of the Commission, comply with the intent of these Regulations.
2. Street Frontage:
Buffer areas may be required along the street frontage of a lot in order to screen such uses as parking facilities, loading areas and outside storage areas.
3. Plans:
Plans showing the work to be done, with assurance of completion and future maintenance, shall be filed and approved by the Commission before such parcel may be used for commercial or industrial use purposes. The approved buffer area planting and/or supplemental structures shall be in place prior to the issuance of a Zoning Certificate of Compliance by the Zoning Officer. Failure to maintain the buffer area in good condition shall constitute a violation of these Regulations by the owner of the parcel.