1) Applicability: All new construction, or change from one zoning use category to another category as specified in Article V, of 4,000 square feet of gross floor area or more, requires development review before the Planning Board and/or Zoning Board of Appeals before filing for a building permit. Further, this section applies to a project with any new use identified in Article V, or a change to a site that requires relief from other Articles, including, but not limited to, Articles IV, VI, VII, VIII, as applicable.

2) Approval processes:

a) Site plan review: There are two types of review. A project may only be subject to a Site Plan Review, with approval before the Planning Board (Site Plan Review Permit). Alternatively, a project may be required to combine Site Plan Review with the process of obtaining one or more Special Permits and/or Variances, with the Zoning Board of Appeals as the PGA. The process and criteria for Site Plan Review are set forth in § 9.03.

b) Special permit: Except for multi-family and mixed-use developments in the Transit Oriented Development Overlay District (TODO) and exempt uses as defined by Ch. 40A, Section 3, all projects subject to development review are required to obtain a Special Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. The process and criteria for Special Permits are set forth in § 9.04 and § 9.05.

c) Variances: The process and criteria for Variances from dimensional and other required standards are governed by and set forth in § 9.14 and § 9.15.

 

See § 5.08: Watertown Square/Neighborhood Mixed Use Districts (WSQ1, WSQ2, WSQ3, NMU) for more detailed information.