The text
Sec. 23-11. - Terms defined.#
American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). ASTM sets voluntary safety and quality standards widely used in the construction industry.
Belt course. A continuous row or layer of stone, tile, brick or other decorative material in an exterior wall to separate floors or elevations.
Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU). A standardized, precast rectangular block used as facing materials in non-structural construction applications where the units are adhered to their structural backing.
Cornice. A horizontal molded projection that crowns or completes a wall or defines the roof and wall.
Design guidelines. Strong recommendations for site design that promote quality, cohesion, and compatibility with desired development patterns and styles. They encourage best practices and preferred outcomes that reflect the town's vision and goals for nonresidential development across the community.
Design standards. Enforceable requirements for site design that ensure quality, cohesion, and alignment with community objectives. These standards set the minimum acceptable design performance and shall be adhered to as stipulated in these regulations.
Façade. An exterior face or elevation of a building. The principal facade is sometimes distinguished from other faces by elaboration of architectural details.
Fenestration. Arrangement of windows on a facade including number, size, proportion, spacing and composition.
Gambrel roof. A roof form with a double sloped profile with a steep lower plane and a less steep upper plane. Similar to Mansard Roof but Gambrel is 2-sided and Mansard is 4-sided.
Hipped Roof. A roof with four uniformly pitched sides, rising to a ridge or point.
Mansard roof. A steep, story high roof with two planes on all four sides, the first plane almost vertical and the second plane above nearly flat.
Modular construction. Prefabricated, standardized, repeatable construction units assembled on-site.
Parapet. The portion of the wall of a facade that extends above the roofline and is designed to add decorative interest.
Pocket park. A public park on a very small lot often featuring flower gardens, benches and a fountain or other water feature.
Prefabricated construction. Building components manufactured off-site, then delivered and installed on-site. (See modular construction).
Subdivision. The division of a lot, tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, tracts, or parcels or any adjustment to existing lot lines is considered a subdivision. a.
Administrative subdivision. Subdivision of existing lots that yields no additional lots for development, and involves no creation or extension of streets. This subdivision only involves division, mergers, mergers and division, or adjustments of boundaries of existing lots. The process by which an administrative officer or municipal planning board or commission reviews any subdivision qualifying for this review is set forth in G.L. § 45-23-37.
b.
Minor subdivision. A subdivision creating nine (9) or fewer buildable lots and a subdivision creating ten (10) or more buildable lots on an existing improved public street. The process by which a municipal planning board, commission, technical review committee, and/or administrative officer reviews a minor subdivision is set forth in G.L. § 45-23-38. Minor subdivisions shall include oversized lot subdivisions. Oversized lot subdivision. Subdivision of an existing lot:
i.
Which results in the creation of a vacant lot or lots for residential use; and
ii.
Which resulting vacant residential lots are equal to or greater in lot area than the lot area of at least fifty percent (50%) of the developed residential lots within two hundred (200) feet of the lot proposed for subdivision, as confirmed by a professional land surveyor based on a compilation plan, as such term is defined by the rules and regulations for professional land surveying (435-RICR-00-00-1, § 1.9.6, as amended); and
iii.
Which resulting residential lots have access to available sewer and water, or have demonstrated the ability to drill a private well meeting state standards if no public water is available and/or the suitability and setbacks required for an on-site wastewater treatment system, where no public sewer is available; and
iv.
The resulting lots are not less than three thousand (3,000) square feet in lot size for each.
A lot, qualifying for this type of subdivision shall be reviewed under the requirements and procedures set forth in G.L. § 45-23-38, but shall not require zoning relief solely based on the resulting reduced lot area of the newly created lots. The resulting subdivided lots shall have the benefit of reduced requirements as set forth in § 45-24-38, and/or are eligible for the processes set forth in § 45-24-46, as applicable.
c.
Major subdivision. A subdivision creating ten (10) or more buildable lots where a street extension or street creation is required. The process by which a municipal planning board or commission reviews any subdivision qualifying for this review under G.L. § 45-23-39.
Wood grain vinyl siding. Plastic exterior cladding for buildings primarily made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The surface has a textured pattern that mimics natural wood grain.
(Reg. No. 2026-1, 1-6-26)