SECTION 1.0 PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY

1.1 TITLE

This By-law shall be known as the "Zoning By-law of the Town of Canton, Massachusetts," hereinafter referred to as "this By-law."

1.2 PURPOSE. These regulations are enacted to promote the general welfare of the Town of Canton, to protect the health and safety of its inhabitants, to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the town, and to increase the amenities of the town, all as authorized by, but not limited by, the provisions of the Zoning Act, G.L. c. 40A, as amended, and Section 2A of 1975 Mass. Acts 808.

1.3 AUTHORITY. This Zoning By-Law is enacted in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws, Chapter 40A, any and all amendments thereto, and by the Home Rule Amendment, Article 89 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

1.4 APPLICABILITY. The use, construction, repair, alteration, height, location, percentage of lot coverage by buildings and structures and the use of land in the Town of Canton are hereby restricted and regulated as herein provided. No building, structure or land shall be used or occupied and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved or structurally altered unless in conformity with the regulations of this By-Law, except those already lawfully existing as provided below.

1.4.1 Applicability; Non-conformities. Except as herein after provided, this Bylaw shall not apply to structures or uses lawfully in existence or lawfully begun, or to a building permit or special permit issued before the first publication of notice of the public hearing on this Bylaw or any amendments thereto, but shall apply to any change or substantial extension of such use, to a building permit or special permit issued after the first notice or said public hearing, to any reconstruction, extension or structural change of such structure and to any alteration of a structure begun after the first notice of said public hearing to provide for its use in a substantially different purpose or for the same purpose in a substantially different manner or to a substantially greater extent except where alteration, reconstruction, extension or a structural change to a single or two family residential structure does not increase the non-conforming nature of said structure.

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1.4.2 Commencement of Construction or Operation. Construction or operations under a building permit or special permit shall conform to any subsequent amendments to this Bylaw, unless the use or construction is commenced within a period of not more than six months after the issuance of the permit and in any case involving construction, unless such construction is continued through to completion as continuously and expeditiously as is reasonable.

1.5 OTHER LAWS

The provisions of this By-law shall be construed as being additional to and not as annulling, limiting, or lessening to any extent whatsoever the requirements of any other by-law, rule or regulation; provided that, unless specifically excepted, where this By-law is more stringent it shall control.

1.6 AMENDMENT

1.6.1 Town Meeting. This Bylaw may be amended from time to time in an Annual or Special Town Meeting in accordance with G.L. c. 40A, s. 5.

1.6.2 Public Hearing. No zoning bylaw or amendment thereto shall be adopted until after the Planning Board has held a public hearing thereon for which a notice has been published, posted and mailed as provided in G.L. c. 40A, s. 5 and has made a report with recommendations to the town meeting or after 21 days shall have lapsed after such hearing without submission of such report.

1.6.3 Two Years. No proposed bylaw making a change in any existing zoning bylaw which has been unfavorably acted upon by a town meeting shall be considered on its merits by the town meeting within two years after the date of such unfavorable action unless the adoption of such proposed bylaw was recommended in the report of the Planning Board.

1.6.4 Petition to Amend. A descriptive plot plan shall accompany all petitions to amend this By-Law as to proposed changes to district boundary lines as shown on the zoning map. Such plan shall be filed with the Town Clerk, and a duplicate copy of such plan shall be filed with the Planning Board. The plan shall be drawn to show clearly the following information:

1. The metes and bounds of the site;

2. All streets and other reference marks;

3. All abutting lots, including the names and addresses of the present owners;

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4. Any buildings or structures on the site; and

5. All easements or other restrictions on the site.

Except where the petitioner is the Town or its agent, the plan shall be prepared by a registered land surveyor, and his official stamp or seal shall be affixed to the plan.

1.7 SEVERABILITY

The invalidity of any section or provision of this By-law shall not invalidate any other section or provision hereof.

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