Town Meeting Approves Zoning Changes

Medway’s fall town meeting on November 14 approved a wide-ranging set of amendments to Medway’s Zoning Bylaw and Map that will be of interest to Medway’s business community. The proposals were developed and sponsored by the Planning and Economic Development Board to encourage investment in Medway’s various business districts in accordance with the goals laid out in the Medway Master Plan for the development of Medway.

Central Business District – The previously designated Commercial I district was renamed to become Central Business District to more accurately depict its real function. However, the boundaries of the district did not change. The CB district runs on both side of Route 109/Main Street from Medway Commons and Walgreens on the east to Elm and Pond Streets on the west as illustrated in the map.

What has changed:

  • New allowed uses – florist, brew pub, studio, museum, theatre, gallery, educational/instructional facility (commercial), fitness facility, dry cleaner, photocopying/printing
  • New special permit uses – retail stores larger than 20,000 sq. ft., inn, movie theatre/cinema, commercial indoor amusement, funeral home, outdoor display
  • New prohibited uses – auto parts, repair shop, doggie day care, furniture repair, kennel, adult day care facility, brewery, vehicle fuel station, car wash, vehicle repair, auto body shop, drive-thru facility, long-term care facility, outdoor storage, lodge or club, livery/riding stable
  • The minimum front setback reduced from 50’ to 10’. This will allow new construction closer to Main Street
  • Minimum side setback reduced from 25’ to 10’ except when a commercial use abuts a residential district, then it stays at 25’
  • Minimum lot size reduced from 20,000 sq. ft. to 10,000 sq. ft.
  • New minimum 15% open space requirement
  • Maximum lot coverage (buildings) increased from 30% to 80%

Village Commercial District – This is a renaming of the former Commercial III and IV zoning districts, again with no boundary changes. Both areas are along Village Street. One district is the area around Medway Town Hall and up Broad Street. The other is around the Police Station and goes northerly up Lincoln and High Streets and Norfolk Avenue. The map defines the renamed district. Again, the name change was recommended to more accurately label Medway’s small, older, neighborhood commercial districts.

What has changed:

  • New allowed uses – florist, brew pub, studio, gallery, personal care service establishments, fitness facility, dry cleaner, laundromat, shoe repair, photocopying/ printing, tailor, repair shop, furniture repair, educational/ instructional facility (commercial), medical office
  • New special permit uses – restaurant with live entertainment, bed & breakfast, inn, museum, theatre, vehicle repair
  • New prohibited uses – retail stores larger than 20,000 sq. ft., auto parts store, auto body shop, adult day care facility, recreational facility, long-term care facility, commercial indoor amusement, doggie day care, vehicle fuel station, outdoor display, nursery, livery/riding stable
  • Minimum lot size reduced from 20,000 sq. ft. to 10,000 sq. ft.
  • Minimum front setback reduced from 35’ to 20’
  • Minimum side and rear setback reduced from 15’ to 10’
  • Maximum lot coverage (buildings) increased from 30% to 80%

Business Industrial District – This is the area on the north side of Main Street immediately after entering Medway from Millis and running to Industrial Park Road.

What has changed:

  • New allowed uses – auto parts store, brew pub, commercial indoor amusement, fitness facility, optician, dry cleaner, laundromat, shoe repair, photocopying/ printing, tailor, repair shop, educational/instructional facility (commercial), medical office, veterinary hospital, recreational facility
  • New special permit uses – retail store larger than 20,000 sq. ft., doggie day care, vehicle fuel station, car wash, vehicle repair, auto body shop, drive-through facility, outdoor display
  • New prohibited uses – long-term care facility, bed and breakfast, inn, museum, movie theatre/cinema, theatre, gallery, adult day-care facility, livery/riding stable
  • Minimum lot frontage reduced from 100’ to 75’
  • Minimum front setback reduced from 35’ to 25’
  • Maximum lot coverage increased from 30% to 40%
  • New maximum impervious coverage at 80%
  • New minimum 20% open space requirement

Commercial V District – This area is at the four corners of the intersection of Route 109 (Milford Street) and Route 126 (Summer Street).

What has changed:

  • New allowed uses – brew pub, gallery, fitness facility, optician, dry cleaner, laundromat, shoe repair, photocopying/ printing, tailor, repair shop, educational/instructional facility (commercial), medical office, veterinary hospital
  • New special permit uses – restaurant providing live entertainment, museum, theatre, outdoor display
  • New prohibited uses – recreational facility, long-term care facility, retail store larger than 20,000 sq. ft., auto parts store, bed & breakfast, inn, movie theatre/cinema, commercial indoor amusement, doggie day care, kennel, adult day care, vehicle fuel station, auto body shop, outdoor storage, brewery, lodge/ club, livery/riding stable
  • Minimum front setback reduced from 50’ to 35’
  • Maximum lot coverage increased from 30% to 40%
  • New maximum impervious coverage of 80%
  • New minimum 20% open space requirement

 Industrial Districts – Medway has 3 industrial districts. Industrial I includes the Medway Industrial Park on the east side of town off of Route 109 on Industrial Park Road, Marc Road and Jayar Road. Industrial II is the area around the Exelon and Eversource power facilities.  Industrial III is the area off of Milford Street on Trotter Drive and Alder Street.

What has changed:

  • New allowed uses
    • Industrial I – recreational facility, commercial indoor amusement, educational/ instructional facility (commercial), auto body shop, outdoor storage, warehouse/ distribution facility, brewery
    • Industrial II – commercial indoor amusement, warehouse/distribution facility, brewery
    • Industrial III – hotel/motel, commercial indoor amusement, research and development, brewery
  • New special permit uses in Industrial I – repair shop, furniture repair
  • New prohibited uses – long term care facility, retail store larger than 20,000 sq. ft., auto parts store, brew pub, bed & breakfast, inn, museum, movie theatre/cinema, theatre, gallery, doggie day care, furniture repair in Industrial II and III, educational/instructional facility (commercial) in Industrial II and III, kennel in Industrial II and III, medical office/clinic, adult day care facility, vehicle fuel station, auto body shop in Industrial II and III, outdoor display, outdoor storage in Industrial II and III, gravel/loam/sand or stone removal
  • New minimum lot frontage of 100’ in Industrial I and III and 150’ in Industrial II
  • Elimination of maximum lot coverage requirement
  • New maximum impervious lot coverage of 80%
  • New minimum 20% open space requirement
  • Increase of maximum building height in Industrial I from 40’ to 60’

Any questions on the zoning changes may be directed to Susy Affleck-Childs in the Medway Planning and Economic Development office, 508-533-3291 or sachilds@townofmedway.org. The MBC thanks Susy for providing this comprehensive and informative recap.

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