[Massplanners] Regulation of Dumpster Screening

[Daniel Fortier]

In Dennis we had vague wording that essentially became a solid fence. Our
Community Policing officer came back from a CPED (Community Policing
Environmental Design) training and asked for more involvement in these
aspects of sites. At the time there were a number of cases across the state
where people hid by or in the enclosure and used it as a means to gain
access to businesses after hours. The issue was, robbers knew they could
not be seen by the end of night trash disposal and could use that person as
a hostage to gain entry and steal the nights receipts.

Design was made a staff review item to ensure appropriate visibility.

Dan Fortier, AICP
Retired Planner

On Tue, May 7, 2024, 2:47 PM Town Planner via MassPlanners <
massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:

> Hi Eric,
>
> Deerfield's bylaw w/r/t performance standards for dumpsters for
> manufacturing/assembly/fabrication facilities:
>
> *Adequate provision for trash disposal and screening of refuse areas
> containing dumpsters or other containers shall be provided from abutting
> parcels and roadways. Solid wood fencing should be used unless an
> alternative acceptable to the ZBA is approved.*
>
> Also saw this from Boxborough which may be more useful if looking to have
> the regs scale:
>
> *If any trash receptacle exceeds 55 gallons or if the aggregate of trash
> on a lot exceeds 150 gallons, it shall be screened from public view.
> Temporary trash receptacles are exempt from these provisions provided that
> they are on site for no longer than 60 days. Temporary trash receptacles
> used for construction activities are exempt from these provisions during
> the duration of the site’s building permit, or for 60 days, whichever is
> longer.*
>
> Hope that's helpful,
>
> *Christopher Dunne, **MPA*
>
> *Planning & Economic Development Coordinator*
>
> *Town of Deerfield*
>
> *8 Conway Street*
>
> *South Deerfield, MA, 01373*
>
> *(413) 665-1400 ex. 117*
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> on behalf of
> Eric Smith via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, May 7, 2024 3:27 PM
> *To:* Mass Planners <massplanners at masscptc.org>
> *Subject:* [Massplanners] Regulation of Dumpster Screening
>
> Hello Mass Planners,
>
> A Planning Board member of ours was inquiring about requiring screening
> around two dumpsters at a particular group home property.   This group home
> was recently renovated (had been a general boarding house) and didn't
> trigger a Site Plan Review application before our Planning Board, as that's
> reserved for new construction.  Plus, the use is an exempted use under MGL
> Ch. 40A, Sect. 3, thus didn't trigger a Special Permit for multi-family
> housing units.
>
> We do have screening requirements as part of our site plan review for new
> construction.  I spoke with our Building Inspector/Zoning Enforcement
> Officer, and after reviewing our existing zoning bylaws, there's nothing
> currently in the general zoning provisions that require dumpster screening,
> outside site plan review.
>
> Thus, I wanted to see if there's any Massachusetts' communities have any
> general standards either in their zoning or general bylaws that require all
> dumpsters to be screened.
>
> I look forward in hearing about any such examples we can look into for
> Athol.
>
> Thank you, Eric
>
> Eric R. Smith, AICP
>
> Director of Planning and Development
>
> Town of Athol
>
> 584 Main Street,
>
> Athol, MA 01331
>
> (978) 721-8500 ext. 517
> esmith at townofathol.org
>
>
> --
> MassPlanners mailing list
> MassPlanners at masscptc.org
> http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org
>
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