[Massplanners] A Unique No Frontage Issue

[Daniel Fortier]

I could be wrong, but I would argue it cannot be built upon. Chapter 40A
establishes 2 standards to be met, 5,000 sf AND 50 feet of frontage.  If
todays local zoning has a frontage requirement that is not met (which it
sounds like it doesn't) then the next test for vested lots will be the 50
feet in 40A.

At least that is how I have approached it.

Daniel Fortier, AICP
 Retired Planner

On Tue, Sep 10, 2024, 1:15 PM Andrew Groff via MassPlanners <
massplanners at masscptc.org> wrote:

> Good Afternoon Planners
> Had an interesting frontage question come into our office this week.
> Curious if anyone else has seen a similar situation before. The lot in
> question has minimum area and no frontage. It sits within a former estate
> that was carved up in the 1950s into multiple higher end homes. This is the
> remaining unbuilt parcel. It has a deeded ROW to it from the existing
> shared drive. Nothing is currently built or present on the ROW. Here's
> where things get a little confusing.
>
>    - Annual Town Meeting established zoning in Williamstown in February
>    1955, required 7500 sf in area and minimum width of 75 for a lot, but no
>    frontage was specified.
>    - The Subdivision Control Law was not enacted in town until July 1959.
>
> Since the lot was laid out prior to 1959, is it in fact non conforming,
> even without frontage? If the SCL wasn't in effect, then its own minimums
> wouldn't apply? Never seen one that had these specific circumstances before.
> Andrew
> --
>
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/31+North+Street+%0D%0A+Williamstown,+Mass.+01267?entry=gmail&source=g>
> *Town of Williamstown*
> Community Development Dept.
> Andrew Groff, A.I.C.P.
> Director
> 31 North Street
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/31+North+Street+%0D%0A+Williamstown,+Mass.+01267?entry=gmail&source=g>
> Williamstown, Mass. 01267
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/31+North+Street+%0D%0A+Williamstown,+Mass.+01267?entry=gmail&source=g>
> (413) 597-8284
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