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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000">I am reviewing a community residence/group home bylaw that a planning board would like to revise. The bylaw regulates a community
residence or group home through a special permit process. The bylaw is over 40 years old. I have included it below. </span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000">Am I correct in believing that the Dover Amendment would exempt such uses under zoning? I have various concerns over this bylaw
and feel that it should be replaced in its entirety. <br>
</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000">The planning board would like to see examples from around the state that cover community residences/group homes.
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</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000">I would welcome your thoughts. Chris.</span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">§89-1.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Definitions.<o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">COMMUNITY RESIDENCE or GROUP HOME -- A residential facility which is designed to house five (5) or more persons under supervision and licensed by the appropriate agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">§89-2.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Number of residents limited.<o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">The number of residents, including live-in staff, in all group homes shall not exceed in total one percent (1%) of the population of the town as determined by the most recent federal census.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">§89-3.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Yard requirements.<o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">A community residence or group home housing five (5) persons must have frontage of at least one hundred (100) feet, setback of at least fifty (50) feet and side lines of at least fifty (50) feet. Side
lines shall be increased five (5) feet for every individual beyond five (5) living in the facility.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">§89-4.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Off-street parking.<o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">There shall be ample off-street parking to accommodate the staff and guests of the facility.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">§89-5.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Special permit required; public hearing; required information.<o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">A community residence or group home shall be authorized only by special permit issued by the Board of Selectmen after a public hearing duly called and held with written notice to the abutters, at which
hearing the applicant for a community residence or group home shall submit an informational statement including the following:<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">A.<span style="mso-tab-count:1">
</span>Increase in vehicular traffic.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">B.<span style="mso-tab-count:1">
</span>Changes in numbers of legal residents.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">C.<span style="mso-tab-count:1">
</span>Effect on municipal services and usage.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">E.<span style="mso-tab-count:1">
</span>Effect on public utilities.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">F.<span style="mso-tab-count:1">
</span>Changes in tax revenue.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">G.<span style="mso-tab-count:1">
</span>Listing of all required licenses and permits.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt">H.<span style="mso-tab-count:1">
</span>Compliance with Title V, General Laws, Chapter 21A (State Environmental Code).<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<o:p> </o:p></p>
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<span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"></span><span style=""></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><img class="EmojiInsert" style="max-width:100%" data-outlook-trace="F:1|T:1" src="cid:dfad92f0-dafb-414c-b377-2dcf908c2a72"></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Arial Black",Arial,sans-serif; font-size:10pt"></span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:"Arial Black",Arial,sans-serif; color:rgb(0,0,0)">Chris Skelly, Project Specialist</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:"Arial Black",Arial,sans-serif; color:rgb(0,0,0)">
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<span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:"Arial Black",Arial,sans-serif">Berkshire Regional Planning Commission</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><br>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif; color:#44546A">1 Fenn St., Suite 201 | Pittsfield, MA 01201</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:cskelly@berkshireplanning.org"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">cskelly@berkshireplanning.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.berkshireplanning.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif; color:#0563C1">www.berkshireplanning.org</span></a> </span></p>
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