Town of Stratford - Definitions

ACCESSORY

A building or use clearly incidental or subordinate to, and customary in connection with, the principal building or use on the same lot. Additionally, any site which is environmentally contaminated, as determined by the appropriate federal, state or local agency having jurisdiction over such matters, may have constructed thereon any building(s) or structure(s) necessary for the remediation or monitoring of said contamination, which building(s) or structure(s) shall be considered as accessory to the main building or use on the same lot.

ACCESSORY RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT

The portion of a single-family dwelling which within such dwelling exists additional separate cooking, sanitary facilities, and one bedroom. Such apartment is not a separate and distinct dwelling and must have freely accessible, interior access to the principal dwelling unit.

ACTIVE USE

A use that attracts pedestrian activity during varied times of the day, provides access to the general public and conceals uses designed for parking and other nonactive uses if present. Such uses generally include, but are not limited to, retail, commercial uses, restaurants, coffee shops, libraries and educational and cultural uses. Active uses typically do not include professional offices.

ADULT-ORIENTED ESTABLISHMENTS

Adult-oriented establishments shall be as defined in the Code of the Town of Stratford and shall include, without limitation, adult entertainment, adult media outlets, adult motion picture theaters, adult mini-motion picture theaters, adult newsracks, adult retail establishments, and massage parlors.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Affordable Housing is as defined in Sections 8-30g and 8-39a of the Connecticut General Statutes.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

A housing development a) which is assisted housing or b) which not less than 20% of the dwelling units will be held or conveyed by deeds containing covenants or restrictions which shall require that such dwelling units be sold and rented at, or below, prices which will preserve the units as affordable housing as defined in Section 8-39a, as amended from time to time, of the Connecticut General Statutes for persons and families whose income is less than or equal to 80% of the area median income for at least 20 years after the initial occupation of the proposed development.

AIRPORT

The area of land or water designated for the landing and taking off of aircraft and utilized or to be utilized by the public as a point of arrival or departure by air navigation known as the Sikorsky Memorial Airport [C.G.S. § 15-88(a)]

AIRPORT HAZARD

Any structure or tree which obstructs or may hereafter obstruct the aerial approaches of the airport. [C.G.S. § 15-88(b)]

APPROACH SURFACES

A surface located on the ground or water and centered on the runway center line as extended and expanding outward uniformly with a width and length as established for the airport approach zones in Federal Aviation Regulations Part 77.

ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENTIAL FACILITY

A residential facility which provides assisted living services by a Connecticut-licensed assisted living services agency in a managed residential community, as defined, under regulations of the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, including the provision of supportive services to assist those in need of assistance in the activities of daily living.

AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIP

Commercial facilities on a lot, contiguous lots not more than 130 feet property line to the property line, used for merchandising, storage, buying, selling or exchanging motor vehicles, and repair, maintenance, cleaning, washing, and waxing of motor vehicles.

BASEMENT

A story in a building, the structural ceiling level of which is above the average level of finished grade where such grade abuts that exterior wall of such building which fronts on any street, and the floor level of which is below finished grade at any point on the periphery of the building.

BILLBOARD

A sign, including the type commonly known as a billboard, which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment or attraction, sold, offered or existing elsewhere than upon the same lot where such sign is displayed, or only incidentally upon such lot.

BOARD OF APPEALS

The Board of Zoning Appeals of the Town of Stratford.

BUILDING

Any structure having a roof and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals, or materials. Any other structure more than eight feet high shall be considered as a building including a solid fence or wall, but excluding an electric transmission line or a utility pole, highway or railroad bridge, flagpole, retaining wall or radio or TV antenna.

BUILDING AREA

The ground area enclosed by the outside walls of a building together with the area of all covered porches, other roofed portions, plus all decks, balconies and other similar structural projections above grade.

BUILDING CODE

The Building Code adopted by the Town of Stratford on September 27, 1943, and any amendments thereto.

BUILDING COVERAGE

The percentage of a property occupied or intended to be occupied by all buildings and structures. Building coverage is the building area as defined above divided by the lot area, as defined in this section. The area covered by water bodies, water courses, tidal wetlands and/or freshwater inland wetlands as defined in Chapter 440 of the Connecticut General Statutes shall not be used in computing the maximum allowable building coverage. Building area divided by lot area equals building coverage.

BUILDING HEIGHT

The vertical distance from the average finished grade within 10 feet from the walls of the building to the highest point of flat or mansard roofs including the top of a parapet or to the mean level between the eaves and ridge for gable, hip, or gambrel roofs.

BUILDING INSPECTOR

The Building Inspector of the Town of Stratford.

BUILDING LINE

A line parallel to a street at a distance equal to the required front yard or at a greater distance when otherwise established by the Planning Commission or the Zoning Commission of the Town of Stratford or by limitation in a deed filed in the land records of the Town of Stratford.

CERTIFICATION

A signed, written approval by the Stratford Planning or Zoning Commission that a soil erosion and sediment control plan complies with the applicable requirements of these Regulations.

CO-LOCATION

The location of wireless telecommunication facilities from more than one provider on a single site.

COMMERCIAL SECURITY STRUCTURE

Security doors, gates or grates; window guards; wire or similar fixed or moveable physical barriers designed to protect the contents or occupants of a commercial establishment.

COMMERCIAL SIGN

Any sign fabricated, constructed, attached, erected, fastened, painted or manufactured in any manner and displayed out of doors for the purpose of inducing the sale of any merchandise or service or promoting the business, opinion or policy of any person, party, firm, association, group or corporation other than that offered or conducted on the premises on which it stands.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

A commercial vehicle shall be defined as any vehicle over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW) including legal load, any commercially registered vehicle, any vehicle having visible lettering or advertising or any vehicle containing business-related equipment, supplies or products which are visible off the premises and change the residential character of a neighborhood.

COMMISSION

The Planning or Zoning Commission of the Town of Stratford, depending on the type of petition under review.

COMMISSION

The Zoning Commission of the Town of Stratford.

COMMISSION

The Town Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Stratford.

COMMUNITY

For the purposes of 55 + Housing communities, "community" means the common interest ownership community described below and not any other or larger area:

The community shall be a residential common interest ownership community as defined in Chapter 828 of the Connecticut General Statutes, with the buildings in the community limited to detached single-family dwelling units and a community building and other accessory buildings, provided any community building and accessory building is for the use of residents of the community for recreational, meeting, office and/or maintenance purposes.

COMMUNITY SIGNS OR BANNERS

A sign or banner, erected by the Town of Stratford, primarily identifying the Town of Stratford, individual Town-owned properties or special public events.

CONSTRUCTION WASTES

Any construction debris, by-products or residue that may cause adverse impacts to water quality including but not limited to the following: discarded building materials, concrete truck washouts, asphalt fragments, chemicals, litter, sanitary wastes and property clearing and grubbing wastes including stumps.

COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

The Fairfield County Soil and Water Conservation District established under Subsection (2) of Section 22a-315 of the General Statutes.

COURT

An open space, other than a yard, on the same lot with a building, which space is bounded on three or more sides by the walls of such building.

DEAD-END STREET

A street, or a portion of any street which has no outlet at one end.

DEVELOPMENT

Any construction or grading activities to improved or unimproved real estate.

DISPENSARY FACILITY

A place of business where medical marijuana may be dispensed or sold at retail to qualifying patients and primary caregivers and for which the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has issued a dispensary facility permit under Public Act 12-155 and Sections 21a-408-1 to 21a-408-70, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

DISTRICT

A district established by the provisions of Section 2 of these Regulations.

DISTURBED AREA

An area where the ground cover is destroyed or removed leaving the land subject to accelerated erosion.

DUE PROCESS

The procedure customary provided by these Regulations or required by state statute.

DWELLING, MULTIPLE

A dwelling or group of dwellings on one lot containing living units for three or more families, having separate or joint entrances, services or facilities.

DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY

A detached building designated for or occupied by one family.

DWELLING, SEASONAL

A structure designed and intended for human habitation of a structure which has been used for seasonal or recreational nature and not as a permanent dwelling; or a structure which has been used for seasonal or recreational purposes and not as a permanent dwelling.

DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY

A building designated for or occupied by two families living independently of each other.

DWELLING, YEAR-ROUND

A structure designed and intended for human habitation on a continual basis, as a permanent dwelling; or a structure which has been used on a continual basis as a permanent dwelling.

EROSION

The detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice or gravity.

FAMILY

Any number of individuals related by blood, marriage or adoption, living together as a single housekeeping unit.

FENCE

Any structure constructed of wood, metal, wire mesh, or masonry and used for fence purposes.

FLOOR AREA

The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of the building or buildings on a lot measured from the exterior faces of exterior walls or from the centerline of party walls separating two buildings, excluding cellar and basement areas used only for storage or for the operation and maintenance of the building.

FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR)

The total floor area of all buildings on a lot divided by the lot area or such portion of the lot that lies within the applicable zoning district (total floor area lot area as per this section = FAR).

FLOOR AREA, LIVABLE

All spaces within the exterior walls of a dwelling unit exclusive of garages, breezeways, unheated porches, cellars, heater rooms, and basements having a window area of less than 20% of the square foot area of the room. Usable floor area shall include all spaces not otherwise excluded above such as: principal rooms, utility rooms, bathrooms, all closets and hallways opening directly into any rooms within the dwelling unit and all attic space having a clear height of six feet from finished floor level to pitch of roof rafter with a clear height of seven feet from finished floor level to ceiling over 50% of the area of such attic space.

FREESTANDING SIGN

Any sign which is supported by or suspended from one or more uprights, braces or other means of support in or upon the ground.

GRADING

Any excavating, grubbing, filling (including hydraulic fill) or stockpiling of earth materials or any combination thereof, including the land in its excavated or filled condition.

GREEN BUILDING ELEMENTS

Measures incorporated into building design and construction that are intended to minimize impacts to the environment through conservation of natural resources, increased energy and efficiency and improved indoor air quality.

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

Measures that utilize best management practices for stormwater management that infiltrate or otherwise reuse stormwater. Such techniques may include green roofs, landscaping, rain gardens, bioretention areas, vegetated swales, pocket wetlands, infiltration planters and vegetated median strips. Individual green infrastructure practices shall be defined according to the current Connecticut Stormwater Quality Manual.

GREEN ROOF

The roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. Such roof may or may not be open to residents or users of the building.

HOTEL

A building or portion thereof designed for or containing six or more guest rooms or suites of rooms occupied primarily by transient individuals and not having separate entrances from the outside.

IMPERVIOUS AREA

Any land or portion of a site covered by constructed features which prevent the direct percolation of surface water into the underlying earth. Examples: buildings, paved parking and roadways, masonry walls and terraces, swimming pools, sidewalks, hard-surface playing courts and paved driveways. Constructed features capable of absorbing and transmitting surface water (such as lawns, gravel sidewalks and driveways, clay courts and natural ponds) are not considered impervious area. All public access amenities as required under Section 3.1.1 of the Zoning Regulations except public parking shall not be counted as impervious area.

INSPECTION

The periodic review of sediment and erosion control measures shown on the certified plan.

LOT

A plot or parcel of land occupied or capable of being occupied by one principal building and the accessory buildings or uses customarily incident to it, including such open spaces, street frontage and parking as are required by these Regulations.

LOT AREA

The gross horizontal area contained within the property lines of the lot excluding all areas covered by waterbodies, watercourses, tidal wetlands and/or freshwater inland wetlands as defined in Chapter 440 of the Connecticut General Statutes (gross horizontal area - Wetlands = lot area.).

LOT DEPTH

The sum of the length of both side lot lines divided by two. In the case of a corner lot, the greatest length on any street. For rear lots, the accessway shall not be considered in calculating lot depth.

LOT INTERIOR

A lot other than a corner lot or through lot.

LOT LINE, FRONT

All dividing lines between a street and the lot shall be considered front lines. In the case of a rear lot, the front lot line shall also be considered the line or lines most nearly parallel to and closest to a street or streets providing lot frontage typically at the end of the accessway.

LOT LINE, REAR

The line bounding a lot at the rear and approximately parallel to and at the maximum distance from the front lot line.

LOT LINE, SIDE

The line or lines bounding a lot which extend from the street towards the rear in a direction approximately perpendicular to the street. In the case of corner lots, or through lots, all lines extending from the streets shall be considered side lot lines.

LOT THROUGH

A lot other than a corner lot which abuts two or more streets which do not intersect at the lot.

LOT, CORNER

A lot at the intersection of and abutting on two or more streets where the angle of intersection is not more than 135°; or if rounded by a curve the intersection of tangents at the side lot lines is not more than 135°.

LOT, MINIMUM WIDTH OF

The distance between the side lot lines measured in a straight line at right angles to the mean direction of such side lot lines, which line of measurement shall touch, but not be in front of the building line. In the case of a corner lot, the minimum width shall be similarly measured and, for the purpose of this measurement only, the front lot line which has the least dimension shall be considered the front lot line and the lot lines adjacent thereto shall be considered as side lot lines. See Section 3.3.

LOT, REAR

A lot with less street frontage as required under Section 3.3 of the Zoning Regulations and which the buildable area is located predominately to the rear of the buildable area of the other lots having frontage on the same street and having access to the street via an accessway that is part of the rear lot. The buildable area is the area of the lot, exclusive of all minimum yard setback requirements, where the primary residence could be constructed without any variances.

MANUFACTURING

Any process whereby the nature, size, or shape of articles or raw materials are changed, or where articles are assembled or packaged.

MECHANICAL AMUSEMENT DEVICE

Any machine which, upon the insertion of a coin, slug or token, or upon payment of a charge, releases balls which are propelled by a plunger across a board and register scores by striking pins, posts, levers or bumpers or by falling into holes or slots, or any machine which, upon insertion of a coin or slug for the payment of a charge, is operated to register a score or tally of any kind. Such term shall include such devices as pinball or pin game machines, bowling, billiard games, electronic video games and similar mechanical amusement devices.

METHADONE DISPENSARY and/or CLINICS

Any location utilized or proposed to be utilized to dispense methadone maintenance treatment.

MIXED USE

Development contained on a single parcel that includes different, complementary uses (both residential and nonresidential) and which provide for a variety of activities throughout the day.

MOTEL

A building or group of buildings containing six or more guest apartments each having separate toilet facilities and a private outside entrance.

NON-COMMERCIAL KENNEL

Any kennel occupied by more than three dogs and any run connected therewith cannot be located closer than 100 feet to any property line or street line.

NONCONFORMING BUILDING

A building which does not conform to all the applicable provisions of these Regulations.

A nonconforming building is one which is arranged, intended or designed for or devoted to a nonconforming use.

NONCONFORMING USE

A use of land, building, or premises which is not a use permitted by the provisions of these Regulations for the district in which such land, building or premises are situated.

A nonconforming use is a use of any lot or building which does not conform to the regulations applicable to the zone in which the same shall be located, but which legally existed at the effective date of these Regulations or at the effective date of any amendment thereto or any change in the boundaries of any zoning district herein or hereafter established which creates the nonconformity.

NONCONFORMING USE

Any structure, tree or use of land which is inconsistent with these regulations but which was in existence when the provisions of these regulations were enacted or amended.

OBSTRUCTION

Any structure, growth or other object, including a mobile object, which exceeds a limiting height as set forth in these regulations or the Stratford Zoning Regulations.

OFFICE PARK DISTRICT

An Office Park District is under one sponsorship containing one or more buildings, each containing one or more office units which may be owned by the sponsor and/or occupants thereof under a cooperative or condominium arrangement created in a park-like environment.

OPEN SPACE

That portion of a lot that is to consist of landscaped areas (lawns, shrubs, trees, gardens, etc.) for purposes of: providing adequate light and air, preserving the appearance, character and natural resources of an area, preserving land for conservation, park and recreation, wildlife and forest preserves.

OUTDOOR ADVERTISING OR IDENTIFICATION SIGN

Any sign fabricated, constructed, attached, erected, fastened, painted or manufactured in any manner and displayed either out of doors or indoors but visible from out-of-doors for recognized advertising purposes related directly to the business or service rendered by the occupant of the premises.

OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICT

A zoning district that encompasses one or more underlying zoning districts and imposes additional or alternative requirements or provisions than required by the underlying zoning.

PEDESTRIAN-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT

The design of communities, neighborhoods, streetscapes, buildings and other uses that promote pedestrian comfort, safety, access and visual interest.

PLANNED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (PED)

An integrated development under one sponsorship in accordance with a General Development Plan ("GDP") as set forth in Section 10.1.3.14.3 hereof, on a tract containing at least 30 acres with one or more buildings, each containing one or more of the uses permitted under Sections 10.1.2 and 10.1.3 of these Regulations.

PLANNING COMMISSION

The Town Planning Commission of the Town of Stratford.

PLAT Includes "plats" wherever more than one "plat" of any subdivision is submitted to the Commission.

PREMISES

A lot or building.

PRIMARY DWELLING

For purposes of this regulation, the term "primary dwelling" shall be defined as the unconverted portion of an existing single-family residence.

PRINCIPAL BUILDING

A building in which is conducted the main or principal use of the lot on which said building is located.

PRINCIPAL OWNER

For purposes of this regulation, the term "principal owner" shall be defined as the owner of not less than a fifty-one-percent interest in the residence.

PRINT Includes a blueprint photostat lithoprint or other copy which reproduces exactly the data on the original plat from which it is made.

PRODUCTION FACILITY

A secure, indoor facility where the production of medical marijuana occurs and that is operated by a person to whom the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has issued a production facility permit under Public Act 12-155 and Sections 21a-408-1 to 21a-408-70, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

PROJECTING SIGN

Any sign extending perpendicular to a building or extending more than 12 inches from the building wall or parts thereof.

PROVIDER

An entity authorized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to be a signal carrier for cellular telephones, personal communication services (PCS), specialized mobilized radio (SMR), enhanced specialized mobilized radio (ESMR), and paging services or other modes of communication as described in the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996.

RECYCLING PROCESSING FACILITY

An operation of a recycling/transfer facility for the collection, compacting, crushing, shredding, baling, pulverizing, separation, sorting and consolidation of solid waste materials, including construction materials, demolition materials, wood products, plastics, tires, rags and similar materials for reclamation and volume reduction purposes and for transfer to other sites for final reprocessing, reclamation, conversion or change of form.

REGULATIONS

Any zoning regulations of the Town of Stratford or regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

RESIDENCE APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT

A "residence apartment development" is defined to mean and include all buildings designed and constructed for use as a residence totaling eight or more families living independently of each other in apartments meeting all the requirements of the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut which applies to tenement houses.

RESIDENTIAL OPEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT

A planned residential development under one sponsorship containing one or more buildings each containing one or more dwelling units which shall be owned by the occupants thereof under a cooperative or condominium arrangement.

RESTAURANTS FULL SERVICE AND TAKE-OUT

A. RESTAURANT (FULL SERVICE/DRIVE-IN). A use engaged in the preparation and retail sale of food and beverages, potentially including the sale of alcoholic beverages, on nondisposable ware for consumption by patrons on premises, with a minimum of 10 seats, designed to permit or facilitate the serving of food or beverages directly to, or permitted to be consumed by, patrons at the facility or in motor vehicles parking or stopped on the premises.
B. RESTAURANT (TAKE-OUT) — A use engaged in the preparation and retail sale of food and beverages which serves food and/or beverages in disposable packaging and/or containers for consumption by patrons on or off the premises, including but not limited to delicatessens and/or a restaurant with nine or less seats, including all indoor and outdoor seating.

ROOF SIGN

Any sign, or part thereof, erected, constructed and maintained above the eaves of, or attached to, the roof of any building.

RUNWAY

The defined area of Sikorsky Memorial Airport prepared for landing and takeoff of aircraft along its length as shown on that map entitled "Proposed Airport Zoning Boundaries, Stratford, Connecticut, dated March 13, 1996."

RUNWAY ZONE

The existing paved runways on the airport property, but excluding Runways 16 and 34, as shown on that map entitled "Proposed Airport Zoning Boundaries, Stratford, Connecticut, dated March 13, 1996."

SATELLITE TELEVISION ANTENNA

A satellite television antenna is a dish shaped antenna designed to receive television broadcasts relayed by microwave signals from earth orbiting communications satellites.

SEDIMENT

Solid material, either mineral or organic, that is in suspension, is transported, or has been moved from its site of origin by erosion.

SHARED PARKING

Parking that is utilized by two or more different uses that generate different peak period parking demand.

SIGN

The term "sign" shall include signs, billboards, outdoor structures for advertising letters, words, models, devices, symbols, revolving or flashing lights, trademarks and shall include every kind of structure that is arranged, designed or used as an outdoor advertisement, announcement or direction.

SOIL

Any unconsolidated mineral or organic material of any origin.

SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN

A scheme that minimizes soil erosion and sedimentation resulting from development and includes, but is not limited to, a map and narrative.

STORY

That part of any building, exclusive of cellars but inclusive of basements, comprised between the level of one finished floor and the level of the next higher finished floor, or, if there be no higher finished floor, then that part of the building comprised between the level of the highest finished floor and the top of the roof beams.

STORY, HALF

Any space partially within the roof framing, where the clear height of not more than 50% of such space between the top of the floor beams and the structural ceiling level is seven feet six inches or more.

STREET

A public or private highway or right of way giving access to the lot.

STREET LINE

The dividing line between a lot and a street.

STREET or STREETS Includes streets, avenues, roads, boulevards, lanes or other ways.

STREETSCAPE

The area between building facades on either side of a street or between properties on either side of a street, encompassing its curb-to-curb distance, boulevards, sidewalks, setbacks and property facades or frontages.

STRUCTURAL ALTERATION

Any change in the supporting members of a building, such as beams, columns, girders or bearing partitions.

STRUCTURE

Any object constructed or installed by man, including such objects although regulated or licensed by other provisions of law. [C.G.S. § 15-88(d)]

SUBDIVIDER Includes any person, firm, corporation, partnership or association who shall lay out for the purpose of sale, rent, lease or development any subdivision or part thereof as hereinbefore defined, either for himself or for others.

SUBDIVISION The division of a tract or parcel of land into three or more lots for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale or building development expressly excluding development for agricultural purposes, and shall include resubdivision; "resubdivision" shall mean a change in a map of an approved or recorded "subdivision" or resubdivision if such change affects any street layout shown on such map; affects any area reserved thereon for public use; or diminishes the size of any lot shown thereon, and creates an additional building lot, if any of the lots thereon have been conveyed after the approval or recording of such map.

SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS

Regulations providing for land subdivision in the Town of Stratford effective February 1, 1956, and any amendments thereto.

SWIMMING POOLS

Swimming pools are as defined in the State of Connecticut Building Code.

THESE REGULATIONS The Land Subdivision Regulations of the Town of Stratford, Connecticut as the same are contained herein or any amendments thereto.

TOWER

A pole or lattice type structure that is intended to support wireless telecommunications equipment. A monopole design is a tower consisting of a single self-supporting vertical pole with no guy wire anchors.

TOWN COUNCIL

The Town Council of the Town of Stratford.

TRACT

Any parcel of land that contains at least 30 acres and is owned by, or is subject to, contractual rights or is controlled (i.e., options, etc.) by one person, firm, corporation, association, business entity (partnership, LLC, LLP, etc.) or venture. In the case of any parcels of land within a tract that are separated by a public or private street, a railroad, or public open spaces, but which parcels are owned or controlled as aforesaid, and such parcels demonstrate sufficient adjacency and interrelationship to each other to support a comprehensive development under the PED as defined in this subsection, then such parcels of land shall be deemed and construed to constitute one tract, notwithstanding that said tract is comprised of two or more lots, plots or parcels of land as shown on the Tax Assessment Map of the Town of Stratford.

TRACT AREA

The gross horizontal area contained within the outermost property lines of the tract, including easements, rights-of-way and any area proposed to be offered for any public use or purpose but excluding any existing public streets abutting or crossing said tract as well as all public open spaces and all areas covered by waterbodies, watercourse tidal wetlands and/or freshwater inland wetlands as defined in Chapter 440 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

TRAILER

Any vehicle which is used for sleeping or living quarters and which is, has been, or may be equipped with wheels to permit normal vehicular travel on public highways. Any vehicle towable by a light duty truck such as a utility trailer, boat trailer, camp trailer or similar type vehicle.

TRANSIT STATION

The area, including the platform, which supports transit usage and that is owned and/or operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT

A development pattern created around a transit facility or station that is characterized by higher-density, mixed uses, a safe and attractive pedestrian environment, reduced parking and direct and convenient access to the transit facility.

TREE

Any object of natural growth. [C.G.S. § 15-88(e)]

USABLE OPEN SPACE

Active recreational areas, sitting areas or other landscaped areas open to the sky, but not including surface parking or sidewalk areas.

WALL SIGN

Any sign which is affixed to the exterior surface of any building or canopy, and projecting not more than 12 inches from the building wall or parts thereof.

WINDOW SIGN

Any sign affixed to a window or displayed within three feet of the interior of the window.

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITY

That portion of a property or structure, including supporting structures, where equipment or devices collect or transmit telecommunications or radio signals from a mobile radio communication source and transmit those signals to another facility, another communications source or receiver, or to a central switching computer which connects the mobile unit with land-based telephone lines.

YARD, FRONT

An open space between the building and the front lot line, extending the full width of the lot, or in the case of a corner lot, extending along all streets.

YARD, REAR

An open space between the building and the rear lot line, extending the full width of the lot.

YARD, REQUIRED

So much of the front, rear or side yard as is required by the applicable provisions of these Regulations.

YARD, SIDE

An open space between the building and a side lot line, extending from the front yard to the rear yard.

ZONE

Same as "district."

ZONING COMMISSION

The Town Zoning Commission of the Town of Stratford.

Town of Stratford, CT

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