Town of Stratford - Zoning Districts

ADD Airport Development District

The Town of Stratford, acting by the Town Council hereby enacts airport zoning regulations pursuant to Section 15-91 of the Connecticut General Statutes, entitled "Stratford Airport Zoning Regulations" to reduce airport hazards. These regulations shall apply only to the land known as the Sikorsky Memorial Airport and such adjacent areas as are expressly included as stated in these regulations.

Airport zoning districts.

A. Lands within the airport boundary are divided into two airport zoning districts, known as the "Runway Zone" and the "Airport Development District," as follows:

(1)Runway Zone. The existing paved runways on the airport property, but excluding Runways 16 and 34.
(2)Airport Development District. The land area located within the airport property boundary zone shown as the Airport Zoning District boundary on that map entitled "Proposed Airport Zoning Boundaries, Stratford, Connecticut, dated March 13, 1996."

B. Areas adjacent to the Airport Development District but within the airport approach surfaces as defined herein are also subject to limitations on height of structures as provided in § 45-6.

Airport Development District.

District boundary. The zone or district boundary includes portions of the land areas within the airport property boundaries of the Sikorsky Memorial Airport presently owned by the City of Bridgeport, but excluding the area within the Runway Zone. The actual areas within the district are shown as "Airport Development District" on the map entitled "Proposed Airport Zoning Boundaries, Stratford, Connecticut, dated March 13, 1996," except as the map may hereafter be amended by the Town Council.

All of the permitted uses are subject to the following limitations:

(a) Airport runways are not allowed in this district.
(b) The boundaries of the district may not be changed except by the Town Council.
(c) The uses permitted in the district may not be changed, extended or expanded except by the Town Council.
(d) No airport hazard shall be allowed.
(e) Any structures within the district shall comply with the height limitations of Federal Aviation Regulations Part 77, in addition to limitations imposed by these regulations and other ordinances of the Town of Stratford and federal and state statutes and regulations.
(f) The standards of the Stratford Zoning Regulations for the underlying zone in which property in the Airport Development District is located on the Stratford Zoning Map, as such standards and map may be amended by the Commission, shall apply and control lot size, lot width, setbacks, coverage and parking, except for height limitations and as otherwise provided in these regulations.
(g) All uses must comply with the following restrictions, and no use shall be allowed which will:

[1] Create objectionable noise, dust, vibration or noxious fumes or odors;
[2] Create electrical interference with navigational signals or radio communication between the Airport and aircraft;
[3] Impair visibility in the vicinity of the Airport;
[4] Endanger or interfere with the landing, takeoff or maneuvering of aircraft intending to use the Airport;
[5] Make it difficult for pilots to distinguish between airport lights and others; or
[6] Result in glare in the eyes of pilots using the Airport.

Safety area. The creation of a safety area, consisting of any change in the configuration of the surface of land extending from the termination of a paved runway and/or an unpaved level of ground created as an extension of a runway surface, shall require the approval of the Stratford Town Council both within the Airport Development District and those areas outside the Runway Zone and the Airport Development District.

See § 45-5: Airport Development District for complete details on this district.

AOH Affordable Housing Opportunity Zone

This section was presented as part of a site-specific affordable housing development approved under the provisions of C.G.S. § 8-30g. A copy of this regulation is available for review in the Planning and Zoning Office, Stratford Town Hall.

Please contact the Planning and Zoning Office for more information.

See 26.1: Affordable Housing Opportunity Zone.

ARH Affordable Residential Housing

This section was presented as part of a site-specific affordable housing development approved under the provisions of C.G.S. § 8-30g. A copy of this regulation is available for review in the Planning and Zoning Office, Stratford Town Hall.

Please contact the Planning and Zoning Office for more information.

CA Retail Commercial Districts

For purpose of clarification, all those areas of the Town of Stratford legally zoned as Business 1, Business 2, Business A, are declared to be a CA District. All uses existing in these business zones are conforming uses at the time of the adoption of the respective regulations may be continued as conforming uses at the same locations, but none may be extended except in conformance with all the requirements of these Regulations for CA Districts.

See 7.1: Uses permitted in CA district, 7.2: Uses specifically prohibited in CA Districts, 7.3: Off-street parking requirements for CA districts and 7.4: General requirements for CA Districts for more detailed information on this district.

CC Heavy Commercial Districts

See SECTION 9: Heavy Commercial Districts (CC) for detailed information on this district.

CF Retail Commercial Districts

See 7.5: CF Districts for detailed information.

CNC Retail Commercial Districts

For the purpose of reducing traffic on main thoroughfares and lessening congestion in CA and CF districts, the Zoning Commission intends to establish on its own motion or by petition to it, and after due procedure, CNC Districts of not less than 80,000 square feet each in area, wherever in its judgment in the general areas indicated by the plan of development it shall find it necessary or desirable for public convenience to permit uses as defined in Section 7.6.2 of the Zoning Regulations surrounded by or adjacent to other districts where they are prohibited, subject to the provisions of Section 7.6 and Section 7.7. No CNC District shall be created unless it has provision for at least four different permitted uses.

See 7.6: Purposes of, establishment and uses permitted in CNC Districts for detailed information.

HOD Housing Opportunity Development Zone

This section was presented as part of a site-specific affordable housing development approved under the provisions of C.G.S. § 8-30g. A copy of this regulation is available for review in the Planning and Zoning Office, Stratford Town Hall.

Please contact the Planning and Zoning Office for more information.

See 27.1: Housing Opportunity Development Zone.

LB Limited Business Districts

All that area of the town included in the "Civic Center Zone" at the time of the adoption of these Regulations is hereby included in and declared to be an LB District. All uses legally existing as conforming uses in the Civic Center Zone at the time of the adoption of these Regulations may be continued as conforming uses at the same locations, but none may be extended except in conformance with all the requirements of these Regulations for LB Districts.

See SECTION 6: Limited Business Districts (LB) Civic Center for more detailed information on this district.

LBB Limited Business Districts

For areas of close and irregular contours where limited business use or residence apartments is indicated in the Town plan.

(All permitted uses are subject to provisions of Section 6.2.11 as to lot layout and arrangement of buildings and facilities on the lot).

See SECTION 6: Limited Business Districts (LB and LBB) Civic Center for more detailed information on this district.

LBHZ Lordship Boulevard Housing Zone

It is the purpose and intent of this regulation to promote and authorize lower-cost housing development through the new construction of affordable rental housing. Such development is intended to provide an alternative to owner-occupied housing and to foster diverse housing suited to different income levels and lifestyles in compact, well-designed, energy-efficient rental apartments.

Any development constructed in an LBHZ shall be in full compliance with all of the requirements of this regulation as well as all other applicable Town ordinances and regulations except as provided for in these regulations. Further, a development under this SECTION 32: Lordship Boulevard Housing Zone (LBHZ) is separate and distinct from a development under 5.3: Residence apartments and 5.4: Affordable housing development, and the provisions of 5.3: Residence apartments and 5.4: Affordable housing development shall not apply to an LBHZ.

A building permit for the construction of all of any part of an LBHZ development shall not be issued unless and until the Zoning Commission shall have approved a site plan in accordance with the provisions set forth herein in SECTION 32: Lordship Boulevard Housing Zone (LBHZ).

See SECTION 32: Lordship Boulevard Housing Zone (LBHZ) for more detailed information.

MA Light Industrial

All those areas of the Town of Stratford legally zoned as light industrial at the time of the adoption of these Regulations is hereby included in and declared to be District MA. All uses legally existing in light industrial zones as conforming uses at the time of the adoption of these Regulations may be continued as conforming uses at the same locations, but none may be extended excepted in conformity with all the requirements of these Regulations for District MA.

See 10.2: Light Industrial Districts (MA) for more detailed information.

MB General Industrial

All those areas of the Town of Stratford legally zoned as heavy industrial at the time of the adoption of these Regulations are hereby included in and declared to be District MB. All uses legally existing in heavy industrial zones as conforming uses at the time of the adoption of these Regulations may be continued as conforming uses at the same locations, but none may be extended except in conformance with all the requirements of these Regulations for District MB.

See SECTION 11: General Industrial Districts (MB) for more detailed information.

MC Coastal Industrial

This District recognizes that there are areas of the Town of Stratford which border on existing industrial areas yet are areas subject to frequent, occasional, periodic or potential flooding or contain or border on sensitive coastal resources or open water, estuarine embayments or coastal flood hazard areas. The intent and purpose of this regulation is to place stricter limitations on the development and use of land in those areas necessary to preserve and protect these sensitive coastal resources while reducing hazards to life and property as outlined in the Connecticut Coastal Management Act. This transitional district which allows less intensive development than existing industrial districts yet recognizes the environmental sensitivity of the area should help achieve these objectives.

Land, buildings and other structures used for one or more of the permitted purposes shall be subject to the environmental protection standards of Section 3.24.

See SECTION 10: Coastal and Light Industrial Districts (MC, MA) for more detailed information.

OPD Office Park Districts

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.

Permitted districts. In any District subject to the approval of the Zoning Commission as a special case under Section 20 of these Regulations.

See 6.3: Office Park District for more detailed information.

RCD Resource Conservation Districts

The Resource Conservation District was created to recognize that there are certain sections of Stratford which possess unique and important environmental qualities and which simultaneously possess significant development constraints, including but not limited to freshwater and tidal wetlands, coastal bluffs and escarpments, and beach and dune systems. While such areas exist in varying sizes on a scattered basis throughout the Town, the Resource Conservation District was designed to promote appropriate treatment, protection and conservation of large contiguous tracts of such environmentally sensitive areas; to promote uses which are generally compatible with and will serve to enhance such areas; and to promote the general public health, safety and welfare of Stratford's residents. All uses are subject to the Environmental Protection Standards under Section 3.24 of these Regulations and, where applicable, to the permitting requirements of the local, state and federal governments.

See 4.4: Resource conservation district for more detailed information.

RM-1 Multifamily Residential Districts

All that area of the town included in the Res. "C" Zone at the time of the adoption of these Regulations is hereby included in and declared to be an RM-1 District. All uses legally existing as conforming uses in the Res. "C" Zone at the time of the adoption of these Regulations may be continued as conforming uses at the same locations, but none may be extended except in conformance with all the requirements of these Regulations for RM-1 Districts.

See SECTION 5: Two-Family Districts (RM-1) for more detailed information.

RS-1 One-family Residential Districts

All those areas of the Town of Stratford legally zoned as Res. AA, Res. A, Res. B, and Res. C respectively at the time of the adoption of these Regulations is hereby included in and declared to be districts RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-4 and RM-1 respectively. All uses legally existing in those zones as conforming uses at the time of the adoption of these Regulations may be continued as conforming uses at the same locations, but none may be extended except in conformity with all the requirements of these Regulations for the district in which it is located.

See SECTION 4: One-Family Residence Districts (RS) for more detailed information.

RS-2 One-family Residential Districts

All those areas of the Town of Stratford legally zoned as Res. AA, Res. A, Res. B, and Res. C respectively at the time of the adoption of these Regulations is hereby included in and declared to be districts RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-4 and RM-1 respectively. All uses legally existing in those zones as conforming uses at the time of the adoption of these Regulations may be continued as conforming uses at the same locations, but none may be extended except in conformity with all the requirements of these Regulations for the district in which it is located.

See SECTION 4: One-Family Residence Districts (RS) for more detailed information.

RS-3 One-family Residential Districts

All those areas of the Town of Stratford legally zoned as Res. AA, Res. A, Res. B, and Res. C respectively at the time of the adoption of these Regulations is hereby included in and declared to be districts RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-4 and RM-1 respectively. All uses legally existing in those zones as conforming uses at the time of the adoption of these Regulations may be continued as conforming uses at the same locations, but none may be extended except in conformity with all the requirements of these Regulations for the district in which it is located.

See SECTION 4: One-Family Residence Districts (RS) for more detailed information.

RS-4 One-family Residential Districts

All those areas of the Town of Stratford legally zoned as Res. AA, Res. A, Res. B, and Res. C respectively at the time of the adoption of these Regulations is hereby included in and declared to be districts RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-4 and RM-1 respectively. All uses legally existing in those zones as conforming uses at the time of the adoption of these Regulations may be continued as conforming uses at the same locations, but none may be extended except in conformity with all the requirements of these Regulations for the district in which it is located.

See SECTION 4: One-Family Residence Districts (RS) for more detailed information.

RUNWAY ZON Runway Zone

The zone boundary is the outer limits on all sides of the Runway Zone as defined herein and shown as "Runway Zone" on the map entitled "Proposed Airport Zoning Boundaries, Stratford, Connecticut dated March 13, 1996," except as the Runway Zone and map may hereafter be amended by the Town Council.

See § 45-4: Runway Zone for more detailed information.

SAHZ Surf Avenue Housing Zone

It is the purpose and intent of this regulation to promote and authorize lower-cost housing development through the new construction of an apartment home community building on vacant land on Surf Avenue. Such development is intended to provide an alternative to owner-occupied housing and to foster diverse housing suited to different income levels and lifestyles in compact, well-designed, energy-efficient rental apartments.

Any development constructed in an SAHZ shall be in full compliance with all of the requirements of this regulation as well as all other applicable Town ordinances and regulations except as provided for in these regulations. Further, a development under this Section 30 is separate and distinct from a development under 5.3: Residence apartments and 5.4: Affordable housing development, and the provisions of 5.3: Residence apartments and 5.4: Affordable housing development shall not apply to an SAHZ.

A building permit for the construction of all of any part of an SAHZ development shall not be issued unless and until the Zoning Commission shall have approved a site plan in accordance with the provisions set forth herein in 30.3: Site Plan Submission Requirements.

See SECTION 30: Surf Avenue Housing Zone (SAHZ) for more detailed information.

WF Waterfront Business Districts

The purpose of this District is to preserve and enhance existing water-dependent uses, encourage new water-dependent uses where appropriate and encourage development which is compatible with the coastal resource characteristics.

The provision of access by the general public along the water's edge and the development of complimentary uses and activities on the waterfront will serve to integrate this District with surrounding districts.

See SECTION 8: Waterfront Business Districts (WF) for more detailed information.

Town of Stratford, CT

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