Land Use Glossary

Activity: As refers to a resource area, can include building, dumping, filling, excavation or planting within the wetland or buffer zone.

Dimensional Regulations: The section of a Zoning Bylaw pertaining to setbacks, frontage, lot area and other dimensional controls for various properties.

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. A standard for green, sustainable building and design. Certain design professionals may also become LEED accredited, a certification in sustainable design.

Notice of Intent: A Conservation filing involving mapping of wetlands, proposed impact and mitigation and documentation of meeting wetland regulations (both local and state) as well as stormwater standards and other applicable regulations.

Overlay Zone: An additional level of zoning control which often allows for additional uses on a property.

Public Hearing: An open meeting held before a municipal board (Planning Board, Zoning Board, Conservation Commission) to discuss, and vote upon a request for permitting.

Resource Area: A wetland, bank, river or stream area and associated land surrounding it up to 100 feet (buffer area), or 200-foot Riverfront Area.

Setback: Dimensional regulations stating the distance a structure must be from either a lot line, another structure or resource area.

Subdivision: The development of land, typically with buildings on separate lots, or the permitting process allowing for such development.

Use: The activities occurring on a property.

Waiver or Variance: Permission granted by a municipal board to allow digression from a zoning or other bylaw requirement.

Wetland:  A regulated resource area identified by the soils, vegetation and species present. Typically a wet area.

Zoning Bylaw: A regulatory document, adopted by a Municipality (via Town meeting or City Council), which outlines accepted uses, dimensional requirements and permitting procedures for land within the Municipality.

Zoning District: A geographic area defined by the Zoning Map associated with certain allowed uses or activities.

Additional terms you may encounter during the permitting or development process:

FAR: The ratio of the area of a building's square footage compared to the area of the property on which it is sited.

Building Envelope: An imaginary box defined by the yard setbacks identified in the local zoning bylaw within which the primary structure (for example, a house) must be built. The building envelope allows a designer to determine if the structure will fit within zoning requirement and envision how it will be oriented on a lot.

Footprint: The area of land a structure occupies on a site.