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2026 Annual Town Meeting, Town of Arlington, MA
Article: 47
Warrant Article Title:
ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENT / DEFINITION OF BUILDING
HEIGHT
Warrant Article Text:
To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 2, Definitions, and
Section 5.3.20, Maximum Height Exceptions, of the Zoning Bylaw,
for buildings in the Floodplain Overlay District; or take any action
related thereto.
Requested By:
the Redevelopment Board
Report Excerpt:
The Board recommends Favorable Action (5-0).
This article was recommended by the Chair of the Zoning Board
of Appeals. Article 47 would improve the resiliency of parcels in
the Floodplain Overlay District by making it possible for people
who own homes in the floodplain to elevate their buildings and for
new developments to design for appropriate flood management
standards. The article proposes to modify the definition of Building
Height and correct references to bylaw sections. The modified
definition would allow Building Height to be measured from the
average grade of the site or the base flood elevation, whichever is
higher.
Currently, the Zoning Bylaw measures Building Height from the
average grade of the curb line abutting the property. Buildings in
FEMA flood zones must have their lowest level of habitation
above the base flood elevation, meaning that basements are not
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habitable. Recently, an applicant went before the Zoning Board of
Appeals (ZBA) because their property was in a floodplain and was
required to make substantial changes to the roof grade in order to
comply with the 35-foot maximum height. The ZBA felt it would be
more appropriate to remove any building levels below the
floodplain elevation from the calculation of Building Height, which
is what Article 47 proposes. The modification would allow property
owners in the flood zones who are contemplating new
construction or renovations greater flexibility over the height of
proposed buildings or additions, including resiliency measures,
such as elevating a building above the base flood elevation.
SECTION 5.3.20, Maximum Height Exceptions, will not be
amended.
Vote Language:
That the Zoning Bylaw be and hereby is amended as follows:
Amend SECTION 2, Definitions, as follows:
Building Height: The vertical distance of the highest point of the
roof above the average grade of the curb line abutting the
property. In the Floodplain District, building height is the
vertical distance of the highest point of the roof measured
from the higher of (a) the average grade of the curb line
abutting the property, or (b) the base flood elevation
established by FEMA. Refer to Sections 5.3.19, 5.3.19.A,
5.3.20, and 5.4.2.B(5) for detailed exceptions.
Redevelopment Board Report
