Environmental Rules in Methuen, MA (2026)
4 verified environmental rules for Methuen, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
In the City of Methuen, Massachusetts, site plan approval under Article XII requires adequate provision for stormwater drainage consistent with the Community Development Board's Subdivision Rules and Regulations, a design that minimizes the extent of stormwater flow increase from the site, and compliance with the Massachusetts DEP Stormwater Policy. The Board can require drainage calculations and drainage basin studies.
Methuen Site Plan Stormwater Drainage Standards
Some RestrictionsMethuen Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance § 12.3(C)
C. Approval. ... Site plan approval shall be granted upon determination by the Community Development Board that the plan meets the following objectives. ... Additionally, the Community Development Board may require the applicant to provide a traffic study and/or drainage calculations to be provided to the Community Development Board in order that it may review the project in light of the standa...
Erosion Control
In the City of Methuen, Massachusetts, erosion control during construction runs through site plan approval under § 12.3: the Community Development Board approves a plan only if it minimizes cut and fill, soil erosion and stormwater flow increase, and complies with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Stormwater Policy. Solar and wind projects carry their own land-clearing and revegetation rules.
Methuen MA Erosion and Stormwater Control in Site Plan Approval
Some RestrictionsMethuen Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance § 12.3C
§ 12.3. Procedural requirements. ... C. Approval. ... Site plan approval shall be granted upon determination by the Community Development Board that the plan meets the following objectives. The Community Development Board may impose reasonable conditions at the expense of the applicant, including performance guarantees, to promote these objectives. ... New building construction or other site al...
Flood Zones
In the City of Methuen, Massachusetts, the Floodplain District is an overlay on all other zoning districts, and all development in it, structural or nonstructural, by right or by special permit, must comply with state building code Section 744, wetlands regulations, Title 5, MGL c. 131, § 40 and Methuen Municipal Ordinances under § 11.17.
Methuen Floodplain District Development Rules
Some RestrictionsMethuen Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance § 11.17(A)-(B)
A. All development in the Floodplain District, including structural and nonstructural activities, whether permitted by right or by special permit, must be in compliance with the following: (1) 780 CMR 744.0 of the Massachusetts State Building Code, which addresses floodplain and coastal high-hazard areas. (2) 310 CMR 10.00, Wetlands Protection, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). (3) ...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In the City of Methuen, Massachusetts, § 11.17(B)(1) controls floodplain development by the base flood elevation: in Zones A1-30 and AE along watercourses with no designated floodway, no new construction, substantial improvement or other development is permitted unless it will not raise the base flood water surface elevation more than one foot at any point in the community. The ordinance text prints no freeboard figure.
Methuen Base Flood Elevation Rise Limit
Some RestrictionsMethuen Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance § 11.17(B)(1), (3)
(1) Within Zone A, the best available floodway data shall be used to prohibit encroachments in floodways which would result in any increase in the base flood discharge. In Zones A1-30, and AE along watercourses that have not had a regulatory floodway designated, no new construction, substantial improvement or other development shall be permitted, unless it is demonstrated that the cumulative ef...