Article IV Establishment of Districts

Section 1. Zoning Map

A map entitled "Town of Camden Zoning Map" is hereby adopted as part of the Ordinance and shall be referred to as the Official Zoning Map. The Official Zoning Map (including all overlay maps referred to in this Ordinance) shall be identified by the signature of the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and attested by the signature of the Town Clerk. The Official Zoning Map shall be located in the office of the Town Code Enforcement Officer, and it shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of the land and water areas, building, and other structures in the Town.

Section 2. Zoning Districts

The Town is divided into the following districts, as shown by the district boundary lines on the Official Zoning Map:

Natural Resource Protection (RP) District

Rural 1 (RU-1) District

Rural 2 (RU-2) District

Rural Recreation (RR) District

Village Extension (VE) District

Traditional Village (V) District

Coastal Residential (CR) District

Downtown Business (B-1) District

Highway Business (B-2) District

Business Transition (B-3) District

Neighborhood Service (B-4) District

Harbor Business (B-H) District

River Business (B-R) District

Transitional River Business (B-TR) District

Industrial (I) District

In addition, there are established three overlay areas, which, in addition to the standards of the zoning districts they overlay, are governed by performance standards set forth in Article X, Part 1. The overlay areas address shoreland areas, high elevation areas, and historic areas.

Section 3. District Boundaries

(1) Uncertainty of boundaries

Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the various districts as shown on the Zoning Map, the following rules shall apply:

(a) Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center lines of streets, highways, or alleys shall be construed to follow such center lines;

(b) Boundaries indicated as approximately following well established lot lines shall be construed as following such lot lines;

(c) Boundaries indicated as approximately following municipal limits shall be construed as following municipal limits;

(d) Boundaries indicated as following shorelines shall be construed to follow the normal high water line, and in the event of natural change in the shoreline shall be construed as moving with the actual shoreline; boundaries indicated as approximately following the center line of streams, rivers, canals, lakes, or other bodies of water shall be construed to follow such center line;

(e) Boundaries indicated as being parallel to or extensions of features indicated in paragraphs (a) through (d) above shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the Official Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map. Any conflict between the zoning map and description of metes and bounds in a deed shall be resolved in favor of the description by metes and bounds.

(f) Where physical or cultural features existing in the ground are at variance with those shown on the Official Zoning Map or in circumstances where the items covered by paragraphs (a) through (e) above are not clear, the Zoning Board of Appeals shall interpret the district boundaries.

(2) Division of lots by district boundaries

Where a zoning district boundary line divides a lot or parcel of land of the same ownership of record at the time such line is established by adoption or amendment of this Ordinance, the regulations applicable to the less restricted portion of the lot may be extended into the more restricted portion of the lot, but not more than 50 feet; provided, however, that minimum side yard and back yard requirements and buffering requirements for nonresidential or multifamily use abutting a residential use shall be observed.