71 Main St Merrimac, MA 01860-2236

9 RURAL HIGHWAY DISTRICT (RH) 9.1 Purposes. The Town shall have a Rural Highway District as shown on the OFFICIAL ZONING MAP. The purposes of the Rural Highway District are to encourage Route 110 to develop in a manner consistent with the visual character of the community, strengthen and stabilize the Town’s tax base, and foster a wide range of commercial uses. It is the intent of this Bylaw that development in the Rural Highway District will address the following goals of the Town: 9.1.12 Consist of a mix of uses, but mainly business uses. 9.1.13 Avoid the appearance and hazards of a strip commercial area by minimizing curb cuts, providing attractive pedestrian walkways along Route 110 and between commercial or MIXED-USE properties, subordinating parking, and providing high-quality architectural design. 9.1.14 Avoid “big-box” development. 9.1.15 Provide goods and services used by residents of the Town and adjacent communities. 9.1.16 Encourage small- and medium-size businesses to locate and stay in Merrimac. In the Rural Highway District no STRUCTURE shall be erected or altered and no building, STRUCTURE, premises or land shall be used for any purpose or in any manner other than as permitted as follows. 9.2 Permitted Uses and Structures. 9.2.12 Retail Business or Service in Buildings up to 25,000 square feet (ft2) of GROSS FLOOR AREA: 9.2.12.1 Retail sale of food items, including confectionery, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, groceries and meats. 9.2.12.2 Sale of baked goods and the manufacture of same for sale. 9.2.12.3 Sale of dry goods, variety merchandise and handicraft work. 9.2.12.4 Sale of clothing and clothing accessories. 9.2.12.5 Sale of hardware, household items including appliances, furniture, furnishings and supplies. 9.2.12.6 Sale of printed matter, pharmaceuticals, stationary and photographic supplies. [Type here] -59- 9.2.12.7 Roadside stand for the sale of agricultural products, primarily grown or produced locally. 9.2.13 CONVENIENCE STORE in a building up to 2,500 square feet (ft2) of GROSS FLOOR AREA, not including gasoline fuel pumps. 9.2.14 Professional, Medical or Business Office 9.2.14.1 Professional office for dental, architectural, engineering, legal, medical, and other similar recognized professions. 9.2.14.2 Real estate, insurance and general business office, banks, telephone office. 9.2.15 Medical and Related Facilities 9.2.15.1 Nursing home. 9.2.15.2 Private hospital. 9.2.15.3 Other care and treatment facilities.