Erosion and Sediment Control Plan Required. A soil erosion and sediment control plan shall be submitted as part of an application for Development Plan Review when any activity has a disturbed area proposed of more than one-half acre. Such plan shall contain proper provisions to prevent accelerated erosion and sedimentation and eliminate any increased stormwater runoff created on the proposed site. Plans for soil erosion and sediment control and stormwater management shall be developed according to this Section using the principles as outlined in the 1989 Rhode Island Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, and the 1993 State of Rhode Island Stormwater Manual, as such may be amended from time to time. A soil erosion plan will be required for a single family residence when slopes exceed 15%. This soil erosion plan will be approved by the Building Official only prior to the issuance of a building permit.

Site Design Requirements. Site design requirements shall be as follows:

Submission Requirements. A site development plan and a narrative description of the development shall be submitted with the application for Development Plan Review. Included in such application shall be all the requirements of ARTICLE XII, Development Plan Review and Land Development Review, and the following:

Completion Bonds Required. The estimated costs of all measures of an approved plan, shall be required to be covered by a cash completion bond to ensure the completion or restoration of any disturbed property. Said cash shall be released on the finding by and at the recommendation of the Planning Commission that the entire approved plan of the application has been entirely completed.

Placement and Maintenance of Control Measures. Site alterations shall not begin unless a development review plan has been approved by the Planning Commission or Town Planner for soil erosion and sediment control and storm water runoff. Site development shall not begin unless the soil erosion and sediment control measures and storm water control devices outlined in an approved plan are installed and are functional. All control measures and devices shall be maintained in effective condition to ensure the compliance of the approved plan.

Inspections. Inspections shall be made by the Building Inspector or his designee to ensure compliance with the approved plan. The permittee shall verify through progress reports that soil erosion and sediment control measures and devices have been installed according to the approved plan and are being operated and maintained. Additional measures may be required if proposed measures fail to control erosion and sedimentation and stormwater. The applicant shall be billed for the cost of all review and inspection fees, necessary administrative work and legal fees related to enforcing compliance with this Section. The Town Solicitor shall take such actions necessary to enforce compliance with this Section.

General Landscaping Standards

Plant Selection

Planting and Cultivation

Site Protection. Protection of the site shall be in accordance with the following:

Buffer Areas.

Maintenance.

Plan Required. A separate landscape plan shall be submitted when required as part of the development plan review or subdivision process.

Installation Required. All required landscaping shall be required to be planted and complete before the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy by the Building Official.

Electromagnetic Interference. In all zoning districts, no use, activity, or process shall be conducted which causes electromagnetic interference off the premises where the activity is conducted.

Humidity and Heat. In all zoning districts, no use, activity, or process producing humidity in the form of steam or moist air, or producing heat, shall be carried on in such a manner that the steam, humidity or heat is perceptible to normal senses at any lot line.

Vibration. In all zoning districts, no use, activity, or process shall be so operated that the ground vibration generated is perceptible without instruments, past any boundary line of the lot on which the use or activity is located.

Lighting. In addition to these regulations, exterior lighting shall also be regulated by the provisions of § 155-15 et seq. Exterior lighting shall be installed in such a manner that the light source will be sufficiently obscured to prevent glare on public streets or into any residential areas. Outside lights must be made up of a light source and reflector so that, acting together, the light beam is controlled, and directed downward, not aimed upward or across a property line and is compatible with lighting in the neighborhood. No sodium vapor lighting shall be used.

Combustible/Explosive Materials. In all zoning districts, all uses involving explosive and/or combustible material shall comply with the rules and regulations of the State Fire Marshall. Such uses, if permitted, shall not be located within one thousand feet of a residential district or use.

Gas. In all zoning districts, no use, activity, or process shall emit noxious, toxic, or corrosive fumes or gases in concentrations or amounts causing discomfort or injury to humans, domestic/farm animals or harmful to vegetation.

Hazardous Materials. In all zoning districts, if any permitted use requires the use, storage, or disposal of hazardous materials on-site, the use shall comply with all local, state and federal laws for hazardous materials use. Adequate precautions shall be planned to be taken against negative off-site impacts of a hazardous material release, using the best available state and federally approved technology.

Radiation. In all zoning districts, the airborne emission of radioactive materials shall comply with the The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the State of Rhode Island Rules and Regulations pertaining to radiation control.

Smoke/Particulate Matter. In all zoning districts, no use, activity, or process shall cause any emission of smoke or particulate matter that can cause any damage to human health, domestic/farm animals, vegetation, or other forms of property, or which can cause excessive soiling. No emission at any point from any chimney or otherwise visible gray smoke of a shade darker than No. One of the Ringelman Smoke Chart as published by the United States Bureau of Mines is permitted. Dust and other types of air pollution, borne by the wind from such sources such as storage areas, yards, roads, and driveways within lot boundaries, shall be kept to a minimum.

Toxic/Odiferous Matter. In all zoning districts, no use, activity, or process shall discharge across the boundaries of the lot toxic or odoriferous matter that causes an obnoxious odor in concentrations as to be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, comfort, or welfare, or cause injury or damage to property.

Standards. Liquid effluent from any treatment process that is discharged into the ground shall always comply with the State of Rhode Island Rules and Regulations relating to such.

Toxic Substances. No effluent shall contain any other acids, oils, dust, toxic metals, corrosive or other toxic substance in solution or suspension that would create odors, discolor, poison or otherwise pollute any river, pond, stream, wetland or any drinking water supply.

Temperature. No discharge shall raise the temperature of any water body above the temperatures that are normal for such bodies and can support aquatic life in such water body.

Process/Cooling Waters. Process or cooling waters shall be recirculated and reused except as otherwise permitted by state or federal law or otherwise by special use permit.

Generally. No facility designed to leach liquid wastes into the soil shall be located in areas outlined below, except by the granting of a special use permit. Exception: The repair or alteration of an existing waste disposal system.

Wetlands. No wetland, as defined by state law, and in any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, shall be excavated, drained or filled nor any other alteration be made to the natural conditions of any wetlands without the prior approval of the R1 DEM, the Charlestown Town Council and/or the RI CRMC.

Submittal Requirements. The following information shall be submitted by the applicant as part of the special use permit application relating to water bodies:

Findings of Fact. Coastal barrier beaches serve as a buffer zones for the salt ponds and the mainland located behind the ponds. The coastal barriers are low in profile and highly vulnerable to wind and wave erosion particularly during hurricanes. Hurricanes cause severe storm-surge flooding, and beach erosion. Debris from buildings on the barriers contributes to further damage to structures on the barriers, and can cause damage to properties on the mainland. All beaches within Charlestown have been classified by the RI CRMC. Portions of some beaches have been designated as undeveloped barrier beaches. The intent of this Section is to regulate development in these areas as they are subject to periodic flooding which can be damaging to abutting property owners and a danger to the health, safety and general welfare of the Town.

Policies. The Town of Charlestown supports the RI CRMC policies and programs to protect coastal barriers for benefits to the public's health, safety and welfare. This Section shall not be construed as an intent on the part of the Town to foster development on coastal barriers, but rather to allow the CRMC to promote its policies under its statutory authorization from the Rhode Island General Assembly.

Site Development Criteria. Except where prohibited in § 218-36, Land Use Table, all structures shall be permitted only by a special use permit obtained from the Zoning Board of Review provided all driveways and parking areas are landward of the building and do not cut into the dune feature and any construction activity that disrupts the dune feature restores the dune and revegetates it. The following uses shall not require a special use permit from the Board provided they meet all other local, state and federal requirements:

Drainage of Surface Water. Wherever any culvert, drain, or water course have been placed or maintained or have existed under, adjacent to, or within a Town Highway for surface water drainage, no person shall in any way alter such without first obtaining the written approval of the Director of Public Works.

Connection into Town Drainage System. No person shall make any connection into a Town road drainage system, or to drain or dump water onto a Town right-of-way without first obtaining the written approval of the Director of Public Works.