Cranston City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
96 PLANNED DISTRICTS GENERALLY
§ 17.96.010 Purpose.
Planned districts are intended to be established from time to time by amendments to this chapter consisting of appropriate changes in the boundaries of districts established by this chapter in such a manner as best to fit the general pattern of land use established by this chapter for the development of the city and to further the purposes set forth in Chapter 17.04.
Specifically, planned districts are intended to promote flexibility in site and building design and to facilitate a more economic arrangement of buildings, circulation systems, utilities and landscaping within a unified tract of land. This provision allows for the development of planned single use or multiple use projects and a redevelopment option in previously built areas of the city or as an option to standard subdivision development on unbuilt unified tracts of land.
(Prior code § 30-33(a))
§ 17.96.020 Definitions.
means a site plan and supporting narrative required for approval of mixed use planned district rezoning application. This plan shall be submitted to the city council with the rezoning application.
means a development undertaken by a single owner or group of owners and planned as a single entity, within which uses shall be multiple in nature and may include uses not otherwise permitted within the same zoning district. The mix and orientation of these uses are required to be compatible within the proposed development and also in relationship to the surrounding area.
means a site plan required for approval of mixed use planned district rezoning application. This plan shall be submitted to the planning department at the time of pre-application conference and shall represent the general form and layout of the entire development proposal.
means a residential development planned and designed as a single land use entitle within which deviation from the standard subdivision requirements results in a more efficient site design than would normally be allowed. In an RPD, residential development is permitted at higher density on part of a plat, when open space development is permitted at higher density on part of a plat, when open space is set aside within the plat, such that the average residential density in the plat does not exceed that allowed in the underlying zoning district.
(Prior code § 30-33(b))
§ 17.96.030 Types.
§ 17.96.040 Applicability.
A.
Utilization of an RPD is allowed by right in any residential zone district in the city subject to the requirements of Section 17.104.010 of this title.
B.
Utilization of an MPD requires a zoning district change and approval of the projects overall district plan by the city council.
C.
In circumstances where a proposed MPD or RPD will cross a municipal boundary, the city council for an MPD or the city planning commission for an RPD shall consider the entire plan as a single entity and may approve such plan conditioned upon favorable action taken by the neighboring municipality for identically submitted plans.
(Prior code § 30-33(d))
§ 17.96.050 Ownership.
A tract of land to be developed as a planned district shall be under the legal control of:
A.
A single owner; or
B.
A group of landowners acting through a corporation, corporate partnership, trust or joint venture, where each owner agrees in writing to be bound by the conditions and regulations which will be effective within the district and to record such covenants, easements and other provisions with the city clerk.
A proposed MPD or RPD shall be considered incomplete if it does not include all contiguous land under the applicant's legal control as defined above.
(Prior code § 30-33(e))
§ 17.96.060 Designation.
All planned districts established under the provisions of this chapter shall be so designated and numbered in sequence on the official zoning map.
(Prior code § 30-33(f))
§ 17.96.070 General requirements.
All planned district proposals shall demonstrate that there is a general public benefit to be gained by deviation from the requirements of the existing zoning classification. These benefits may include but are not limited to:
A.
Preservation of unique or sensitive natural areas or significant historic sites;
B.
Preservation of architecturally significant buildings;
C.
Ecologically sensitive building orientation, utility placement, roadway pattern and/or construction methods.
Should the city council, in reviewing an MPD or the planning commission in reviewing an RPD, conclude no general public benefit is to be gained in approving a particular application, they may reject said proposal.
(Prior code § 30-33(g))
§ 17.96.080 Minimum area.
Planned districts may be established on parcels of land suitable to such development and shall contain a minimum of five acres for exclusive residential use or ten (10) acres for mixed uses. However, the city council and planning commission may waive this requirement for MPDs and RPDs proposed for small parcels possessing unique natural or historical character, or which are part of a larger planned development proposed for a site spanning the municipal border.
(Prior code § 30-33(h))