The East Greenwich Historic District is bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the intersection of the center lines of West Street and Division Street, thence easterly along the center line of Division Street to the high-water mark of Greenwich Cove, so-called; thence turning and running generally southerly and southwesterly along the high-water mark of said Greenwich Cove to a point, said point being located on the high-water mark of said Greenwich Cove and also being the point at the easterly end of the center line of Crompton Avenue; thence turning and running generally northeasterly along the center line of Crompton Avenue to the intersection of the center line of Rocky Hollow Road; thence turning and running generally westerly along the center line of Rocky Hollow Road to the intersection of the center line of Main Street and the extensions of the center lines of Rocky Hollow Road and First Avenue; thence continuing generally westerly along the center line of First Avenue to the intersection of the center line of First Avenue and the extension of the center line of Reynolds Street; thence turning and running generally northerly along the center lines of Reynolds Street and Spring Street; thence turning and running generally westerly along the center line of Spring Street to the intersection of the center lines of Spring Street and West Street; thence turning and running generally northerly along the center line of West Street to the center line of Division Street, being the point and place of beginning, together with all the lots or parcels of land located as follows:

The Tillinghast Road Historic District is bounded and described as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of the district the boundary follows the north and east lot lines of Plat 16C Lot 18, runs due south across Frenchtown Road to the north bound of Plat 18B Lot 1; thence east and south on the north and east bounds of said lot to the southeast corner; thence east and southeast across the southern tail of Plat 18B Lot 42 to the southeast corner of said lot; then following the bounds of Lot 42 north and east to the northwest corner of Plat 18B Lot 133; thence south and east along the west and south bounds of Lot 133 to the southwest corner of Plat 18B Lot 132; thence east and north along the south and east bounds of Lot 132 to its northeast corner; thence east along the south bound of Plat 18B Lot 181 to its southeast corner; thence south along the east bound of Plat 18B Lot 13 to its southeast corner. From that point running east along the southern bound of Lot 13 to the eastern edge of Tillinghast Road; thence southerly along the eastern edge of Tillinghast Road along the western bounds of Lots 106, 107, 108 and 109 to the northwest corner of Plat 18E Lot 15; then east along the north bound of Lot 15 to the northeast corner of said lot; thence south along the eastern bound of Lot 15 approximately 1,540 feet to the southeast corner of said lot; thence west along the south bound of Lot 15 a distance of 1,277 feet plus; thence turning south a distance of approximately 470 feet to the north edge of South Road; thence west along the north edge of South Road a distance of approximately 180 feet to the eastern edge of Tillinghast Road; thence north on the east side of the road to a point opposite the southeast corner of Plat 19B Lot 138; thence west on the south bound of Plat 19B Lot 138; thence north to the northwest bound of said lot; thence northeast across Plat 19B Lot 38 to meet the southwest corner of Plat 19B Lot 137; thence north on the west bound of Lot 137 and following north in the same line across Plat 19B Lot 38 to meet the southwest corner of Plat 19B Lot 127; thence north on the west bounds of Lot 127 and 128 to Plat 19B Lot 37; thence west and north on the south and west bounds of Lot 37 to the southwest corner of Plat 19C Lot 72; thence north to the southwest corner of Plat 19C Lot 32; thence east and north following the bounds of Plat 19C Lot 72 to the southwest corner of Plat 19C Lot 71; thence north along the western bounds of Lots 71 and 68 to Frenchtown Road. Thence easterly along the southern edge of Frenchtown Road to a point approximately 300 feet west of Tillinghast Road; thence northerly across Frenchtown Road and straight north across Plat 15J Lot 66 to the southwest corner of Plat 15J Lot 409; thence north along the west bound of Lot 409 and east along its north bound to the southwest corner of Plat 15J Lot 501; thence north along the western bound of Lot 501 to the northwest corner of said lot; thence east along the north bound of Lot 501 approximately 91 feet to a point 80 feet west of Tillinghast Road; thence north across Plat 15J Lot 13 to the south bound of Plat 15J Lot 63; thence east along the south bound of Lot 63 to the western edge of Tillinghast Road. Then south along the west edge of Tillinghast Road about 480 feet to a point opposite the northwest corner of Plat 16C Lot 18; thence east across Tillinghast Road to that corner, the point of beginning, including all lots or parcels as noted below:

A building permit or demolition permit is required for such work or the work proposed will affect the exterior appearance of the structure or its appurtenances. The Building Official may not issue a permit until the Commission has granted a certificate under the provisions of this article.[1]

The proposed project is for exterior work.

The proposed project is not a replacement-in-kind.

Applications for a certificate shall be submitted to the Commission through the Planning Department, which shall determine if such application is complete in accordance with the Commission's Rules of Procedure. All complete applications shall be forwarded, together with all maps, plans and other data, to the Commission, except where a staff review per § 260-62C of this article applies. Any accepted application shall be filed with the Commission on the last business day of the month in which it was submitted and placed on the following month's agenda.

Applications for a certificate of appropriateness shall contain information which is necessary to evaluate the proposed construction, alteration, repair, removal, relocation or demolition, including but not limited to plans, drawings and photographs, as required in the Commission's rules.

Incomplete applications shall be returned to the applicant within seven working days of receipt by the Planning Department.

In applying for a certificate of appropriateness, a property owner must comply with the application procedures as established by the Commission and the provisions of this article.

The historic, architectural or archaeological significance of the structure and/or its accessories.

The way in which the structure, stone wall and/or its accessories contribute to the historical, architectural or archaeological significance of the neighborhood and the Town.

The appropriateness of the general design, arrangement, texture, material and siting proposed in the plans.

Solar system installations. In addition to those standards provided in § 260-123, in reviewing an application for the installation of a solar energy system (i.e., solar panels), the HDC will consider building-mounted or building-integrated systems; ground-mounted systems are prohibited in the downtown historic district. Solar panels should be placed in areas that are least viewable to the public. installations that would alter the characteristic features of a historic structure should be avoided. Panels should not be visible above the roofline, and panels installed on flat-roof buildings should be set back from the edge. Where solar panels and other appurtenances will not be visible from any public way, they shall be eligible for administrative staff review and approval (consistent with § 260-62C of the Zoning Code) rather than a review by the full Historic District Commission.

The historical importance of stone walls in delineating the property boundary of land.

The scenic importance of stone walls along the designated scenic roadway and the neighborhood.

The impact that the proposed plans would have on the historical integrity of the stone wall(s).

The ability of a plan to show due regard for stone walls and not disturb any identified unique and significant archaeological sites.

The retention of stone walls whenever possible and their proper maintenance.

Breaks for roads, utility easements or fire lanes such that they are the minimum necessary and are sufficient to provide emergency vehicles clear access onto and off the site.

Unfavorable staff review. In order to qualify for staff-level review and approval, the work must conform to the guidelines outlined and comply with all other applicable regulations. Should staff determine that the application does not conform to the guidelines, it shall be scheduled before the full Commission for a formal hearing and decision.

Favorable staff review. Staff shall issue a stamped certificate of appropriateness just as the full Commission does, and the staff member issuing it shall sign his/her name to the approval.

Work categories eligible for staff review.

If the Commission is presented with an application for the removal, relocation, alteration or demolition of a structure, its accessories and/or a stone wall and finds that the approval of such an application would pose a significant threat or total loss to the Town, state or nation, it shall endeavor to work out with the owner an economically feasible plan for the preservation of the structure, accessories, and/or stone wall.

Applications for demolition shall require proof that the retention of the structure, accessory or stone wall would constitute a public safety hazard (as defined by the Rhode Island Building Code)[1] which cannot be eliminated by any economic means available to the owner. If the Commission remains unconvinced that retention is a hazard, the Commission shall forward its rejection of the application for demolition to the Building Official.

Preservation of such structure, accessory or stone wall is a deterrent to a major improvement program which will significantly benefit the Town.

Preservation of such structure, accessory or stone wall would cause undue or unreasonable financial hardship to the owner, taking into account the financial resources available to the owner, including the sale of the structure to any purchaser willing and able to preserve such structure.

Preservation of such structure, accessory or stone wall would not be in the best interest of the community as a whole.

When considering an application to demolish or remove a structure, accessory or stone wall of historic, cultural, architectural or archaeological value, the Commission shall assist the owner in identifying and evaluating alternatives to demolition.

In addition to any other criteria, the Commission shall also consider whether there is a likelihood that some person or group of persons other than the current owner is willing to purchase, move and preserve such structure or accessory and whether the owner has made continuing, bona fide and reasonable efforts to sell the structure to any such purchaser.

Replacement- or repair-in-kind, except replacement of nonconforming materials or features exceeding 25% of the total building exterior.

Ordinary maintenance and repair.

Storm windows/storm doors.

Gutters, downspouts and chimney caps.

Flat roofs where not visible from the street.

Site work and appurtenances, including driveways, walkways, terraces, garden furnishings, play sets, and the like.

Painting/new paint colors.

Window boxes.

Temporary signs. (See the Sign Ordinance for definition.)[1]

Mechanical equipment, including chillers, condensers, heating units. Such equipment must comply with the State Building Code.[2]