Applications for development that are substantially complete and have been submitted for approval to the appropriate review agency in the Town of Johnston prior to enactment of this chapter or any amendment to this chapter shall be considered vested. An application shall be considered substantially complete when all required documents, including plans, together with required fees, are received by the official designated herein to receive such applications. For the purposes of this section, any application considered by the Town of Johnston shall be reviewed according to the regulations applicable in this chapter in force at the time the application was submitted.

If an application for development under the provisions of this section is approved, a time limit of six months shall be set within which development of the property must begin and 12 months within which development must be substantially completed, unless a longer time period(s) is specifically set forth to the contrary in the original approval.

Printed copies of this chapter and the Zoning Map shall be available to the general public and shall be revised to include all amendments. A reasonable charge may be made for copies to reflect printing and distribution costs.

Upon publication of this chapter and the Zoning Map, and any amendments thereto, the Johnston Town Clerk shall send a copy, without charge, to the Associate Director of the Division of Planning of the Department of Administration of the State of Rhode Island, and the State Law Library.