General Requirements. The Building Official in issuing a permit or the permitting authority in granting a special use permit for the development or extension of any use may, if appropriate, require the submission of affidavits or other evidence that the applicant will observe the standards of performance set forth in this section. All uses of land are required to comply with these standards and any noncompliance with said standards will be considered a violation of this chapter. The Building Official is hereby authorized to have measurements made of any characteristic covered in these standards to determine compliance with said standards.

Noise. No use shall emit noise which exceeds the requirements of that part of Chapter 3, entitled Excessive Noise Prohibited, of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Little Compton.

Air Pollution. Smoke and other airborne emissions of all uses shall conform to the standards of the "Air Pollution Control Regulations" of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, issued under the authority of Title 23, Chapter 25 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, as amended. Said regulations are hereby incorporated as part of this chapter.

Radiation Emission. No use shall cause the emission of radiation which exceeds the safe limits established in the rules and regulations of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or any other agency of competent jurisdiction. These limits shall apply to emissions from radioactive materials and wastes, electromagnetic radiation, x-ray radiation, microwave radiation and other forms of radiation which present a potential hazard to the health of employees or residents within or abutting the use.

Heat and Glare. No use shall generate heat, glare, or reflective light perceptible at the property line, excluding normal illumination. Outdoor lighting must be oriented and shielded to prevent light trespass onto adjacent properties or public rights-of-way. All outdoor lighting shall comply with Section 14-8, Outdoor Lighting Ordinance and be designed to minimize light pollution and protect night sky visibility. In most cases, outdoor lighting must be extinguished by 9:00 p.m., except for required security lighting, which shall be motion-activated and shielded to prevent offsite glare.

Vibration. No use shall generate vibration which is discernible to the human sense of feeling at the property line of the use or activity for a cumulative total of three minutes or more duration in any hour between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or for a cumulative total of 30 seconds or more in any hour between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Sewage and Liquid Waste Disposal. No discharge of sewage or other liquid waste shall be permitted into any stream, wetland or other water body. The Building Official or the Zoning Board of Review, where appropriate, will require certification from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management that the design of any disposal system will provide for the proper, safe and sanitary disposal of any sewage or other liquid waste. The Building Official or Zoning Board of Review, upon the advice of said department, may require the pretreatment of liquid waste prior to discharge into the disposal system or may require that such liquid waste be transported to an approved treatment or disposal facility in a manner complying with all applicable State and Federal requirements.

Water Supply. Approval of any land use or expansion thereof is contingent upon submission of evidence demonstrating a safe, reliable, and sufficient water supply for all proposed uses, including potable, sanitary, and process-related needs. (See also Subsection 14-5.10.)

Solid Waste. The Building Official or the Zoning Board of Review, where appropriate, may condition the development or extension of any use of land upon the submission of evidence that any solid waste generated by such use of land will be stored and disposed of in a manner complying with all Town, State and Federal requirements. Under no conditions will the storage or disposal of hazardous waste be authorized or permitted by any use in the Town of Little Compton.

Septic Systems/Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS). All uses requiring on-site wastewater treatment must utilize systems approved by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM). Advanced OWTS technologies may be required based on site-specific soil, slope, and hydrology characteristics. Systems must be designed, installed, and maintained to prevent contamination of groundwater or nearby surface waters. Evidence of ongoing maintenance contracts or inspection schedules may be required as a condition of permit approval.

Stormwater Management Plan. All new development and redevelopment projects that result in 600 square feet or more of new impervious surface, or disturb 10,000 square feet or more of land area, shall implement a Stormwater Management Plan consistent with the Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual. A stormwater management plan must demonstrate that post-development runoff does not exceed pre-development levels. Projects shall incorporate Low Impact Development (LID) strategies, including but not limited to: vegetated swales, rain gardens, and permeable pavement. A long-term maintenance plan shall be submitted and recorded for all stormwater BMPs, identifying responsible parties for inspection, maintenance, and reporting.

Impervious surface and parking. The use of asphalt or bituminous concrete as a surface material for parking areas, driveways, or access ways serving commercial or industrial uses is discouraged but not prohibited. Asphalt or concrete may be used where necessary to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including accessible parking spaces, walkways, and access routes. Where a private driveway, access way, or parking area intersects with a public road, a paved apron shall be required for the first 10 to 20 feet from the edge of the paved road. The specific length shall be determined by the permitting authority based on site conditions, traffic volume, and potential for gravel migration onto the public road. The use of impervious materials such as asphalt or concrete is permitted for parking areas providing 10 or more spaces, but permeable alternatives are strongly encouraged to reduce stormwater runoff and maintain a rural aesthetic. Pervious materials such as gravel, grass pavers, or permeable pavers are preferred for all other surfaces to reduce stormwater runoff and promote natural infiltration.