The planning board may grant approval for the construction of a residential cluster development containing only single-family housing in the R-80 zone and single-family and duplex in R-40, R-20, R-10 and R-10A zones. The planning board may also grant approval for multifamily development pursuant to section 17.2 of this ordinance in the R-80, R-40, R-20, R-10 and R-10A districts, provided the proposed development complies with all the applicable requirements of the Narragansett subdivision and land development regulations.

The purpose of this approval is to assure harmonious, efficient, and convenient groupings of residential buildings; to increase housing opportunities; to provide variety in type, site design, and density of housing; to encourage the preservation of open space and the beneficial natural features of the site; and to facilitate the provision of community services, facilities and improvements.

The planning board will not grant approval for a residential cluster development unless it determines that the proposed development blends appropriately with the general pattern of land use in the neighborhood and the town, and harmonizes with the purposes and intent of this ordinance.

(1)

Site. A residential cluster development shall be located on a tract of land having a minimum gross area of five acres in an R-10 or R-10A zone; ten acres in an R-20 zone; and 15 acres in an R-40 or R-80 zone. The tract shall be developed by a single owner or a group of owners acting jointly.

(2)

Permitted uses. A residential cluster development approved by the planning board may include single-family dwellings and duplex dwellings.

(3)

Accessory uses. Subject to the approval of the zoning board, a residential cluster development may include parking facilities and indoor and outdoor noncommercial recreation facilities for the use of residents, including a golf course, tennis courts, parks, and open space; but shall not include office uses, restaurant and entertainment uses, commercial uses, wholesale business and storage uses, industrial uses, home occupations, professional office of resident, or exterior storage of commercial or recreation vehicles or equipment.

(4)

Maximum lot coverage. The total coverage by all principal and accessory structures shall not exceed 18 percent of the total lot area.

(5)

Dimensional regulations. The following list the minimum dimensional regulations for uses in a cluster development:

Table of Dimensional Regulations for Residential Cluster Development

Side or rear yards which abut property that is not developed with clustered dwellings must have a minimum dimension equal to that required for the abutting parcel.

(6)

Landscaping and buffer areas. A residential cluster development must comply with all requirements for landscaping and buffer areas prescribed in section 7 of this ordinance, except that, in addition, no aboveground construction shall be permitted within 59 feet of any lot line or boundary line of the tract.

(7)

Density requirements. The total number of dwelling units permitted in a residential cluster development shall be computed by dividing the total area of the tract which is suitable for development (less 15 percent for streets and easements) by the minimum lot size permitted in the zone in which the tract is located. Wetlands, waterbodies, and other lands with severe limitations for development are not considered suitable for development. The total number of dwelling units permitted in a residential cluster development shall not exceed the number permitted in a traditional development.

(8)

Open space. At least 25 percent of the total area of the parcel or tract, exclusive of land set aside for roads and easements, shall be devoted to common open space. The space may be used for active and passive recreation, conservation, agriculture, buffer areas, permitted accessory uses, and drainageways.

At least 50 percent of the common open space, or 12.5 percent of the total area of the parcel, shall be usable for active recreation. No more than 20 percent of the common open space may be paved or devoted to recreational structures. The addition of noncommercial recreational structures compatible with open space objectives in an approved residential cluster development requires site plan review and approval by the planning board.

The open space may be in one or more parcels, each of which must be of appropriate size, shape, and character to serve its designated use. The zoning board of review may require accessways at least 25 feet wide connecting each parcel of open space with one or more streets in the development. These accessways shall be clearly marked so as to distinguish common open space from private property. Strips of land may be permitted as common open space if they serve as accessways between dwellings, drainage areas, and buffer areas.

Land which is damaged or disturbed as a result of excavation, grading, or other earth moving operations; tree harvesting; solid waste disposal; or other causes, shall not be accepted as common open space unless it is restored to a condition suitable to effect the purposes of this section. The planning board may require the developer to provide surety to ensure such restoration.

(9)

Ownership of open space. Common open space shall be dedicated to an appropriate legal entity which shall be responsible for maintenance. In order to protect the common open space from the possibility of development or environmental damage, the developer shall convey to the Town of Narragansett, as a condition of approval, an open space easement. The easement shall restrict any building and any removal of soil, trees, and other natural features, except where such activities are consistent with conservation, recreation and aesthetic uses. The planning board may require the conveyance by easement to the Town of Narragansett of new or existing accessways to the Narragansett Bay and/or Atlantic Ocean shorelines as part of the open space requirement for new coastal projects.

(10)

Off-street parking facilities. Off-street parking shall be provided and maintained as follows:

a.

There shall be at least two car spaces per dwelling unit;

b.

No parking shall be permitted within 12 feet of any boundary line or within the required minimum front yard;

c.

Off-street parking spaces and servicing drives shall be located within the boundaries of the lot being developed, and shall comply with the provisions of section 7 of this ordinance.

(11)

Trash disposal. Each multifamily building shall be provided with an enclosed trash container sufficient to accommodate all trash and waste stored on the premises. The container and utility area shall comply with the provisions of section 7 of this ordinance.

(12)

Utilities. In order to be considered for approval, the parcel or tract must be served by public water, sewer, and other utilities. No individual sewage disposal systems or wells shall be permitted.

(13)

Traffic. The residential cluster development shall not cause traffic service on nearby streets and highways to fall below a "C" level, as defined by the transportation research board.

(14)

Required certificates or documents. An applicant for site plan approval of a residential cluster development must submit, in addition to the materials required by section 18 of this ordinance, the following certificates or documents:

a.

A written agreement or contract to be executed between the developer and the town, stating:

1.

That the owner or developer will construct the development and install improvements both public and private in accordance with the approved plan. Surety shall be posted to guarantee completion;

2.

That in the event of failure of the owners, successors or assigns to maintain any common open space, recreation areas, landscaping features or other required improvements, the town may enter the development and perform the necessary maintenance work and charge the cost, including attorney's fees, to the owners, successors or assigns;

3.

That this contract shall be binding upon the heirs, assigns, successors or receivers of the development and shall constitute a lien on the property in the development;

4.

Any other conditions required by the planning board.

b.

Copies of any proposed management policies and existing deed restrictions or covenants running with the land in the development, if any exist or are proposed;

c.

A description of any existing easements, covenants or restrictions affecting land within the development and an instrument conveying any easements required as a condition of approval to the town;

d.

All other procedural requirements or supporting material set forth in the town land subdivision regulations not heretofore mentioned in this section, which are applicable to any cluster development.

(Ch. 811(2), § 1(17.1), 4-1-2002; Ch. 1016, § 8, 5-2-2016; Ch. 1118, § 17, 12-18-2023)

The planning board shall review and permit the construction or redevelopment of one or more multifamily dwelling structures and accessory uses in an R-80, R-40, R-20, R-10, or R-10A zone under the provisions of the Narragansett subdivision and land development regulations, provided the proposed development complies with the following development standards, in addition to all other applicable requirements of this ordinance.

The purpose of this section is to add to the diversity of housing opportunities in the Town of Narragansett by providing multifamily dwellings of long term value, desirability, and utility, considering the particular conditions of the site and surrounding area, and the short[term] and long-term effects of such development on municipal facilities and services, natural resources, scenic values, and the sustained quality of surrounding neighborhoods.

The design and establishment of multifamily dwellings shall conform to the most advanced design and planning practices available, and shall, from the outset, protect the public interest in the preservation of the town's exceptional natural features, including ocean and estuarine shorelines, landforms, and natural habitats, and contribute to and enhance the town's architectural and historical resources and amenities.

(1)

Site. The development shall be located on a zoning lot or tract having a gross area of at least two acres in an R-10 or R-10A zone, three acres in an R-20 zone, and five acres in an R-40 zone and ten acres in an R-80 zone. The lot or tract on which the development is located shall be owned by one person or corporation or group of persons or corporations.

(2)

Accessory uses. Subject to the approval of the planning board, a development may include indoor and outdoor parking facilities, club, golf course, tennis courts, marina, playground, park, bathing beach, swimming pool, and associated accessory uses for the use of the residents, but shall not include any other residential uses, office uses, restaurant and entertainment uses, commercial uses, wholesale business and storage uses, industrial uses, home occupations, professional office of resident, or exterior storage of commercial or recreation vehicles or equipment.

(3)

Maximum lot coverage. The total coverage by all principal and accessory buildings and structures shall not exceed 17 percent of the total lot area.

(4)

Front, side, and rear yards. The minimum dimension of front, side, and rear yards shall be at least 47 feet, unless the lot abuts a residential zone with greater minimum yard dimensions. In that case, the dimension of the yard which abuts the residential zone must be equal to the dimension required in the residential zone.

(5)

Height. In a development, no principal building shall be more than 30 feet high, and no accessory building or other structures shall be more than 16 feet high.

(6)

Landscaping and buffer areas. The development must comply with all requirements for landscaping and buffer areas prescribed in section 7.8 of this ordinance.

(7)

Public shoreline access. Developers of new developments along the coast may be required to dedicate to the town a public shoreline accessway to Narragansett Bay and/or the Atlantic Ocean.

(8)

Minimum lot width. Each zoning lot shall have a minimum width of 200 feet measured along the lot frontage on a town street which has been accepted for maintenance or on a state highway.

(9)

Density requirements. Multifamily developments shall provide the following minimum lot area per dwelling unit:

a.

80,000 square feet in an R-80 zone;

b.

40,000 square feet in an R-40 zone;

c.

20,000 square feet in an R-20 zone;

d.

10,000 square feet in an R-10 or R-10A zone.

There shall be no more than six dwelling units per building.

The required minimum lot area must be suitable land for development, and must include at least 500 square feet of unable open space and at least 540 square feet of paved parking area per dwelling unit. In R-20, R-10, and R-10A zones, no more than ten percent of the total number of dwelling units in any development may contain three or more bedrooms.

(10)

Distance between buildings. The minimum distance between two buildings or any two rows of substantially parallel buildings located on the same lot shall be 59 feet. The minimum distance between two abutting ends of buildings in the same general plane or row shall be 29 feet, provided the abutting walls contain no windows in habitable rooms, in which case the minimum distance shall be 59 feet.

(11)

Off-street parking facilities. Off-street parking shall be provided and maintained as follows:

a.

There shall be at least two car spaces per dwelling unit;

b.

No parking shall be permitted within 12 feet of any boundary line or within the required minimum front yard;

c.

Off-street parking spaces and servicing drives shall be located within the boundaries of the lot being developed, and shall comply with the provisions of section 7 of this ordinance.

(12)

Trash disposal. Each building shall be provided with an enclosed trash container sufficient to accommodate all trash and waste stored on the premises. The container and utility area shall comply with the provisions of section 7.3(5) of this ordinance.

(13)

Utilities. In order to be considered for approval, lots located in soils limitation districts A and B must be served by public water, sewer, and other utilities (see section 4.5, high water table limitations overlay district). In other areas the board may consider individual sewage disposal systems (ISDS) as an option, provided: (1) All state agencies with authority over ISDS have approved such a disposal design for said lot, (2) Public water is available, and (3) Public sewer service is not available within 1,500 feet of the boundaries of the project. Provided sewer capacity is available, under applicable town and state regulations the board may require all multifamily developments regardless of location to be tied into public sewers.

(14)

Traffic. The development shall not cause traffic service on nearby streets and highways to fall below a C level, as defined by the Transportation Research Board.

(15)

Conversions. (Reserved.)

(Ch. 811(2), § 1(7.2), 4-1-2002; Ch. 1118, § 18, 12-18-2023)

Development plan review is hereby established as the procedure for approval of projects meeting the applicability criteria set forth in this section. DPR shall only apply to the categories of use as depicted and shall not apply to any development that is defined as a major subdivision or major land development.

Development plan review applicants shall employ registered design professionals, including landscape architects, engineers and architects and experts in other disciplines, as necessary, to arrive at a design that optimizes the sense of well-being and sense of place for the residents, maximizes the preservation of green space in the community development process, and minimizes the negative impacts of development on the surrounding neighborhoods, natural systems, and community character. The plan shall reflect, where applicable, community goals as embodied in the comprehensive plan. The planning board may require that the applicant escrow sufficient funds for the town to hire a design consultant to assist the planning board in evaluation the design.

(1)

Applicability. The following categories of projects shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter:

a.

A change in use at the property where no extensive construction of improvements is sought.

b.

An adaptive reuse project located in a commercial zone where no extensive exterior construction of improvements is sought.

c.

An adaptive reuse project located in a residential zone which results in less than nine residential units.

d.

Development in a designated urban or growth center.

e.

Institutional development design review for educational or hospital facilities.

f.

Development in a historic district.

(2)

Permitting authority. The administrative officer shall approve administrative projects submitted, and the planning board shall approve formal projects as described herein.

(3)

Development plan review committee. A DPR committee (DPRC) shall be established consisting of the directors of community development and public works, fire chief, inspector of buildings and public safety manager or their designees. The community development director shall serve as the DPRC chair and the community development department (department) shall coordinate the DPR process. The DPRC review shall be advisory to the administrative officer or planning board as applicable.

(4)

Procedure.

a.

Pre-application meeting. Prior to filing for a DPR (application), an applicant shall meet with the community development department to determine what materials shall be submitted with an application. Within 15 business days after the meeting, the department shall provide to an applicant a list of the plans and documents to be submitted.

b.

Application. An application shall be filed with the department in accordance with section 18. It shall include all the items identified at the pre-application meeting unless waived by the community development director. During its review, the DPRC may request any additional materials it deems necessary to render a decision.

c.

Certification. The community development department shall certify an application as complete or incomplete within 15 business days after submission.

1.

For a complete application, the certification shall include date on which a DPR will be conducted.

2.

For an incomplete application, the certification shall identify the application's deficiencies. The application form and the site plan, as determined by staff, shall also be filed electronically and posted on the city's [town's] web site.

d.

Referrals. For a complete application, a copy of said application may be forwarded to any appropriate city departments, committees, commissions and boards, as necessary, for review and comment.

e.

Plan review. For a complete application, the DPRC shall conduct a DPR within 30 days or at a time acceptable by the applicant and the town. During a DPR, an applicant may submit corrections and additions. A DPR may be continued by vote of the DPRC.

f.

Recommendation. Within 14 days after the close of their review, the DPRC shall issue a written recommendation on an application unless the DPRC extends said timeframe up to an additional 20 days by agreement with the applicant.

1.

A decision shall be by a majority vote of the DPRC.

2.

If an application is recommended for approval, the DPRC may suggest conditions or modifications to a development in order to mitigate impacts and insure compliance with zoning and other city codes and regulations.

3.

If an application is recommended for denial, the DPRC shall make findings detailing the basis for denial.

(5)

Design standards for commercial and mixed-use developments and adaptive re-use developments (except Boon Street).

a.

Building placement and design.

1.

Building placement shall be planned so that a consistent setback is ultimately achieved notwithstanding preexisting setbacks which would be considered excessive under these standards.

2.

The scale of the building, and the relationship of building masses with yard spaces, shall be compatible with the character of a traditional New England village, or with architectural and development standards that the town determines suitable for the surrounding area.

3.

The building height, the roof design and pitch, the proportions of and relationships between doors and windows, and the relationship of the width to the front facade height (massing), shall be compatible with the style of a building in a traditional New England village, or with architectural and development standards that the town determines suitable for the pier area.

4.

A building shall have the same materials, or those which are architecturally harmonious, used for all walls and other exterior building components.

5.

Additions or alterations to an existing building should be complementary in scale to the original structure, and architectural details, including materials, colors and textures, and shall be treated so as to be compatible with the original architectural style of the building, providing such details preserve and enhance the character of the surrounding area.

6.

Mechanical equipment and utility hardware placed on the roof shall be screened from public view with materials harmonious to the building. Utility structures that cannot be placed on the roof shall be located so they are not visible from the street or public open space and shall be screened with landscaping or materials that are compatible with the building.

7.

When used, the design and size of exterior lighting and/or window lighting shall be compatible with the building and the adjacent areas. Review of lighting features by the administrative officer or planning board shall include color, lumens, location, design and impact on adjacent properties.

b.

Site design and landscaping.

1.

The layout and design of all means of vehicular and pedestrian circulation, including interior drives, parking areas and walkways, shall provide for safe interior circulation and separation of pedestrian, vehicular and service traffic.

2.

The number of site entrances shall be the minimum necessary for effective traffic control and sharing of access driveways and parking areas by adjoining properties shall be incorporated into the site design wherever possible.

3.

Provisions for pedestrian movement, in the form of sidewalks or walkways, shall be made to allow for safe access between parking areas and retail establishments.

4.

Bicycle parking facilities shall be provided at all commercial parking areas with a ratio of at least one bicycle space for each 20 car spaces.

5.

Landscape treatment shall be provided to enhance architectural features and improve aesthetics. The site shall be planned to achieve a desirable transition between the building and the street, with landscaping required and the use of pedestrian walkways, special lighting, benches and other amenities encouraged.

6.

All parking areas should be designed in small groups or courts to lessen visual impacts.

7.

Parking lots that front on public streets shall be screened by landscaping or with walls or fencing a minimum of three feet in height. Walls and fences shall be of a scale and material appropriate to the site and surrounding area.

8.

The interior of all paved parking areas within the site which exceed 40 spaces shall be enhanced with planted islands, with a minimum of one island for each 20 parking spaces. The planted islands shall be placed so as to prevent long rows of uninterrupted parking spaces and be designed to assist in treatment of stormwater runoff. All islands shall be surrounded by continuous raised curbing.

9.

Plantings along the perimeter of parking areas and new streets should include either evergreen species, or street trees of at least 3.5-inch caliper planted at intervals of 35 feet. Planted islands may include shrubs, plants and other live vegetation, but should include one tree of at least three-inch caliper. Species to be selected shall be tolerant of high salt concentrations and heavy wind conditions.

10.

Only nursery grown plant materials shall be accepted, and all trees, shrubs and ground covers shall be planted according to accepted horticultural standards. The owner shall be responsible for maintaining the landscaping and for replacing all dead or diseased plant materials on at least an annual basis. Failure to adequately maintain required plantings may result in such work being performed by the town at the owner's expense.

11.

Screening of refuse areas, service and storage yards and exterior work areas shall be accomplished by use of walls, fencing, plantings or a combination of these.

(6)

Boon Street Commercial Area—Additional requirements.

a.

Building placement. A new building shall be placed as close as feasible to the street, no further than necessary or desirable from the five foot front yard setback. Building placement shall be planned so that a consistent setback is ultimately achieved notwithstanding preexisting setbacks which would be considered excessive under these standards. Benches and bicycle racks may be placed within the five-foot front yard setback.

b.

Signage. The following standards for commercial signs in the special district shall supersede those regulations contained in subsection 7.18(i)(2), commercial signs. All new proposed commercial signage shall be subject to review by the planning board as part of the design and site plan review process.

c.

One wall-mounted sign on the entrance facade shall be allowed per business unless there is also either a rear or side entrance to said business, in which case a second wall-mounted sign shall be allowed. The principal business sign shall not exceed 15 square feet in area nor 70 percent of the length of the entrance facade; the secondary business sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area.

1.

A projecting sign shall be allowed in place of a flush-wall mounted sign. The projecting sign shall have a minimum clearance of ten feet and shall not exceed 15 square feet in area.

2.

All moving message signs are prohibited.

3.

No sign, window opening, store facade, or the like shall be internally illuminated without approval of the planning board.

d.

All new or extended utilities in the Boon Street business zone shall be installed underground

e.

Parking requirements. Parking requirements for development shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. As part of the site plan review of any new development, the applicant shall present a parking plan to the planning board that addresses existing parking, projected demand and a means of addressing this demand.

1.

The parking plan shall take into account available on-site and off-site parking.

2.

Shared parking among different businesses and uses is encouraged. Approval by the planning board of a parking plan for development within the special district shall supersede the parking standards contained in subsection 7.9, automobile parking space.

3.

Applicants may be required to file a report, prepared by a traffic engineer.

4.

The amount of front yard setback along a street occupied by parking should be minimized for sites undergoing redevelopment, while all parking shall be placed behind the building(s), if practicable, for sites undergoing new development.

5.

No new parking areas shall be located within the front yard.

(7)

Design standards for residential developments and residential adaptive re-use projects.

a.

New multi-family developments shall comply with the standards of section 17.2 of these regulations.

b.

Adaptive reuse residential developments shall comply with the following:

1.

Section 17.2, sub-sections (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7 as applicable), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14) .

(8)

Development of power generating stations (Use Code 482).

a.

Development plan review will be applied to all minor solar power generating stations. All major solar stations shall be reviewed under the subdivision land development regulations.

b.

Development plan review will be applied to wind energy generating facilities.

c.

Development plan review will be applied to hydro-electric power generating facilities.

(9)

Developments of educational or hospital facilities shall comply with the following regulatory standards:

a.

Building placement and design.

1.

Building placement shall be planned so that a consistent setback is ultimately achieved notwithstanding preexisting setbacks which would be considered excessive under these standards.

2.

The scale of the building, and the relationship of building masses with spaces, shall be compatible with the character of a traditional New England fishing village, or with architectural and development standards that the town determines suitable for the port area.

3.

The building height, the roof design and pitch, the proportions of and relationships between doors and windows, and the relationship of the width to the front facade height (massing), shall be compatible with the style of a building in a traditional New England fishing village, or with architectural and development standards that the town determines suitable for the port area.

4.

A building shall have the same materials, or those which are architecturally harmonious, used for all walls and other exterior building components.

5.

Additions or alterations to an existing building should be complementary in scale to the original structure, and architectural details, including materials, colors and textures, shall be treated so as to be compatible with the original architectural style of the building, providing such details preserve and enhance the character of the surrounding area.

6.

Mechanical equipment and utility hardware on the roof shall be screened from public view with materials harmonious to the building. Utility structures that cannot be placed on the roof shall be located so they are not visible from the street or public open space, and shall be screened with landscaping or materials that are compatible with the building.

7.

When used, the design and size of exterior lighting and/or widow lighting shall be compatible with the building and the adjacent areas. Review of lighting features by the planning board shall include color, lumens, location, design and impact on adjacent properties.

b.

Signage. Standards for commercial signs shall be those regulations contained in subsection 7.18(i)(2), commercial signs.

c.

Site design and landscaping.

1.

The layout and design of all means of vehicular and pedestrian circulation, including interior drives, parking areas and walkways, shall provide for safe interior circulation and separation of pedestrian, vehicular and service traffic.

2.

The number of site entrances shall be the minimum necessary for effective traffic control, and sharing of access driveways and parking areas by adjoining properties shall be incorporated into the site design wherever possible.

3.

Provisions for pedestrian movement, in the form of sidewalks or walkways, shall be made to allow for safe access between parking areas and retail establishments.

4.

Bicycle parking facilities shall be provided at all commercial parking areas designed for 50 or more cars, with a ratio of at least one bicycle space for each 20 car spaces.

5.

Landscape treatment shall be provided to enhance architectural features and improve aesthetics. The site shall be planned to achieve a desirable transition between the building and the street, with landscaping required and the use of pedestrian walkways, special lighting, benches and other amenities encouraged.

6.

The amount of frontage along a street occupied by parking should be minimized for sites undergoing redevelopment, while all parking shall be placed behind the building(s), if practicable, for sites undergoing new development. No new parking areas shall be located within the front yard. If possible, all parking areas should be designed in small groups or courts to lessen visual impacts.

7.

Parking lots that front on public streets shall be screened by landscaping or with walls or fencing a minimum of three feet in height. Walls and fences shall be of a scale and material appropriate to the site and surrounding area.

8.

The interior of all paved parking areas shall be enhanced with planted islands, with a minimum of one island for each 20 parking spaces. The planted islands shall be placed so as to prevent long rows of uninterrupted parking spaces and be designed to assist in treatment of stormwater runoff. All islands shall be surrounded by continuous raised curbing.

9.

Plantings along the perimeter of parking areas and new streets should include either evergreen species, or street trees of at least 3.5-inch caliper planted at intervals of 35 feet. Planted islands may include shrubs, plants and other live vegetation, but should include one tree of at least three-inch caliper. Species to be selected shall be tolerant of high salt concentrations and heavy wind conditions.

10.

Only nursery grown plant materials shall be accepted, and all trees, shrubs and ground covers shall be planted according to accepted horticultural standards. The owner shall be responsible for maintaining the landscaping and for replacing all dead or diseased plant materials on at least an annual basis. Failure to adequately maintain required plantings may result in such work being performed by the town at the owner's expense

11.

Screening of refuse areas, service and storage yards and exterior work areas shall be accomplished by use of walls, fencing, plantings or a combination of these.

d.

Street and utility design.

1.

Streets should be designed for pedestrian safety and residential security, bearing in mind that wide streets encourage speeding.

2.

Public sewers are required.

3.

Public water is required.

e.

Conservation design.

1.

Historic or cultural resources should be protected from destruction.

2.

Natural habitats should be protected from disturbance or over use; green space should be maintained per a specific conservation plan.

3.

Drainage facilities shall be designed and constructed to minimize increases in runoff and sedimentation and to mitigate pollution impacts.

(10)

In Historic Districts the following regulatory standards apply:

a.

Residential DPR's shall present a design concept that extends throughout the planned neighborhood, and shall reflect and interpret traditional New England architectural styles to create a favorable environment for modern living. The administrative officer or planning board may require that the applicant provide funds to hire a professional consultant (architect, landscape architect or other design professional) to evaluate the proposed design.

b.

Design elements for residential DPR's in historic districts shall include:

1.

Buildings should be similar in materials to traditional New England designs, and may include buildings with clapboard siding, cedar shingles, and fieldstone.

2.

Where possible, buildings should have gabled roofs with pitches between 8/12 and 12/12, with the orientation of gable ends either parallel or perpendicular to the street line.

3.

Where possible, each house should front on a street or green with a pedestrian accessway.

4.

Porches or landscape features are encouraged and should mediate between the public and private elements of each house lot.

5.

Developers should reserve attractive, useable space for common use.

6.

Where proposed development areas abut adjacent developed properties an evergreen visual buffer shall be established.

7.

Sidewalks are encouraged.

(Ch. 1117, § 14, 12-18-2023)

The Narragansett Planning Board is hereby authorized to review and approve variances for properties undergoing review for development plan review or as a minor or major land-development or subdivision projects. This process is to be known as unified development review (UDR).

(1)

Reserved.

(2)

All land development and subdivision or development plan review applications that include requests for variances and/or special-use permits submitted pursuant to this section shall require a public hearing that meets the requirements of RIGL §§ 45-23-50.1(b) and 45-23-50.1(c). In granting requests for dimensional and use variances, the planning board shall be bound to the requirements of RIGL §§ 45-24-41(d) and 45-24-41(e) § 45-24-41 relative to entering evidence into the record in satisfaction of the applicable standards. In reviewing requests for special-use permits, the planning board shall be bound to the conditions and procedures under which a special-use permit may be issued and the criteria for the issuance of such permits, as found within the zoning ordinance pursuant to RIGL §§ 45-24-42(b)(1), 45-24-42(b)(2) and 45-24-42(b)(3) § 45-24-42, and shall be required to provide for the recording of findings of fact and written decisions as described in the zoning ordinance pursuant to RIGL § 45-24-42(b)(5) § 45-24-42. An appeal from any decision made pursuant to this section may be taken pursuant to RIGL § 45-23-66 § 45-23-71.

(3)

A public hearing on a UDR application shall be held prior to consideration of the preliminary plan by the planning board. Public notice of the hearing shall be given at least 14 days prior to the date of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the Town of Narragansett. Notice shall be sent to the applicant and to each owner within 500 feet of the perimeter of the area included in the subdivision and/or land-development project by first class mail, not less than ten days prior to the date of the hearing. Notice shall also be sent to any individual or entity holding a recorded conservation or preservation restriction on the property that is the subject of the application.

(4)

The planning board shall have same authority as the zoning board to approve, approve with conditions, or deny a variance request filed as part of the UDR application. The planning board shall conditionally approve or deny the request(s) for the variance(s) before considering the preliminary plan application for the development plan review, or minor or major subdivision or land-development project. Approval of the variance(s) shall be conditioned upon approval of the final plan of the development plan review, subdivision or land-development project. The planning board shall address the same findings of fact required to be addressed by the zoning board and shall produce and record a written decision in the same manner as the zoning board. The time periods by which the planning board must approve or deny applications for dimensional variance(s) for a UDR application shall be the same as the time periods by which the board must make a decision on the preliminary plan review stage of the subdivision or land-development project under review.

(5)

Appeal from the decision of the planning board may be taken to RI Superior Court.

(Ch. 1117, § 14, 12-18-2023)