A.
There shall be a Planning Commission composed of five
(5) members. They shall be elected at large on a nonpartisan basis
for terms of six (6) years, except that the initial elections shall
be for terms of two (2) members for two (2) years, two (2) members
for four (4) years and one (1) member for six (6) years, respectively.
In addition there shall be two (2) alternate members elected for terms
of two (2) years; and any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled
by one (1) of the alternates until the next general election. When
an alternate resigns or is appointed to fill a vacancy on the Commission,
the Council may appoint a replacement alternate to serve until the
next general election. All members shall serve until their respective
successors have been elected. The Town Administrator and the Director
of Public Works shall serve as ex officio members, and a member of
the Council may also serve as an ex officio member of this Commission.
[Amended 11-4-1986; 11-8-1988; ratified by Council 2-10-1992; 11-2-2010]
B.
The Commission shall organize annually by electing
a Chairman, Vice Chairman, and appointing a Secretary. Members of
the Commission shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed
out of appropriations for any expenses incurred in the performance
of their duties.
A.
Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held at
least once a month on such days as the Commission may determine, and
special meetings shall be held at the call of the Chairman or on written
request of two (2) members.
B.
Three (3) members shall constitute a quorum, but no
action shall be taken by the Commission without the concurring vote
of three (3) members.
C.
Meetings of the Commission shall be held as the Commission
may determine. The Chairman or, in his/her absence, the Vice Chairman,
may administer oaths, compel the attendance of witnesses and the submission
of explanatory data. Alternate members may actively participate in
all hearings, whether acting in a voting capacity or not. In the event
a regular Commission member can not vote, then the first alternate
shall serve as a voting member of the Commission. In the event two
regular Commission members can not vote, the second alternate shall
also serve as a voting member. In the absence of the first alternate,
the second alternate shall serve as the first alternate. No member
or alternate may vote on any matter before the Commission unless he/she
has been present for the entire proceedings on that application or
has reviewed the meeting tapes, the minutes and familiarized himself/herself
with the application.
[Added 11-4-2008[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This amendment also redesignated
former Subsection C as Subsection D.
D.
The Commission shall adopt rules for the transaction
of business.
[Amended 11-5-1996]
A.
The Planning Commission shall make studies and prepare
plans for the utilization of the resources and satisfaction of the
needs of the town, with reference to its physical growth and development
as affecting the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the
people and the economy and efficiency of community life. Such studies
and plans may include, among other things, the following:
(1)
The utilization of land for residential, commercial,
industrial, public, institutional and other purposes;
(2)
The location and character of transportation routes,
including railroads, highways, streets, sidewalks, bridges, terminals,
heliports and other facilities;
(3)
The location and character of public facilities, including
offices, fire or police stations, schools, recreation areas and other
public places and structures;
(4)
The location and character of public service and utility
systems such as water supply, drainage, sewerage, streetlighting and
power or fuel transmission;
(5)
Blighted areas, including the designation of general
areas for redevelopment or renewal;
(6)
Environmental pollution: air, land and water;
(7)
The conservation and utilization of natural resources,
including soil, ground- or surface water, minerals, plant and animal
life and topographic features;
(8)
Historic sites or buildings;
(9)
Survival from possible disaster; and
(10)
The economic and sociological aspects of the
town.
B.
The Commission shall periodically update the Comprehensive
Plan for the development and improvement of the town. That plan shall,
among other things, show the proposed location and arrangement of
the uses of the land; transportation routes; public facilities; utility
systems; deteriorating or blighted neighborhoods planned for redevelopment,
rehabilitation or other improvement; natural resources and historic
sites to be preserved; and disaster survival proposals. The plan shall
also include recommendations for the enactment of development controls
deemed necessary to properly implement the features of the plan, such
as zoning, subdivision control, official street map, minimum housing
standards, pollution control, etc. No portion of the Comprehensive
Plan or amendment thereto shall be adopted without a public hearing.
C.
[1]The Commission shall regulate the platting or any other
subdivision of land in accordance with the provisions of the General
Laws of Rhode Island.
D.
The Commission shall file an opinion with the Council
on all proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance,[2] giving due consideration to the relationship of such amendments
to the town's Comprehensive Plan, and shall recommend to the Council
amendments to the Zoning Ordinance[3] wherever there is a proposed major change in or extension
of land use, transportation routes, public facilities or public utility
systems. At least once every two (2) years the Planning Commission
shall review the Zoning Ordinance and make recommendations concerning
its revision.
E.
The Commission shall report annually to the Council
at the end of the fiscal year, summarizing the work of the preceding
year and recommending plans for future development of the town. A
copy of this report shall be filed with the Rhode Island Development
Council in accordance with the provisions in the General Laws of Rhode
Island. All plans and reports of the Commission shall be first submitted
to the Council, and thereafter the Commission may publish and distribute
copies of plans and reports in order to promote public interest in
and understanding of the work of the Commission.
F.
The Commission shall undertake such other work as
may be assigned by the Council in connection with the physical growth
and development of the town. The Commission shall have the authority
to call upon other departments, boards, committees or commissions
of the town and agencies of the state and federal governments for
assistance in performing its designated functions, and shall cooperate
with other departments and with state and federal agencies on community,
regional and state planning and development. The Commission may employ
such technical assistance as it may deem necessary within the funds
appropriated to it, and may enter into agreements with the state,
federal or regional agencies; the Commission may incur any expense
necessary therefor, but it shall not for any purpose contract for
or incur any expense greater than the amount appropriated or available
therefor.
A.
Any proposal for the construction of a public improvement
or for the acquisition of land for public use shall be first submitted
to the Planning Commission for its recommendation. Nothing, however,
shall be construed to prevent the proposal from being effected in
the absence of a recommendation of the Commission after thirty (30)
days from the date of submission or subsequent to a negative recommendation
of the Commission.
B.
All proposed ordinances and resolutions of the Council
which concern the existing and proposed location and arrangement of
the uses of the land, transportation routes, public facilities; public
utility systems; deteriorating or blighted neighborhoods planned for
redevelopment, rehabilitation or other improvement; natural resources
and historic sites to be preserved; and disaster survival proposals
shall be submitted to the Commission for its recommendation. Nothing,
however, shall be construed to restrict or prevent the Council from
acting on any ordinance or resolution contrary to or in the absence
of a recommendation of the Commission.
D.
The Commission may also act in a review capacity in
other matters as may be specified in the General Laws of the State
of Rhode Island.
