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Town of Barrington, RI
Bristol County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
A. 
An Elderly Housing District may be established from time to time within the Business or Limited Manufacturing Districts to provide alternate housing opportunities for elderly and handicapped residents within reasonable distance of such services as transportation, shopping, recreation and socialization. The establishment of this district furthers the purposes set forth in § 185-3 of this chapter and responds to a need of Barrington's aging population to remain in familiar, secure and independent surroundings even as their family and other personal circumstances change.
B. 
An Elderly Housing District may be established by action of the Town Council under the procedures set forth in Article XI for amendment of this chapter and the Zoning Map. Such a district shall be designated as an Elderly Housing District (EH) when created in a Business or Limited Manufacturing District. These Elderly Housing Districts will henceforth be referred to as EH Districts in this article.
The uses of land permitted in an EH District shall be those shown as permitted uses in Article IV of this chapter. In addition, the following requirements shall be met:
A. 
The minimum area for any site proposed for an EH District must be 100,000 square feet and must be under single ownership or under a group of owners acting jointly to seek approval.
B. 
In any EH District, all dwelling and other permitted uses shall be connected to the sewer system of the Town of Barrington and to the water supply system of the Bristol County Water Authority, or the successor thereto.
C. 
Each dwelling unit in an EH District shall contain no more than 1,250 square feet, must be handicapped-accessible, be designed and equipped with handicapped-accessible doorways and bathrooms, include a functioning emergency call system and have separate temperature controls. At least one occupant in each unit must be handicapped or 62 years of age or older.
[Amended 7-25-1994]
Any applicant wishing to establish an Elderly Housing District shall submit 10 copies of the proposed development site plan and accompanying documents as provided in this section (hereinafter referred to as the "site plan") to the Town Council, together with an application to amend the Zoning Map. The Town Council shall refer copies as needed of the site plan to the Barrington Planning Board for its review. The site plan shall be prepared by a registered professional engineer, registered land surveyor, registered architect or registered landscape architect and shall show the following:
A. 
The proposed name of the development, its location by legal descriptions and the names and addresses of the applicant and designer of the plan.
B. 
The plan at a scale of one inch equals 50 feet, the date, north arrow and contours at two foot intervals.
C. 
The boundary line of the development indicated by a solid line, and total acreage encompassed thereby, and section and municipal boundary lines within 200 feet of the development.
D. 
Location, widths and names of all existing or prior platted streets, railroad and utility rights-of-way, and permanent easements; parks and other public open spaces; and permanent buildings and structures.
E. 
Existing sewers, water mains, culverts and other underground facilities within the tract, indicating locations, grades, pipe sizes and maintenance holes.
F. 
Location, arrangement and exterior dimensions, including height, of all proposed buildings, structures and signs.
G. 
Location and dimensions of vehicular drives, entrances, exits and acceleration and deceleration lanes; and pedestrian entrances, exits and walkways.
H. 
Location, arrangement and dimensions of automobile parking spaces, aisles and bays.
I. 
Location and size of proposed water mains, fire hydrants, recreation facilities and other related improvements.
J. 
A drainage plan and typical street cross sections.
K. 
Location, height and materials of walls, fences, screen planting and ground cover; and location and types of exterior lighting.
L. 
Existing and proposed finished grades.
M. 
A plan showing the steps proposed to be taken to prevent soil erosion and stream sedimentation during and after construction.
N. 
The stages, if any, to be followed in the construction of the development.
O. 
A plan for the development of any contiguous land owned by the applicant and proposed for future development.
P. 
Data as follows:
(1) 
The total number of dwellings proposed and the overall density.
(2) 
The percent of the total parcel to be devoted to streets and roadways.
(3) 
The percent of the total parcel to be allocated to open area, recreation and other common facilities.
(4) 
The percent of the total parcel to be covered by structures.
(5) 
The location of open area required hereunder, and a plan (with timetable) for the creation, ownership and maintenance of the open area.
Q. 
A drawing or plan, designating those areas defined as freshwater wetlands pursuant to Chapter 2-1 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, 1956, as amended, and those areas within a coastal zone subject to jurisdiction of the Coastal Resources Management Council pursuant to Chapter 46-23 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, 1956, as amended.
R. 
Any other data deemed necessary by the Town Council or the Planning Board.
Any applicant wishing to establish an EH District shall also submit the following:
A. 
A certificate from the Tax Collector of the Town of Barrington that all taxes due on the land within the development have been paid for the five years preceding the date of filing and that there are no outstanding liens on said land.
B. 
Copies of any existing or proposed deed restrictions or covenants running with the land in the development (including any with respect to the open area), if any exist or are proposed.
C. 
A description of any easements which exist and affect land within the development and an instrument conveying any easements to the Town of Barrington which may be required as conditions of approval of the proposed amendment.
No petition for amendment of this chapter to create an EH District shall be heard or approved by the Town Council until site plan materials have been reviewed by the Barrington Planning Board, and the Planning Board has issued a report and recommendations thereon.
Following receipt of the report and recommendations of the Barrington Planning Board, the Town Council shall schedule a public hearing and proceed with the process prescribed in Article XI for amendment of this chapter and the Zoning Map to create an Elderly Housing District.
The submission of a proposal for amendment of this chapter to create an Elderly Housing District shall be accompanied by a filing fee in an amount prescribed from time to time by the Town Council.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. A225, Fee and Fine Schedule.
The maximum number of units to be permitted in an EH District shall be based upon the requirement of 4,000 square feet of site area for each bedroom or other space designed or allocated for full-time or intermittent sleeping purposes. Efficiency apartments shall be considered as having one bedroom, and each den, study or family room (additional to the living room) shall be considered as a bedroom.
The minimum area and dimensional requirements for an EH District shall be as follows:
Description
Minimum Requirement
Minimum tract area
100,000 square feet
Minimum tract frontage at the street line
150 feet
Minimum depth of front yard
25 feet
Minimum distance from internal drive or parking area
10 feet
Minimum side yard and rear yard setbacks for all structures
25 feet
Maximum height of principal structures
35 feet
Maximum height of accessory structures
20 feet
Minimum open space
20%
Minimum distance between principal structures; such structures may be connected by covered walkways not to exceed 15 feet in height
25 feet
A. 
In any EH District, at least 20% of the total proposed development parcel area, exclusive of areas such as wetlands, marshes, water bodies and others, or driveways, parking areas or accessory structures, shall be set aside as open area. The open area may be in one or more parcels and may include uncovered recreation or leisure facilities appropriate for the intended occupancy.
B. 
In addition, a buffer area of planting or other landscape features shall be maintained for a depth of 10 feet from all tract boundaries.
[Amended 3-11-1996 by Ord. No. 96-2]
A. 
The Planning Board may recommend, and the Town Council approve, an increase in the gross density requirement to a maximum number of units based on 2,000 square feet of site area for each bedroom or other space designed or allocated for full-time or intermittent sleeping purposes, and/or an increase in the maximum height of the principal structure to three stories when an elevator is included, when the Planning Board and Town Council determine that the public welfare is better served by the inclusion of one or more of the following amenities:
(1) 
An increase in internal common space for the purpose of cooking, dining, recreation, laundry, assisted living or other purposes compatible with the intended occupancy.
(2) 
An increase in open space for garden plots, passive or active recreation or the dedication of open space for general public use.
(3) 
Provision of internal landscaping and screening of parking areas, or minimizing of traffic impacts or improvements to surrounding traffic circulation.
(4) 
Other features deemed by the Planning Board and Town Council to improve the compatibility of the project with its surroundings and to improve the health, safety and welfare of the intended residents or of the community as a whole.
B. 
The Planning Board may recommend, and the Town Council approve, an increase in the gross density requirement to a maximum number of units based on 1,500 square feet of site area for each bedroom or other space designed or allocated for full-time or intermittent sleeping purposes, and/or an increase in the maximum height of the principal structure to three stories when an elevator is included, when the Planning Board and Town Council determine that the public welfare is better served by the inclusion of one or more of the amenities listed in Subsection A(1) through (4) above and meets the following requirements:
[Amended 6-2-1997 by Ord. No. 97-4]
(1) 
The project involves the conversion of an existing building rather than new construction on a vacant lot; and
(2) 
All of the units in the proposed complex are to be sold, or designated for a minimum period of 30 years, as affordable units, with "affordable" being as currently defined by the appropriate state and federal agencies; or
(3) 
The project involves the construction of an assisted living facility for the elderly and handicapped.
A. 
Unless otherwise approved by the Town Council, all streets in an EH District shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 200, Subdivision of Land, for street construction and design. Traffic circulation, as well as driveways and other paved areas intended to remain in private ownership, shall be approved as to design and construction by the Barrington Planning Board.
B. 
The off-street parking requirements shall be that given in § 185-78 of this chapter for elderly housing uses.