[Adopted 6-5-1972 (§§ 2-6 to 2-9 of the
1976 Code)]
In accordance with the provisions of Title 45,
Chapter 22, of the General Laws of Rhode Island, 1956, as amended,
there shall be established a Planning Board for the Town.
[Amended 3-11-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-03-11]
The Planning Board shall consist of seven members,
each a resident of the Town and a qualified elector, and each to hold
office for the term of four years, provided that the original appointments
shall be made for terms of one, two, three and four years, respectively,
and provided that the appointments for the year next following the
original appointments shall be for like terms of one, two, three and
four years, respectively. All terms shall commence on May 1 of the
year of appointment. The members of the Board shall be appointed by
the Town Council in accordance with the provisions of this article.
Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled by
the Town Council, and such appointment shall serve the remainder of
the unexpired term. All members shall serve until their respective
successors shall have been designated. After the annual appointments
of the Town Council have been made, the Board shall organize by electing
a Chairman, Vice Chairman and a Secretary. Members of the Board shall
serve without compensation.
Regular meetings of the Board shall be held
at least once a month for 10 months of the year on such days as the
Board may determine, and special meetings shall be held at the call
of the Chairman or on the written request of three members. Four members
shall constitute a quorum, but no action shall be taken by the Board
without the concurring vote of four members. The Board may adopt rules
for the transaction of business.
A.
Studies. When requested by the Town Council, the Planning
Board shall make careful studies and, when necessary, prepare plans
for the resources and needs of the Town, with reference to its physical
growth and development as affecting the health, safety, morals and
general welfare of the people, economy and efficiency of community
life. Such studies and plans may include, among other things, the
following:
(1)
The utilization of land for residential, business,
industrial, public, institutional or other purposes;
(2)
The location and character of transportation routes,
including waterways, railroads, highways, streets, sidewalks, bridges,
terminals, piers or wharves, heliports or other facilities;
(3)
The location and character of public buildings and
facilities, including offices, fire or police stations, schools, parks,
recreation areas, beaches and other public places and structures;
(4)
The coordinated development of public service and
utility systems such as water supply, drainage, sewerage, streetlighting,
power or fuel transmission, fire control, school and recreation;
(5)
Conditions of deteriorating or blighted areas, including
plans for the redevelopment, rehabilitation and prevention of slum
districts;
(6)
The prevention and abatement of stream, bay or harbor
pollution;
(7)
The conservation and utilization of natural resources,
including soil, groundwater or surface water, the shoreline, minerals,
plant and animal life and topographical features;
(8)
Historic sites or buildings;
(9)
Survival from possible natural or man-made disasters;
and
(10)
The economic and sociological characteristics of the
Town.
B.
Master Plan. The Board, when requested by the Town
Council, shall prepare and adopt a Master Plan for the development
and improvement of the Town. Such plan shall, among other things,
show the proposed location and arrangement of the uses of the land,
transportation routes, public buildings and facilities, public and
utility systems, deteriorating or blighted neighborhoods planned for
redevelopment, rehabilitation or other improvement, natural resources
and historic sites to be preserved, and disaster survival features.
No portion of the Master Plan or amendment thereto shall be adopted
by the Board without a public hearing.
C.
Capital budget and improvement program. When directed
by the Town Council, the Board shall collaborate with the Town Financial
Officer in the annual preparation and recommendation to the Budget
Committee of a capital budget for the following year and a comprehensive
six-year capital improvement program.
D.
Platting and subdivisions. When directed by the Town
Council, the Board shall control the platting or other subdivision
of land in accordance with the applicable statute.
E.
Annual reports. The Board shall report annually to
the Town Council not less than 30 days prior to the annual adoption
of the Town's budget, summarizing the work of the preceding year and
recommending plans for the future development of the Town. All plans
and reports of the Board shall be first submitted to the Town Council,
and thereafter the Board shall have authority to publish and distribute
copies of plans and reports to promote public interest in and understanding
of the work of the Board.[1]
F.
Other duties assigned by Council. The Board shall
undertake such other projects and work as may be assigned by the Town
Council in connection with the physical growth and development of
the Town.
A.
Cooperation of other officials, agencies, etc. When
authorized by the Town Council, the Planning Board shall have authority
to call upon other departments, boards, committees or commissions
of the Town and agencies of the state and federal governments for
assistance in performance of its designated functions and shall cooperate
with such other departments and with state and federal agencies on
community, regional and state planning and development. All Town officials
and agencies shall, upon request, furnish the Board such available
information as it may require for its work.
B.
Technical assistance. The Board may employ such technical
assistance as it may deem necessary within the funds appropriated
by the Town at the adoption of the Town's budget and may enter into
agreements with state, federal or regional agencies; the Board 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.[1]
C.
The Board shall adopt, modify and amend regulations
and rules governing land development and subdivision projects within
the Town of Portsmouth.
[Added 1-3-1995 by Ord. No. 95-1-3B]
D.
The Board shall control land development and subdivision
projects pursuant to such regulations and rules.
[Added 1-3-1995 by Ord. No. 95-1-3B]
A.
Any proposal for the construction of the public improvement
or for the acquisition of land for public use which requires approval
at the adoption of the Town's budget and any such proposal which may
be effected by a department, board, committee or commission of the
Town shall be first submitted to the Planning Board for its recommendation.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the proposal
from reaching the floor at the adoption of the Town's budget or from
being effected, if approval at the adoption of the Town's budget is
not required, in the absence of a recommendation of the Board after
30 days from the date of submission or subsequent to a negative recommendation
of the Board.[1]
B.
All proposed ordinances and resolutions of the Town
Council which concern the existing and proposed location and arrangement
of the uses of the land, transportation routes, public buildings and
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
features shall be submitted to the Board for its recommendation. Nothing
in this section shall be construed to restrict or prevent the Town
Council from acting on any ordinance or resolution contrary to or
in the absence of a recommendation of the Board.
