For the purpose of this chapter, the Town of Coventry is hereby
divided into the following districts:
A.
Residential.
(1)
RR5 - Rural Residential District. These are rural areas which
are not served by public facilities, and in which intensive development
should not occur. These areas are characterized by very-low-density
development, large estates, agricultural uses and certain low-intensity
nonresidential activities incidental to a rural environment. This
district is designed to preserve the rural character of the Town and
to preserve and protect environmentally sensitive land. The minimum
lot size for development is five acres.
(2)
RR3 - Rural Residential District. These are rural areas which
public water or sewer facilities are not available and in which municipal
police, fire, school and recreation opportunities and facilities are
limited. This district is designed to minimize intensive development
in order to protect surface and groundwater reserves and to promote
orderly development in a manner that appropriately reflects the surrounding
land use and capacity of the Town to service the resultant development.
These areas are characterized by low-density residential development,
large estates, and certain low-intensity nonresidential activities
incidential to a rural environment. The minimum lot size for development
is three acres.
(3)
RR2 - Rural Residential District. These are rural areas in which
public water or sewer facilities are generally not available. These
areas are characterized by low-density single-family residential development,
large estates, and certain low-intensity nonresidential activities
incidental to a rural environment. The minimum lot size for development
is two acres.
(4)
R20 - Residential District. These are quiet, higher-density
residential areas of the Town, plus certain undeveloped areas where
similar residential development will likely occur in the future. Public
water is generally available and public sewers are planned. Public
facilities and a wide range of services are available. The minimum
lot size for development is 20,000 square feet.
B.
Business.
(1)
VRC - Village Rural Commercial District. These districts are
defined primarily as traditional mixed-use village nodes in central
and western Coventry that support a variety of land uses, including
retail, service, light industrial, office, and residential uses. Special
development standards are required for the preservation and enhancement
of the visual, traditional and historic character of the vicinity.
(2)
VMC - Village Main Street Commercial. These districts are defined
primarily as traditional mixed-use village nodes in eastern Coventry
that support a variety of uses including retail, service, office,
and residential. Special development standards are required for the
preservation and enhancement of the visual, traditional and historic
character of the vicinity.
(3)
GB/GB-1 General Business District. These districts are composed
of certain land and structures to provide for the retailing of commodities
and the furnishing of services which depend primarily on vehicular
traffic. GB-1 requires a minimum of one acre for development.
(4)
BP - Planned Business Park. This is a floating zone, the purpose of which is to denote major commercial, office and industrial centers for the Town as identified in the Comprehensive Community Plan. Proposals shall ensure a coordinated development plan where uses, traffic controls, open space needs, buffering and site appropriateness can be evaluated. Land uses in this district include all commercial uses other than heavy industrial and certain other uses specifically prohibited. Business Park Districts shall be approved as a land development project through the provisions of Article XIV of this chapter.
C.
Industrial.
(1)
I1 - These districts are primarily large tracts of land suitable
for industrial development in conformance with development standards
enumerated in this chapter.
(2)
I2 - These districts are older industrial mill complexes in
the Town in existence prior to the original enactment of this chapter
which may have existing buildings over 35 feet in height.
E.
SPD - Special Planning Overlay District.
(1)
This is a design overlay district to provide for the establishment
of a design review by the Planning Commission which shall take into
consideration the special impact the development will have on this
visually prominant location. There shall be a strong emphasis on aesthetics,
including design and building layout. Strip development is strongly
discouraged. Buffering, access, landscaping, lighting and signage
must be oriented to accommodate pedestrian traffic within the site.
The uses and dimensions of the underlying zone shall remain in effect.
The boundaries of the above zoning districts are hereby established
as shown on a map filed in the Office of the Town Clerk, entitled
"ZONING MAP-COVENTRY, RHODE ISLAND, 1" EQUALS 1,200' DATED JUNE 26,
2000" as amended and hereafter known as the "Zoning Map." Prior to
June 26, 2000, the Coventry Zoning Map was composed of 61 separate
maps numbered 1 to 61 and filed in the Office of the Town Clerk. The
Coventry Zoning Map is hereby amended and adopted on June 26, 2000,
and made part of this chapter.
Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of zoning districts
as shown on the Zoning Map, the following rules shall apply:
A.
Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center lines
of a highway, street, alley, railroad, watercourse or body of water
shall be construed to the center line, or middle thereof, or where
such boundaries indicated as approximately following Town limits shall
be construed as following such Town limits;
B.
Boundaries indicated as approximately following platted lot lines
shall be construed as following such lot lines;
C.
Where a district boundary line divides a lot which was in single
ownership at the time of passage of this chapter, the Board may permit,
as a special use permit, the extension of the regulations for either
portion of the lot not to exceed 30 feet beyond the district line
in the remainder of the lot;
D.
Boundaries indicated as following shore lines shall be construed
to follow such shore lines, and in the event of change in the shore
line shall be construed as moving with the actual shore line;
E.
Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of features indicated in the above Subsection C shall be so construed. Distances not specifically indicated on the Zoning Map shall be determined by the scale of the map;
F.
Where physical or cultural features existing on the ground are at
variance with these shown on the Zoning Map, or in other circumstances
not covered by the above subsections, the Board shall interpret the
district boundaries.
A.
Conformity with the Comprehensive Plan. All development along the
Tiogue Avenue/Nooseneck Hill Road (Route 3) and Sandy Bottom Road
corridors shall conform to the policies and guidelines as set forth
in the Town's Comprehensive Community Plan. In order to demonstrate
such conformity, the owners, applicants or developers, as applicable,
must provide appropriate landscape, streetscape, on-site lighting,
building and redevelopment activities and improvements to comport
with the goals and intents of said plan.
B.
Purpose. The purpose of this "Special Management District" is to
revitalize and develop Tiogue Avenue/Nooseneck Hill Road and Sandy
Bottom Road so as to dramatically improve the functioning and appearance
of this arterial corridor, create redevelopment opportunities and
create jobs as well as enhance the Town's economic tax base.
C.
Applicability. This section shall apply to all real estate and buildings
thereon situated on or adjacent to Tiogue Avenue and Nooseneck Hill
Road and Sandy Bottom Road that are in a General Business (GB) Zoning
District.
D.
Procedure for approval. All new commercial uses, changes in commercial
uses or expansion of commercial uses shall be subject to the provisions
of this article in addition to any other applicable zoning, subdivision
and land use regulations. Such uses shall be reviewed by the Planning
Department and/or Planning Commission as appropriate.
E.
Architectural standards.
(1)
General. The architectural design of buildings, structures and
site layout shall be visually compatible with the traditional historic
character of Coventry and the surrounding area, including building
materials, scale and roof line.
(2)
Specific.
(a)
New buildings shall be designed with traditional roof forms
that are compatible with other traditional New England towns such
as gabled, lipped, and pitched roofs. Flat roofs shall be avoided.
(b)
Architectural elements to include dormers, columns, facades,
awnings, canopies, etc., shall be in proportion with the dimensions
and design of the overall building. Exaggerated or excessively large
architectural elements shall be avoided.
(c)
Traditional building materials such as shingles, wood clapboards,
stucco, brick and stone should be used for the exterior sheathing
of additions and new construction.
(d)
The construction of buildings which are designed primarily according
to themes or architectural styles associated with chain stores or
restaurants shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission and may be
modified or prohibited if found inconsistent with the Town's Comprehensive
Community Plan or this chapter.
(e)
For new retail or commercial establishments which will exceed
10,000 gross square feet of floor area or additions which will increase
their floor area in excess of 50%, the following minimum standards
shall apply:
[1]
There shall be no blank, windowless uninterrupted
facade in excess of 60 feet in length. Lengthy facades shall be interrupted
by recesses, projections, windows, awnings or similar measures.
[2]
Smaller retail stores that are a portion of a larger
store or principal building shall have display windows and separate
outside entrances.
[3]
Roof lines shall be varied so as to break up lengthy,
monotonous facades and exteriors.
F.
Colors and materials. To ensure higher quality development, new or
renovated buildings in the special management district shall meet
the following "colors and materials" standards:
(1)
Exterior materials shall be of high quality such as wood, brick,
stucco, sandstone, or nature stone;
(2)
Facade colors shall be low-reflective, subtle, neutral or earth-tone
colors;
(3)
High-intensity or metallic colors on the exterior of buildings
are prohibited;
(4)
Neon tubing as an accent material is prohibited.
G.
Relationship to surrounding community. To ensure that all buildings
with 10,000 square feet or more of gross floor area are compatible
with surrounding streets, commercial and residential uses, all new
buildings in excess of 10,000 square feet gross floor area or existing
buildings which propose to increase their gross floor area in excess
of 50% shall:
(1)
Install or provide all facades that are visible from adjoining
properties and/or public streets which encourage community integration
by featuring characteristics of the front facade;
(2)
All sides of a principal building which directly faces abutting
streets shall include at least one customer entrance;
(3)
Evergreen trees must be installed on all sides of a building
which abuts or faces a residential zoning district;
(4)
Landscape features shall be incorporated into all plans which
shield loading docks, trash collection, and outdoor storage from public
view;
(5)
Every effort shall be made to incorporate community and public
spaces such as water fountains, water features, clock towers, and/or
patio seating areas in plans.
H.
General Business design guidelines. Those techniques and measures
set forth in the "Town of Coventry, Special Management District, General
Business Guidelines" prepared by the Town of Coventry Planning Department
and dated July 2007 are incorporated herein (NOTE: street lighting
should be coordinated through the local fire district).
