The Board shall be made up of nine (9) members appointed by the Town Council, with the qualification and for the terms as set forth in § 701 of the Little Compton Home Rule Charter. Any member of the Board may be removed from office by the Town Council for due cause, following a public hearing.
The Board shall organize annually in February by electing from its membership a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary, and an Administrative Officer who may also hold other office of the Board. The Board may adopt any procedural rules deemed necessary to the discharge of its duties.
The Board may, subject to the limit of funds appropriated to it, enter into cooperative agreements with any other city or town, state, regional, or federal agencies or private organizations to undertake studies deemed to be in the best interest of the locality, including cooperative agreements with cities or towns in neighboring states where problems of common interest are deemed to exist. The Board may accept or engage technical or clerical assistance, including assistance from other public agencies or private organizations, subject to the limit of funds appropriated to it.
[Amended 9-5-2019]
Printed copies of these Regulations shall be available to the general public and shall be revised to include all amendments. Any appendices shall also be available. A reasonable charge may be made for copies. Upon publication of these Regulations and any amendments thereto, the Town shall send a copy to the State Law Library.
All records of the Board proceedings and decisions shall be written and kept permanently available for public review. Completed applications for proposed subdivision projects under review by the Board, shall be available for public review.
All final written comments to the Board from the Administrative Officer, municipal departments, the technical review committee, state and federal agencies, and local commissions shall be part of the permanent record of the development application.
Participation in a Board meeting or other proceedings by any party shall not be a cause for civil action or liability except for acts not in good faith, intentional misconduct, knowing violation of law, transactions where there is an improper personal benefit, or malicious, wanton, or willful misconduct.
All votes of the Board shall be made part of the permanent record and shall show the members present and their votes. A decision by the Board to approve any land development or subdivision application shall require a vote for approval by a majority of the current Board membership, regardless of the size of the quorum. The decision shall be accompanied by appropriate findings as required in § 8.6, unless such decision has been granted by default, pursuant to failure of the Board to act within the time limits provided herein.
For a major subdivision, a public informational meeting shall be held prior to the Board decision on the master plan, unless the master plan and preliminary plan approvals are being combined, in which case the public informational meeting shall be optional (i.e. may be combined with the public hearing), based upon Board determination.
a. 
Purpose. The purpose of an informational meeting is both to inform the neighboring property owners and other interested parties as to the nature of the proposed subdivision; and to inform the Board of issues of concern to such parties, of which the Board may not be aware.
b. 
Notice. Public notice for the informational meeting is required and shall be given at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting in a newspaper of general circulation within the Town. Postcard notice shall be mailed to the applicant and to all property owners within a radius of two hundred feet (200') of both the subject property and any adjacent property owned in whole or in part by the applicant.
c. 
Part of the Record. At the public informational meeting the applicant shall present the proposed development project. The Board shall allow oral and written comments from the general public. All public comments shall be made part of the public record of the project application.
A public hearing shall be required for a major subdivision or where a street extension or creation requires a public hearing for a minor subdivision.
a. 
Notice Requirements. Public notice of the hearing shall be given at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the Town following the Town's usual and customary practices for such advertising. Notice shall be sent to the applicant and to each owner within the notice area, by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the time and place of the hearing not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing. Such notice shall also include the street address of the subject property, or if no street address is available, the distance from the nearest existing intersection in tenths (1/10) of a mile.
b. 
Notice Area. Notice shall be given to the applicant and to all property owners within a radius of two hundred feet (200') of both the subject property and any adjacent property owned in whole or in part by the applicant.
c. 
Watersheds. Notice of the public hearing, which may be a copy of the newspaper notice, shall also be sent, at least two (2) weeks prior to the hearing, by first class mail to:
1. 
The city or town Planning Board of any municipality where there is a public or quasi-public water source, or private water source that is used or is suitable for use as a public water source, located within two thousand feet (2,000') of the Town's boundaries.
2. 
The governing body of any state or municipal water department or agency, special water district, or private water company that has riparian rights to a surface water resource and/or surface watershed that is used or is suitable for use as a public water source located within either the municipality or two thousand feet (2,000') of the municipal boundaries, provided, however, that a map survey has been filed with the building inspector as specified in R.I.G.L. § 45-24-53(E).
d. 
Adjacent Municipalities. Notice of the public hearing shall be sent by the Administrative Officer to the administrative officer of an adjacent town if (1) the notice area extends into the adjacent town, or (2) the development site extends into the adjacent town, or (3) the Administrative Officer determines that there is a potential for significant negative impact on the adjacent town.
e. 
Notice Cost. The cost of all such notice shall be borne by the applicant.
For all subdivision applications, the approving authority, whether Administrative Officer or Board, shall address each of the general purposes stated in R.I.G.L. § 45-23-30, and shall make positive findings on the following standard provisions, as part of the proposed project's record prior to approval:
The proposed development is consistent with the Comprehensive Community Plan and/or has satisfactorily addressed the issues where there may be inconsistencies;
The proposed development is in compliance with the standards and provisions of the Town's Zoning Ordinance;
There will be no significant negative environmental impacts from the proposed development as shown on the final plan, with all required conditions for approval;
Subdivision, as proposed will not result in the creation of individual lots with such physical constraints to development that building on those lots according to pertinent regulations and building standards would be impracticable. (See definition of Buildable lot). Lots with such physical constraints to development may be created only if identified as permanent open space or permanently reserved for a public purpose on the approved, recorded plans; and
All proposed land developments and all subdivision lots shall have adequate and permanent physical access to a public street. Lot frontage on a public street without physical access shall not be considered compliance with this requirement.
The Board shall have the power to grant such waivers and/or modifications from the requirements for land development and subdivision approval as may be reasonable and within the general purposes and intents of the provisions for local regulations. The only grounds for such waivers and/or modifications shall be where the literal enforcement of one (1) or more provisions of the regulations is impracticable and will exact undue hardship because of peculiar conditions pertaining to the land in question or where such waiver and/or modification is in the best interest of good planning practice and/or design as evidenced by consistency with the Town's Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
When an applicant has exceeded a deadline set in these Regulations or in a prior approval granted to the applicant, and the development application or approval is therefore rendered invalid, the application may be reinstated by the Planning Board if it meets all the following conditions:
a. 
The subdivision is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, and the Comprehensive Plan has not changed substantially since the original application as it would apply to this subdivision.
b. 
The Subdivision Regulations, the Zoning Ordinance, and all applicable state and federal regulations are substantially the same as they were at the time of original application, as they would apply to this subdivision.
c. 
The Zoning Map designation for the subdivision has not changed substantially since the time of original application.
d. 
There has been no substantial change to the physical conditions of the subdivision or the neighboring property since the time of original application.
The request for reinstatement shall be in writing, and the Board shall make written findings of fact in approving or denying such request. It reinstated, the applicant shall proceed from the stage previous to where expiration occurred. For example, if preliminary approval had been granted and then expired, then the applicant shall reapply for preliminary approval.
The Board shall approve, approve with conditions or deny the request for either a waiver or modification according to the requirements of § 8.4. No waiver or modification may be granted without first being heard as part of a Public Hearing as set forth in § 8.5 herein.
[Ord. No. 3/7/17]
All approved final plans and plats for land development and subdivision projects shall be signed by the Chairperson of the Planning Board.
[Ord. 3/7/17]
Upon signature, all plans and plats shall be submitted to the Administrative Officer and the Chairperson prior to recording and filing in the appropriate municipal departments. The material to be recorded for all plans and plats shall include all pertinent plans with notes thereon concerning all the essential aspects of the approved project design, the implementation schedule, special conditions placed on the development by the Town, permits and agreements with state and federal reviewing agencies, and other information as required by the Board.
Other parts of the applications record for subdivisions and land development projects, including all meeting records, approved master plan and preliminary plans, site analyses, impact analyses, all legal agreements, records of the public hearing and the entire final approval set of drawings shall be kept permanently by the municipal departments responsible for implementation and enforcement.
The Town Clerk shall forward a copy of the Plat to the Fire Chief who shall number the lots and notify the statewide "911" emergency authority and the Police Department.
For all changes to the approved plans of land development projects or subdivisions subject to this act, an amendment of the final development plans is required prior to the issuance of any building permits. Any changes approved in the final plan shall be recorded as amendments to the final plan in accordance with the procedure established for recording of plats in § 8.8.2.
Minor changes, as defined in § 8.9.4 below, to a subdivision plan may be approved administratively, by the Administrative Officer, whereupon a permit may be issued. Such changes may be authorized without additional public hearings, at the discretion of the Administrative Officer. All such changes shall be made part of the permanent record of the project application. This provision shall not prohibit the Administrative Officer from requesting a recommendation from the Board. Denial of the proposed change(s) shall be referred to the Board for review as a major change.
Major changes, which are hereby defined as any changes other than minor changes as defined in § 8.9.4 below, to a subdivision plan may be approved, only by the Board and must follow the same review and public hearing process required for approval of preliminary plans.
Minor changes are hereby defined as any change which does not substantially impact the proposed subdivision or any of the neighboring properties, and which meets all of the following criteria:
a. 
There is no increase in the number of lots or dwelling units.
b. 
There is no change to any dimension of the plan, including building envelopes, exceeding twenty percent (20%).
c. 
There is no change to the type of street or driveway.
a. 
Variance. Where an applicant requires both a variance from the zoning ordinance and Planning Board approval, the applicant shall first obtain an advisory recommendation from the Planning Board, as well as conditional Planning Board approval for the first approval stage for the proposed project, which may be simultaneous, then obtain conditional Zoning Board relief, and then return to the Planning Board for subsequent required approval(s).
b. 
Special Use Permit. Where an applicant requires both a special use permit under the local zoning ordinance and Planning Board approval, the applicant shall first obtain an advisory recommendation from the Planning Board, as well as conditional Planning Board approval for the first approval stage for the proposed project, which may be simultaneous, then obtain a conditional special use permit from the Zoning Board, and then return to the Planning Board for subsequent required approval(s).
Where an applicant requires both Planning Board approval and Town Council approval for a zoning ordinance or zoning map change, the applicant shall first obtain an advisory recommendation on the zoning change from the Planning Board, as well as conditional Planning Board approval for the first approval stage for the proposed project, which may be simultaneous, then obtain a conditional zoning change from the Town Council, and then return to the Planning Board for subsequent required approval(s).
As authorized by the Zoning Ordinance and pursuant to state law, the Zoning Board shall be the Board of Appeal to hear appeals of decisions of the Planning Board or the Administrative Officer on matters of review and approval of subdivision projects.
An appeal from any decision of the Board, or Administrative Officer charged in the regulations with enforcement of any provisions, except as provided herein, may be taken to the Board of Appeal by an aggrieved party.
a. 
Time Period and Standing. An appeal to the Board of Appeal from a decision or action of the Board or Administrative Officer may be taken by an aggrieved party. Such appeal must be taken within twenty (20) days after the decision has been recorded and posted in the office of the Town Clerk.
b. 
Form and Content of Appeal. The appeal shall be in writing and shall state clearly and unambiguously the issue or decision which is being appealed, the reason for the appeal, and the relief sought. The appeal shall either be sent by certified mail, with a return receipt requested, or shall be hand-delivered to the Board of Appeal. The Town Clerk shall accept delivery of an appeal on behalf of the Board of Appeal. Two copies of the appeal shall be filed, and the Town Clerk shall immediately transmit one copy to the Zoning Enforcement Officer and the other copy to the Administrative Officer.
c. 
Transmittal of Record. Upon receipt of an appeal, the Board of Appeal shall require the Planning Board or Administrative Officer to transmit forthwith to the Board of Appeal, all papers, documents and plans, or a certified copy thereof, constituting the record of the action which is being appealed.
An appeal shall stay all proceedings in furtherance of the action being appealed.
a. 
Time Limits and Notice. The Board of Appeal shall hold a public hearing on the appeal within forty-five (45) days of the receipt of the appeal, give public notice thereof, as well as due notice to the parties of interest. At the hearing any party may appear in person, or may be represented by an agent or attorney. The Board of Appeal shall render a decision within ten (10) days of the close of the public hearing.
b. 
Cost. The cost of any notice required for the hearing shall be borne by the appellant.
c. 
Special Meeting Required. The Board of Appeal shall only hear appeals of the actions of the Planning Board or Administrative Officer at a meeting called especially for the purpose of hearing such appeals and which has been so advertised. The hearing, which may be held on the same date and at the same place as a meeting of the Zoning Board of Review, must be held as a separate meeting from any Zoning Board of Review meeting. Separate minutes and records of votes as required by § 8.11.6 shall be maintained by the Board of Appeal.
a. 
Upon Findings and Record. In instances of a Board of Appeal's review of a Planning Board or Administrative Officer's decision on matters subject to this chapter, the Board of Appeal shall not substitute its own judgment for that of the Planning Board or the Administrative Officer but must consider the issue upon the findings and record of the Planning Board or Administrative Officer. The Board of Appeal shall not reverse a decision of the Planning Board or Administrative Officer except on a finding of prejudicial procedural error, clear error, or lack of support by the weight of the evidence in the record.
b. 
Required Vote. The concurring vote of three (3) of the five (5) members of the Board of Appeal sitting at a hearing, shall be necessary to reverse any decision of the Planning Board or Administrative Officer.
c. 
Required Records. The Board of Appeal shall keep complete records of all proceedings including a record of all votes taken, and shall put all decisions on appeals in writing. The Board of Appeal shall include in the written record the reasons for each decision.
In the instance where the Board of Appeal overturns a decision of the Planning Board or Administrative Officer, the proposed project application shall be remanded to the Planning Board or Administrative Officer, at the stage of processing from which the appeal was taken, for further proceedings before the Planning Board or Administrative Officer and/or for the final disposition, which shall be consistent with the Board of Appeal's decision.
An appeal from a decision of the Board of Appeal may be taken by an aggrieved party to the Superior Court for Newport County.
An aggrieved party may appeal a decision of the Board of Appeal, to the Newport County Superior Court, by filing a complaint setting forth the reasons of appeal within twenty (20) days after the decision has been recorded and posted in the office of the city or town clerk. The Board of Appeal shall file the original documents acted upon by it and constituting the record of the case appealed from, or certified copies thereof, together with such other facts as may be pertinent, with the clerk of the court within thirty (30) days after being served with a copy of the complaint. When the complaint is filed by someone other than the original applicant or appellant, such original applicant or appellant and the members of the Board of Appeal shall be made parties to the proceedings. The appeal shall not stay proceedings upon the decision appealed from, but the court may, in its discretion, grant a stay on appropriate terms and make such other orders as it deems necessary for an equitable disposition of the appeal.
The review shall be conducted by the Superior Court without a jury. The court shall consider the record of the hearing before the Board and, if it shall appear to the court that additional evidence is necessary for the proper disposition of the matter, it may allow any party to such appeal to present such evidence in open court, which evidence, along with the report, shall constitute the record upon which the determination of the court shall be made.
The court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the Board as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact. The court may affirm the decision of the Board of Appeal or remand the case for further proceedings, or may reverse or modify the decision if substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because of findings, inferences, conclusions or decisions which are:
a. 
In violation of constitutional, statutory, ordinance or Board regulations provisions;
b. 
In excess of the authority granted to the Planning Board by statute or ordinance;
c. 
Made upon unlawful procedure;
d. 
Affected by other error of law;
e. 
Clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence of the whole record; or
f. 
Arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion.