[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of
the Town of Barrington 12-8-1975 (Ch. I, Sec. 1, of Title Six of the
1965 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
RHODE ISLAND GENERAL LAWS (AS
AMENDED)
Local Planning Boards — See
§ 45-22-1 et seq.
Mapped streets — See § 45-23.1-1
et seq.
Subdivision of land — See § 45-23-1
et seq.
Zoning ordinances — See § 45-24-1
et seq.
In accordance with § 45-22-1 et seq.
of the Rhode Island General Laws (as amended) and pursuant to the
Planning Board Ordinance adopted September 22, 1936, the establishment
of a Town Planning Board for the Town of Barrington is hereby confirmed.
[Amended 3-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 2017-3]
The Town Planning Board, hereinafter referred to as the "Board,"
shall consist of seven members resident in the Town of Barrington.
Appointments shall be made by the Town Council for terms of three
years each with the terms of three members to expire in one year and
the terms of two members in each of the two successive years. Members
serving on said Board at the time of passage of this chapter shall
continue in office until the expiration of their respective terms.
Any vacancy in the membership of the Board shall be filled by the
Town Council for the remainder of the unexpired term.
[Amended 3-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 2017-3]
Any member of said Board may be removed from office by the Town
Council for due cause, including, but not limited to, absence from
three or more meetings in any one year, following a public hearing.
Members of the Board may receive such compensation
as may be set by the Town Council within the limitation of funds appropriated
for this purpose. Board members shall be reimbursed, within the limitation
of funds appropriated, for expenses incurred in the performance of
their duties as members.
[Amended 3-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 2017-3]
The Board shall organize annually by electing from its membership,
a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and such other officers as are deemed
necessary to the discharge of its functions. The Board may adopt bylaws
for the performance of its duties as prescribed in this chapter and
may create such committees as may be required. Four members of the
Board shall constitute a quorum, and no approval of a subdivision
or land development project shall be taken unless by the concurring
vote of not less than four members.
A.
Within the limitation of funds appropriated for its
use, the Board may engage technical and clerical assistance to aid
in the discharge of its duties. The Board may, subject to the approval
of the Town Council and within the limitation of funds appropriated
to it, enter into cooperative agreements with private, state, regional
or federal agencies or other cities and towns for technical assistance
and studies deemed to be in the best interests of the Town of Barrington.
B.
The Town Manager shall provide the Board with reasonable
office space and facilities.
A.
Comprehensive Community Plan.
(1)
The Board shall prepare, adopt and periodically review
a Comprehensive Community Plan for the future development of the Town
of Barrington. Such plan shall, among other things, show the general
arrangement of and goals, objectives and standards for land use, transportation
routes and facilities, public facilities and services, renewal and
rehabilitation programs, housing programs, conservation areas, historic
preservation areas and environmental protection programs, together
with recommended action and improvement programs deemed necessary
to implement the features of said plan.
(2)
The Board may hold public hearings on the Comprehensive
Community Plan or elements thereof and shall adopt said plan or elements
as a guide to Board actions related to the material covered in said
plan or elements. The Town Council may, following a public hearing,
adopt said plan or any element thereof as a statement of Town policy
and as a guide for community action in matters relating to community
development. The adopted Comprehensive Community Plan or any element
thereof may be modified or amended by the Town Council following a
public hearing. At least 60 days prior to the date of said public
hearing, such modification or amendment shall be referred to the Board
for an advisory opinion. Failure of the Board to forward a recommendation
to the Town Council prior to the public hearing or at the public hearing
shall be deemed an approval of the modification or amendment by the
Board. The affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members of the Town Council
shall be required to enact any modification or amendment to the plan
or element thereof where the Board has rendered an adverse opinion.
(3)
At intervals of no greater than five years, the Board
shall review said plan or elements thereof and make any modifications,
amendments or additions deemed necessary in the light of current and
projected community development trends and needs. Any such modifications,
amendments or additions shall be recommended to the Town Council and
adopted in the manner prescribed above.
(4)
Any Comprehensive Community Plan or element thereof
which has been adopted prior to the effective date of this chapter
shall be considered to be adopted under the terms of this chapter.
B.
The Board shall make studies of the resources and
needs of the Town of Barrington with respect to its physical, economic
and social growth and development as affecting the health, safety,
morals and general welfare of the people, including studies requested
by the Town Council. Such studies, plans and reports may concern,
among other things, the following:
(1)
Land use and land use regulations.
(2)
Transportation routes and facilities.
(3)
Public utilities.
(4)
Public facilities and site locations, including recreation
areas, schools, fire, police and other principal structures and developments.
(5)
Blighted areas, including the designation of general
areas for redevelopment, renewal, rehabilitation and conservation.
(6)
Problems of housing and housing programs.
(7)
Natural resource conservation.
(8)
Environmental protection.
(9)
Protection from disaster.
(10)
Economic and social characteristics of the population.
(11)
Preservation of historic sites and structures.
(12)
Economic development.
C.
In accordance with Chapter 5, Capital Improvement Program, of the Code of the Town of Barrington, the Board shall prepare an annual capital budget and six-year Capital Improvement Program for submission to the Town Manager.
D.
In accordance with Chapter 200, Subdivision of Land, and § 45-23-51.52 of the Rhode Island General Laws, as amended, the Board shall adopt, modify and amend rules and regulations governing and restricting the platting and subdivision of land and land development and shall control such subdivision and land development pursuant to such rules and regulations. Additionally, the Board shall adopt or repeal, and shall provide for the administration, interpretation and enforcement of, land development and subdivision review regulations. All such regulations and amendments thereto shall be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 185, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Barrington and all provisions of Chapter 23 of Title 45 of the Rhode Island General Laws, as amended.
[Amended 9-19-1994 by Ord. No. 94-16]
E.
The Board shall submit an advisory opinion and recommendation
on all zoning and other matters referred to it by the Town Council.
F.
The Board shall have the authority to call upon other
departments, boards, committees and officials of the Town of Barrington
and upon regional, state and federal agencies for information and
assistance in the performance of its duties and shall cooperate with
such Town, regional, state and federal agencies on matters of local,
regional and state planning.
G.
The Board shall carry out such other duties as may
be assigned to it from time to time by any act of the General Assembly
or by any code, ordinance, regulation, order or resolution of the
Town Council.
[Amended 5-6-2019 by Ord.
No. 2019-13]
Every Town department, board, committee, commission,
agency or official and every person entitled to vote at a Financial
Town Meeting of the Town, before presenting to said Financial Town
Meeting any proposal for any major public improvement or for the acquisition
of lands for any public use or for the disposal of Town land, where
the same would be related to or be affected by the current Comprehensive
Community Plan or any element thereof, or before presenting a proposal
for a change in use of Town land and before requesting approval by
such Financial Town Meeting of an appropriation for any such improvement
or acquisition of lands for public use, shall give at least 60 days'
written notice to the Board of such contemplated or proposed action.
The Board shall study and make its findings on the proposal and shall
submit the same to the Town Council at least 15 days prior to the
Financial Town Meeting to which such proposal is addressed. The aforementioned
procedure shall not be required where any such proposal is included
or considered in the most recent annual capital budget report of the
Board. The Town Council, by majority vote of the members present and
for good cause shown, may waive the requirements of this subsection
for Planning Board notice and review.
The Board shall submit an annual report to the
Town Council summarizing the work of the Board during the year and
recommending programs, plans and actions for future development. A
copy of said annual report shall be forwarded to the Rhode Island
Department of Community Affairs. All studies, plans and reports of
the Board shall be submitted to the Town Council and to any other
designated agency or official and thereafter may be released for general
distribution.
This chapter shall take effect upon its passage.
All other Town ordinances affected by its provisions shall, so far
as possible, be interpreted in harmony with the intent and purposes
hereof.
