[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.
GENERAL REFERENCES
Planning Board — See Ch. 1 of Title 12 of the Charter.
Capital Improvement Program — See Ch. 5.
Zoning — See Ch. 185.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 200.
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.