There shall be a Department of Planning and Development, the
head of which shall be either the Town Manager or someone appointed
by the manager, and who shall be known as the Director of Planning
and Development.
The Director of Planning and Development should possess knowledge
of planning, zoning, subdivision regulations, and other allied programs
and projects.
It shall be the duty of the Director of Planning and Development
to advise the Town Council, through the Town Manager, concerning any
matter affecting the physical development of the town; to formulate
and recommend revisions or modifications of any comprehensive, industrial
or recreational program and budget; and to provide necessary staff
assistance for the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Review,
the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Industrial Development Commission,
Code Review Committee, and any other board, commission, or agency
which the Town Council may establish and place under the jurisdiction
of the Department of Planning and Development.
There shall be a Planning Commission which shall act in an advisory
capacity to the Director of Planning and Development, the Town Manager,
and the Town Council in all matters concerning the physical growth
and development of the town as such growth and development affects
the general health, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants of the
town.
The Planning Commission shall consist of nine (9) members who
shall be appointed by the Town Council. The members of the Planning
Commission in office when this Charter shall take effect shall continue
in office until their terms shall expire. All new appointments shall
be for the term of five (5) years. The Town Council may fill any vacancy
in the commission for the unexpired term.
No member of the Planning Commission shall be an elected or
appointed official, or an employee of the town, or of any department,
office or agency of the town, except that the Town Manager, the Director
of Planning and Development, and the Town Engineer shall be ex-officio
members of the Planning Commission without the right to vote.
The Planning Commission shall have such powers and perform such
duties as are granted or assigned to it by the general laws of the
state and federal government, and ordinances of the Town Council.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Planning Commission shall be responsible
for:
(a)
The preparation of, or modification of, a comprehensive general plan
for the improvement and physical development of the town, to be known
as the town's Comprehensive Community Plan and amendments and additions
thereto;
(b)
The adoption, modification, and amendment of rules and regulations
governing the platting and other subdivision of land;
(c)
The approval of all plats or other subdivisions of land before the
same may be recorded in the land evidence records of the town or used
as the basis for the sale of lots;
(d)
The Consistency of the annual Capital Improvement Program with the
town's Comprehensive Community Plan; and
[Amended 11-2-2010]
(e)
The annual filing with the appropriate state agency of a report of
its activities and accomplishments.
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The Town Council may prescribe other duties and responsibilities
of the Planning Commission in the areas of growth, development, preservation,
and land use in the town.
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There shall be a Zoning Board of Review which shall have all
the powers and duties now vested by law in zoning boards of review
under the laws of the state and ordinances of the town relating to
zoning.
The Zoning Board of Review shall consist of five (5) members
appointed by the Town Council. The original appointments shall be
made for the terms of one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4) and five
(5) years respectively, and, thereafter, the appointment shall be
for five (5) years. The Town Council shall name a sixth or auxiliary
member of said board, who shall sit as an active member when, and
if, a member of said board is unable to serve at any hearing, upon
request of the chairman of said board.
The Town Council shall, within forty-five (45) days, fill any
vacancy which may occur in the membership of said board, for the unexpired
term.
No member of the Zoning Board of Review shall be an elected
or appointed official, or an employee of the town; or of any department,
office, or agency of the town.
The Zoning Board of Review shall hear all appeals from the orders,
requirements, and decisions of any administrative officer of the town
so far as the same relate to the enforcement of zoning regulations
of the town, and/or building regulations of the town.
The Zoning Board of Review shall have the power to sustain,
overrule or modify the order, requirements or decision appealed from,
and to authorize variations from the terms of the zoning regulations
of the town under such circumstances and to such extent as may be
provided by the laws of the state or the ordinances of the town and/or
building regulations of the town.
Nothing in the preceding section shall restrict in any way the
right of any person who is aggrieved by an order, requirement, or
decision of any administrative officer of the town which is sustained,
in whole or in part, by the Zoning Board of Review, to apply to the
courts for relief.
The Town Council may grant further powers and duties to the
Zoning Board of Review, including, but not limited to, the duties
of a Platting Board of Review.
The Town Council is hereby authorized to establish a Park and
Recreation Commission and to prescribe the duties of said commission.
The Town Manager shall appoint the members thereof to serve at the
manager's pleasure.
[Amended 11-2-1999]
The Town Council is hereby authorized to establish an Economic
Development Commission to promote and encourage the location and development
of new business in the town and to encourage the maintenance and expansion
of trade and business in the town. The Town Council shall prescribe
the duties of said commission. The Town Manager shall appoint the
members to serve at the manager's pleasure.
There shall be within the Department of Planning and Development
a Code Review Committee of nine (9) members appointed by the Town
Council.
Three (3) members shall be appointed for one (1) year, three
(3) for two (2) years and three (3) for three (3) years, and thereafter
all appointments shall be for three (3) years.
[Amended 11-2-1976]
The Code Review Committee shall continually review and study
the building code, any law, rule or regulation of any agency of the
State of Rhode Island, the United States, or the Town of Coventry;
and it shall review any rule, regulation, or ordinance which concerns
the construction and maintenance of buildings or other structures,
or the installation and operation of equipment therein.
The committee shall make recommendations to the Town Council,
through the Town Manager, of any suggested revisions or amendments
to existing codes or for the creation of new codes.
The Town Council is hereby authorized to establish a Conservation
Commission and to prescribe the duties of said commission. The Town
Manager shall appoint the members thereof to serve at the manager's
pleasure.
