There is hereby established a Planning Commission.
There shall be a Planning Commission composed of five (5) members. They
shall be elected at large on a nonpartisan basis for terms of six (6) years,
except that the initial elections shall be held in November 1982 and shall
be for terms of two (2) members for two (2) years, two (2) members for four
(4) years and one (1) member for six (6) years, respectively. In addition,
there shall be two (2) alternate members elected for terms of two (2) years,
and any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by one (1) of the alternates
until the next general election. All members shall serve until their respective
successors have been elected. The Administrator, the Director of Public Works
and the Superintendent of Schools shall serve as ex officio members, and a
member of the Council may also serve as an ex officio member of this Commission.
The Planning Commission may, subject to the approval of the Town Council
and within the limit of funds appropriated to it, enter into cooperative agreements
with 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. Such a board or commission may be
authorized to accept technical and financial assistance from other public
agencies or private organizations, subject to the approval of the Town Council.
Within the limit of the funds appropriated to it, the Planning Commission
may engage technical or clerical assistance to aid in the discharge of its
duties.
[Ratified 3-9-1992 by Ord. No. 185]
The Planning Commission shall make studies and prepare plans for the
utilization of the resources and satisfaction of the needs of the town, with
reference to its physical growth and development as affecting the health,
safety, morals and general welfare of the people and the economy and efficiency
of community life. Such studies and plans may include, among other things,
the following:
A. The utilization of land for residential, commercial,
industrial, public, institutional and other purposes.
B. The location and character of transportation routes,
including railroads, highways, streets, sidewalks, bridges, terminals, heliports
and other facilities.
C. The location and character of public facilities, including
offices, fire or police stations, schools, recreation areas and other public
places and structures.
D. The location and character of public service and utility
systems, such as water supply, drainage, sewerage, street lighting and power
or fuel transmission.
E. Blighted areas, including the designation of general
areas for redevelopment or renewal.
F. Environmental pollution: air, land and water.
G. The conservation and utilization of natural resources,
including soil, ground- or surface water, minerals, plant and animal life
and topographic features.
H. Historic sites or buildings.
I. Survival from possible disaster.
J. The economic and sociological aspects of the town.
[Ratified 3-9-1992 by Ord. No. 185]
The Commission shall periodically update the Comprehensive Plan for
the development and improvement of the town. That plan shall, among other
things, show the proposed location and arrangement of the uses of the land;
transportation routes; public facilities; utility systems; deteriorating or
blighted neighborhoods planned for redevelopment, rehabilitation or other
improvement; natural resources and historic sites to be preserved; and disaster
survival proposals. The plan shall also include recommendations for the enactment
of development controls deemed necessary to properly implement the features
of the plan, such as zoning, subdivision control, official street map, minimum
housing standards, pollution control, etc. No portion of the Comprehensive
Plan or amendment thereto shall be adopted without a public hearing.
[Ratified 3-9-1992 by Ord. No. 185]
The Commission shall regulate the platting or any other subdivision
of land in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws of Rhode Island.
[Added 3-9-1992 by Ord. No. 185]
The Zoning Board of Review shall act as the Planning Board of Review
pursuant to Sections 45-23-14 and 45-23-15 of the Rhode Island General Laws
and, as such, shall have the power to hear and decide appeals where it is
alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, decision or determination
made by the Planning Commission in the enforcement of this chapter or of the
rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Further, said Planning Board
of Review shall have the power, in appropriate cases and subject to appropriate
conditions and safeguards, to grant special exceptions to the rules and regulations
of the Planning Commission in harmony with the general purpose and intent
of the rules and regulations.