Development plan review
(a) Purpose. The purpose of the development plan review article is to assure that, to the fullest extent feasible, the best design and planning practices and best available technology are used to avoid or minimize impacts of development on the natural and manmade environment of the Town of Burrillville. In addition this ordinance ensures that an application for a development plan demonstrates consistency with the Town of Burrillville Comprehensive Plan and Development Plan Design Standards Section of the Subdivision and Land Development Regulations. All reasonable means shall be used to avoid adverse impacts on the public health, safety and welfare.
(b) Authority. The development plan review article is adopted pursuant to the authority contained in Title 45, Chapter 24, Section 49 of the Rhode Island General Laws, titled Development Plan Review. Additionally, the Burrillville Town Council by resolution dated August 23, 1995 provides the planning board with the authority to adopt, modify and amend regulations and rules governing land development within the Town of Burrillville and to act as the review agent to conduct site plan reviews for such developments.
(c) Applicability. The following types of development shall be subject to planning board review in accordance with the Burrillville Subdivision and Land Development Regulations. Further, development plan(s) not involving subdivision shall demonstrate conformance with section 10-10 of the Burrillville Subdivision and Land Development Regulations, entitled "Development Plan Design Standards."
(1) Any proposed commercial or industrial development, including additions and expansions of existing development, constructed after the effective date of this section which, in aggregate, exceeds 10,000 square feet or generates greater than 500 vehicle trips per day as defined in the institute of transportation engineers, trip generation manual.
(2) Any proposed commercial or industrial development, including additions and expansions of existing development, which would result in the use or storage of hazardous materials.
(3) As defined in the hazardous substance list prepared by the Rhode Island Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety, or hazardous wastes as defined in section 30-3 of this chapter, in quantities above those normally found in household use. For the purposes of this section, household quantities of hazardous materials or wastes shall mean 675 gallons or less of oil on site at any time to be used for heating of a structure or to supply an emergency generator, or 25 gallons (or the dry weight equivalent) of other hazardous materials or wastes on site at any time.
(4) All commercial and industrial developments within any of the town's aquifer overlay districts.
(5) Any development that proposes to clear, grade or disturb greater than 20,000 square feet of land, except clearing conducted pursuant to a validly issued subdivision approval, building permit, or earth removal permit, or for existing agricultural, forestry or related purposes. Exemption from this section for the purposes of clearing, grading and site disturbance for existing agricultural, forestry and related uses shall be determined at the sole discretion of the building official.
(6) Any project involving the development of land which is filled to a depth of more than four feet over any area of more than 10,000 square feet or involving the moving and grading of more than 2,000 cubic yards of fill on the site.
(7) Any development involving the filling or alteration of wetlands or the wetland buffer area; any development within the 100-year flood plain; any development within 200 feet of rivers, ponds, lakes, and vernal pools; and land within 100 feet of other resource areas.
(8) Any development requiring a license pursuant to G.L. 1956 § 42-98-4, shall submit a development plan in accordance with this section. The planning board shall review the proposal involving the siting, construction or alteration of a major energy facility for conformance and shall forward its findings, together with the record supporting its findings and a recommendation for final action, to the siting board established pursuant to G.L. 1956 § 42-98-1 et seq.
(9) A change in use at the property where no extensive construction of improvements is sought.
(10) An adaptive reuse project located in a commercial zone where no extensive exterior construction of improvements is sought.
(11) An adaptive reuse project located in a residential zone that results in less than nine residential units.
(12) Development in a designated urban or growth center.
(13) Institutional development for educational or hospital facilities.
(14) Any principal solar energy system.
(15) Any other development which may, in the opinion of the building official, significantly alter local drainage patterns and may require development of environmentally sensitive areas.
(d) Guidelines. The specific and objective guidelines, standards and minimum requirements as required per G.L. 1956 45-24-49, shall be those described in the section entitled "Burrillville Development Plan Review Guidelines—Traditional Village Design Elements" as described in the Burrillville Subdivision and Land Development Regulations as amended.
(e) Review procedures. All developments described above in subsection (c), applicability, subsections (1) through (15) shall be subject to review by the Burrillville Planning Board. Land clearing associated with subsection (5) shall be required to submit soil erosion and sediment control plans as drafted by an RI Registered Professional Engineer or surveyor. Proposals involving development, as specified above, shall be subject to the review process described below in sections (1) and (2).
(1) Development plan project(s) proposing building foot print(s) in aggregate of 10,000 square feet or less shall be reviewed according to the minor development plan review procedures of section 10-6.4 of the Burrillville Subdivision and Development Plan Regulations as the same may be amended from time to time.
(2) Development plan project(s) proposing building foot print(s) in aggregate greater than 10,000 square feet shall be reviewed according to the major development plan review procedures of section 10-6.5 of the Burrillville Subdivision and Development Plan Regulations as the same may be amended from time to time.
(3) Land disturbance projects not involving permanent structures or impervious parking such as forestry or agricultural practices shall be reviewed as minor developments as described in subsection (e)(1) above.
(f) Appeal. A rejection of the decision shall be an appealable decision pursuant to G.L. § 45-23-71.
(Ord. of 4-12-2000; Ord. of 6-13-2001; Ord. of 5-28-2003(2); Ord. of 12-12-2007(1); Ord. of 5-27-2009; Ord. of 5-24-2017; Ord. of 2-12-2020(1); Ord. of 2-26-2025(2))