Establishment of zoning districts
For the purpose of this ordinance, the city is divided into zoning districts designated and described as follows:
101.1. Residential zoning districts.
R-1 one-household district. This zone is intended for low density residential areas comprising single dwelling unit detached structures located on lots with a minimum land area of 5,000 square feet.
R-2 two-household district. This zone is intended for medium density residential areas comprising single dwelling unit and two-dwelling unit detached structures located on lots with a minimum land area of 5,000 square feet.
R-3 multi-household dwelling district. This zone is intended for medium density residential areas comprised of structures containing single dwelling units, two-dwelling units and multiple-dwelling units located on lots with a minimum land area of 5,000 square feet and a minimum land area of 2,000 square feet per dwelling unit.
101.2 - Commercial zoning districts.
C-1 limited commercial district. This zone is intended for neighborhood commercial areas that primarily serve local neighborhood needs for convenience retail, services and professional office establishments.
C-2 general commercial district. This zone is intended for commercial areas that serve citywide needs for retail, services and professional office establishments.
C-D commercial-downtown district. This zone is intended to encourage revitalization and restoration of core business areas in the city. A variety of business, financial, institutional, public, quasi-public, cultural, residential (upper floors only) and other related uses are encouraged in the C-D district. Compatible and appropriate mixed uses are encouraged to promote commercial, retail and other business activity including office uses.
101.3 - Industrial zoning districts.
M-1 industrial district. This zone is intended for general industrial uses that accommodate a variety of manufacturing, assembly, storage of durable goods and related activities, provided that they do not pose toxic, explosive or environmental hazard in the city.
M-2 heavy industrial district. This zone is intended to provide for areas for heavy industrial uses, especially for those uses that are potentially hazardous, noxious or incompatible with the uses in any other zone.
101.4 - Overlay zoning districts.
These are districts that are superimposed on existing zoning district(s) or part of a district and which impose specified requirements in addition to those otherwise applicable and/or allow alternate uses.
HD historic district. This overlay zone is intended to preserve structures of historic and architectural value by regulating the construction, alteration, repair, moving and demolition of such structures. This overlay zone may include single buildings and/or lots.
MBRD mill building re-use district. This overlay zone allows the development of obsolete industrial sites according to a plan for mixed use.
OMUSOD Osram mixed-use special overlay district. In addition to and in furtherance of the purposes of the MBRD overlay zone, this overlay zone is meant to further promote redevelopment of existing and obsolete industrial mill structures located within this new OMUSOD overlay zone. The OMUSOD will encompass the improved properties located within an area bounded, northerly, by Division Street, then, easterly, by the railroad tracks, then, southerly, by Blackstone Street, and then, westerly, by Broad Street. The official zoning map shall be amended to reflect this newly created overlay district.
101.5 - Open space zoning districts.
P park district. This zone is intended to preserve open space recreation use and in certain instances public education uses.
CM cemetery. This zone is intended to retain cemetery land for its designated purposes.
101.6 - Conant Thread zoning district.
CT Conant Thread district. The purpose of the Conant Thread district is to promote active reuse of historic mill structures located in close proximity to the Pawtucket-Central Falls Commuter Rail Station, and to encourage new development that is complementary of the unique existing character of the district. The primary goal of the district is diverse residential and job creation opportunities that may capitalize on easy access to multiple forms of public transportation, often referred to as transit oriented development (TOD). The continuation of various light manufacturing uses is promoted in this district, provided that they are of scale, nature, and intensity that are consistent with the active mixed-use vision for this district.
State Law reference— Districts generally, G.L. 1956, § 45-24-36.