Special use permits

The following uses shall require a special use permit from the zoning board of review or, if applicable pursuant to unified development review, the planning board (the "review board"). Applications for special use permits must meet the specific and objective criteria specified herein as to each use:

514.1 - Boarding. The review board may permit by special use permit that up to two rooms may be rented with or without meals within any dwelling unit provided:

• • • (a) More than 50 percent of the habitable space is occupied by the individual or household permanently occupying the dwelling unit.

    • (b) No more than one person may occupy any one of said rooms.

    • (c) Cooking facilities are prohibited in guest rooms.

    • (d) The length of the rental term shall be for a minimum of three months.

  514.2 - Temporary lodging in an R-3 zone. The review board may permit by special use permit temporary lodging with meals (i.e., a bed and breakfast) within a dwelling in an R-3 zone provided:

  • • (a) More than 50 percent of the habitable space is occupied by the individual or household permanently occupying the dwelling.

    • (b) No more than four rooms may be rented.

    • (c) If the building had been built as a dwelling, the exterior shall maintain its original appearance as a dwelling.

    • (d) Cooking facilities are prohibited in guest rooms.

    • (e) Meals may be served only to registered guests.

    • (f) Leasing of a common dining area for social events is prohibited.

    • (g) Guest stays are limited to a maximum of 14 consecutive days.

    • (h) No more than two individuals per bedroom shall be allowed.

  514.3 - Temporary lodging in commercial zones. The review board may permit by special use permit temporary lodging with or without meals in C-1, C-2, and C-D zones provided:

  • • (a) No more than ten rooms may be rented.

    • (b) Cooking facilities are prohibited in guest rooms.

    • (c) Meals may be served only to registered guests.

    • (d) Leasing of a common dining area for social events is prohibited.

    • (e) Guest stays are limited to a maximum of 14 consecutive days.

    • (f) No more than two individuals per bedroom shall be allowed.

  514.4 - Alterations in an R-1 zone. A building, in existence prior to the enactment of this ordinance, in an R-1 zone may be permitted by the review board by special use permit to be altered to accommodate two or more dwelling units provided that: the total number of dwelling units does not exceed one dwelling unit for every 5,000 square feet of lot area; the building is not increased in height or floor area; and all other provisions of this ordinance (including parking) relative to residential use are met.

  514.5 - Alterations in an R-2 zone. A building, in existence prior to the enactment of this ordinance, in an R-2 zone may be permitted by the review board by special use permit to be altered to accommodate three or more dwelling units provided that: the total number of dwelling units does not exceed one dwelling unit for every 2,500 square feet of lot area; the building is not increased in height or floor area; and all other provisions of this ordinance (including parking) relative to residential use are met.

  514.6 - Educational institutions - Pre-school, elementary, and secondary, trade, vocational, and postsecondary.

  • • (a) The applicant shall provide proof of licensing as required.

    • (b) A traffic impact analysis shall be required that includes an analysis of drop-off and pick up capacity and operations.

    • (c) Circulation plans shall be submitted with the special use permit application, stamped by a Rhode Island licensed civil engineer, demonstrating:

      • i. Safe pedestrian and vehicular circulation, including pedestrian paths from the nearest transit stops and bicycle paths from nearby bicycle infrastructure.

      • ii. There shall be a designated drop-off area near an entrance to the building with a queuing lane that does not block vehicle parking spaces or extend into the street.

    • (d) A signage plan that clearly identifies the school shall be submitted with the special use permit application.

    • (e) A lighting plan stamped by a Rhode Island licensed architect that shows sufficient lighting for nighttime safety shall be submitted with the special use permit application.

    • (f) The site shall otherwise comply with landscaping requirements of these regulations.

    • (g) A security plan including information relating to entrance procedure, police details and video and lighting locations. The security plan must be approved by the Chief of Police or their designee as sufficiently safe and updates shall be submitted to and approved by the chief of police or their designee. To the maximum extent possible, the security plan and any updates shall be deemed confidential documents.

    • (h) Any future changes to those items depicted on the plans shall be submitted to the permitting authority for its review and approval prior to completion of any physical alterations to the subject property.

  514.7 - Religious services.

  • • (a) Circulation plans shall be submitted with the special use permit application, stamped by a Rhode Island licensed civil engineer, demonstrating:

      • i. Safe pedestrian and vehicular circulation.

      • ii. Outdoor gathering space immediately outside the main entrance sufficient to hold congregant to fire code standards shall be shown on the plans.

      • iii. A designated drop-off area near an entrance to the building with a queuing lane that does not block vehicle parking spaces calculated as five percent of facility's capacity as determined by the fire safety code, rounded up to the nearest whole number.

    • (b) A signage plan that clearly identifies the place of worship and denomination of the congregants shall be submitted with the special use permit application.

    • (c) A lighting plan stamped by a Rhode Island licensed architect that shows sufficient lighting for nighttime safety shall be submitted with the special use permit application.

    • (d) A security plan including information relating to entrance procedure, police details and video and lighting locations. The security plan must be approved by the chief of police or their designee as sufficiently safe and updates shall be submitted to and approved by the chief of police or their designee. To the maximum extent possible, the security plan and any updates shall be deemed confidential documents.

    • (e) Any future changes to those items depicted on the plans shall be submitted to the permitting authority for its review and approval prior to completion of any physical alterations to the subject property.

  514.8 - Child care center, adult day care.

  • • (a) The applicant shall provide proof of state licensing.

    • (b) Circulation plans shall be submitted with the special use permit application, stamped by a Rhode Island licensed civil engineer, demonstrating:

      • (i) Safe pedestrian and vehicular circulation.

      • (ii) Outdoor recreation space under the custody and control of the day-care center sufficient to hold the entire facility's capacity.

      • (iii) A designated drop-off area near an entrance to the building with a queuing lane that does not block vehicle parking spaces calculated as five percent of facility's capacity as determined by the fire safety code, rounded up to the nearest whole number.

    • (c) A signage plan that clearly identifies the day-care center shall be submitted with the special use permit application.

    • (d) A lighting plan stamped by a Rhode Island licensed architect that shows sufficient lighting for nighttime safety shall be submitted with the special use permit application.

    • (e) A security plan including information relating to entrance procedure, police details and video and lighting locations. The security plan must be approved by the chief of police or their designee as sufficiently safe and updates shall be submitted to and approved by the chief of police or their designee. To the maximum extent possible, the security plan and any updates shall be deemed confidential documents.

    • (f) Any future changes to those items depicted on the plans shall be submitted to the permitting authority for its review and approval prior to completion of any physical alterations to the subject property.

  514.9 - Automotive repair.

  • • (a) All repair and service operations shall be performed within a fully enclosed building. All equipment and parts shall be stored indoors.

    • (b) Vehicle services establishments shall be screened along interior side and rear lot lines with a solid wall or fence, a minimum of six feet and a maximum of eight feet in height.

    • (c) No partially dismantled, wrecked, or unlicensed vehicles shall be stored outdoors on the premises. This standard does not apply to vehicles under repair and/or service.

    • (d) No motor vehicles shall be stored and no repair and/or service work shall be conducted in the public right-of-way.

    • (e) No access driveway may exceed 25 feet in width. For a corner lot, curb cuts are restricted to one curb cut for every 50 feet of street frontage.

    • (f) The site shall otherwise comply with landscaping requirements of the regulations.

  514.10 - Outdoor storage of equipment, products, supplies or material.

  • • (a) A site plan shall be submitted with dimension showing that all outdoor storage areas are completely enclosed by a six-foot solid fence or wall.

    • (b) A lighting plan stamped by a Rhode Island licensed architect that shows sufficient lighting for nighttime safety shall be submitted with the special use permit application.

    • (c) A drainage plan signed by a Rhode Island licensed civil engineer shall be submitted with the special use permit demonstrating that surface water will not congregate in storage areas and no runoff from storage areas will enter the right-of-way.

    • (d) No vehicles shall back into or out of the property.

    • (e) Any future changes to those items depicted on the plans shall be submitted to the permitting authority for its review and approval prior to completion of any physical alterations to the subject property.

  514.11 - Manufacturing - Materials processing centers.

  • • (a) The materials processing area shall be completely enclosed along all lot lines by an opaque fence a minimum of four feet and a maximum of six feet in height, including ingress and egress. Where buildings are proposed, they should be located along the street frontage, meeting setback requirements. Otherwise, screening the operation from the street, which may include fences, tall vegetation, or walls along the front is required.

    • (b) The use shall be screened along interior side and rear lot lines with a solid fence or wall, a minimum of four feet and a maximum of six feet in height.

    • (c) Where the use abuts a residential use or zoning district, the fence shall be set back a minimum of 20 feet from each such lot line abutting a residential use or zoning district.

    • (d) The site shall otherwise comply with landscaping requirements of the land development and subdivision regulations.

  514.12 - Manual assembly of jewelry products.

  • • (a) Excludes jewelry manufacturing and metal processing machinery.

    • (b) Consists primarily of carding and packaging of manufactured jewelry products.

  514.13 - Parking.

  • • (a) The review board may permit by special use permit off-street parking of automobiles on one or more lots where parking spaces for more than four automobiles are available for public use whether free, for compensation, or to satisfy parking requirements of a principal use on a separate and noncontiguous lot.

    • (b) Special use permit for providing fewer than the minimum number of off-street parking spaces. Fewer spaces than those specified in parking schedules 801 A and 801 B may be provided through a special use permit. In addition to the inclusion of affordable units and proximity to mass transit, which do not require special use permits (see notes 1 and 2 following table 801A), factors affecting the minimum number of parking spaces that will be considered include household characteristics, available off-site parking spaces, and other factors that can be shown to clearly reduce the need for off-street parking.

Applications for a special use permit shall include a parking demand and impact assessment specific to the circumstances of the proposed use. The parking demand and impact assessment must describe (a) the anticipated number of parking spaces needed for the proposed use and (b) the anticipated impact the proposed use will have on on-street parking in the immediate area (applicants must document the number of on-street parking spaces or other off-street parking within 1,000 feet of linear street distance from the proposed use).

• • • (c) Off-site parking. The board may permit off-street parking on other off-site lots in any district provided that such off-site parking is reasonably and safely accessible from the principal use, either by pedestrians or other means such as tram and/or shuttle service. Applications must include a site plan and/or map illustrating the proposed route pedestrians will follow to provide access to and from the off-site lot and a description of the traffic conditions in the area surrounding the proposed route.

    • (d) Shared parking. The board may allow shared parking, provided that (1) the type of structures or uses indicate that the period of usage of such structures or use will not be simultaneous (e.g., a church with Sunday services together with a business that is closed on Sundays), and (2) neither use may be a residential use except in a mixed use development with 20 or more residential units.

To be considered for zoning relief, shared parking must be according to a parking plan that is legally incorporated into ownership and tenant agreements of principal users.

The following table defines the percentage of the minimum parking required by use group during each time period for the purposes of defining a shared parking plan.

 

514.14 - Shared driveway. The review board may allow by special use permits a shared driveway between two lots provided that:

• • • (a) Each lot contains not more than four pre-existing dwelling units, and

    • (b) An easement granting access to the driveway shall be recorded in the Land Evidence Records of the City of Central Falls prior to recording the board's decision.

  514.15 - Drive-up window. A drive-up window requires a special use permit, regardless of the zone it is located in or the type of business conducted.

The following requirements must be met in the application for a drive-up window special use permit:

• • • (a) Pedestrians must be able to enter the establishment from the parking lot or sidewalk without crossing the waiting or exit lines.

    • (b) At a minimum, waiting lanes should accommodate average peak monthly traffic flow, allowing 23 feet per vehicle. Waiting lane length will be measured from the point where orders or business is first conducted.

    • (c) Waiting lanes must be designed so that waiting cars do not block sidewalks or public streets.

    • (d) Landscaping, waiting lane devices, and overall design should not prevent vehicles from safely and efficiently leaving waiting lanes; there shall be an escape lane included in the design.

    • (e) All lights and illuminated materials must be screened from the view of adjoining residentially zoned properties.

    • (f) The volume of menu boards and/or drive-up window speakers must not exceed 55 decibels at any adjoining property line or across an alley/street from the site.

  514.16 - Formula business.

  • • (a) The size of any individual formula business shall not to exceed 2,500 square feet of gross floor area.

    • (b) The street frontage of any individual formula business shall not exceed 65 feet in width.

    • (c) No drive thru windows shall be permitted.

    • (d) The applicant shall submit a plan indicating the provision for rubbish removal, including the dumpster location with proper screening and buffering so that there are not any substantial negative impacts to abutting properties.

    • (e) There shall not be a substantial impact to the public safety from increased traffic. At the discretion of the review board, the applicant may be required to submit a traffic study, prepared by a RI Registered Professional Engineer, approved by the board.

    • (f) There shall not be any impacts to the roadway or abutting properties from the loading area.

    • (g) Advertising, or anything with the corporate logo, may be forbidden to be displayed in the windows.

    • (h) Formula business is located at least 2,500 feet from a similar formula business.

(Ord. of 10-15-25(1), § 1; Ord. of 12-8-25(1), § 1)

State Law reference— Special use permits, G.L. 1956, § 45-24-42.