§ 17.104.020
Development standards
- A. Location of Structures. Where any part of a single-family dwelling or two-family dwelling is proposed to be located within one hundred (100) feet of an abutting property boundary, such building shall be located so as to comply with the minimum yard dimensions for the underlying zoning district as contained in Section 17.20.120. No townhouse in an RPD shall be located within one hundred fifty (150) feet of an abutting property boundary. These requirements may be reduced at the planning commission's discretion where:
- 1. The adjacent land is currently open space and likely to remain so, or
- 2. The planning commission concludes that a substantial and lasting barrier exists which would serve as a buffer to the abutting properties. The buffer need not be buildable land as defined in these regulations.
- B. Minimum Size of Development: The tract of land proposed for an RPD shall have, in addition to the area requirements of subsection 17.96.100(h), the minimal capacity to support six dwelling units in accordance with the underlying zone district regulations.
- C. Maximum Number of Dwelling Units. The maximum number of dwelling units allowed in an RPD shall not exceed the amount computed using the following formula:
The number of dwelling units permitted is equal to the gross area of tract-land unsuitable for development divided by the minimum lot size permitted in zoning district (Section 17.20.110).
In no case shall the number of dwelling units permitted in the RPD exceed the number which would be permitted in the zoning district(s) in which the tract lies if developed in the conventional manner.
- 1. Land unsuitable for development shall include:
- a. Freshwater wetlands as defined in RIGL § 2-1-20, as amended. As relates to this article, the setback requirements of said title and chapter shall not be considered wetlands.
- b. Existing water bodies.
- c. Coastal wetlands, as defined by RIGL § 46-23-6.
- d. Floodplain or flood hazard areas.
- e. Streets, including all areas proposed for public and/or common vehicular access, whether or not intended to be dedicated to the city.
- f. Land possessing other physical constraints, including, but not limited to areas with ledge outcrops, cemeteries, etc., which by their nature and severity would preclude conventional development.
- g. Land within any easement on which utilities, including, but not limited to, electrical transmission and distribution lines, natural gas mains, oil pipelines, sewer mains and water mains are constructed and/or located.
- h. Land with existing conservation easements.
- 1. Land unsuitable for development shall include:
- D. Townhouse criteria:
- 1. Not more than four contiguous townhouses shall be built in a row with the same or approximately the same front line, and not more than eight townhouses shall be contiguous.
- 2. Each townhouse shall have on its own lot one yard containing not less than four hundred (400) square feet, reasonably secluded from view from streets or from neighboring property. Such yards shall not be used for off street parking, garages, driveways, leachfields or for any accessory building.
- 3. The minimum distance between any two rows of townhouse buildings, substantially parallel to each other, shall be sixty (60) feet.
- 4. The minimum distance between any two abutting ends of townhouse buildings in the same general plane or row shall be thirty (30) feet.
- 5. A townhouse development shall not be permitted which by its design and/or location of structures could conflict with adjacent single-family residences.
- E. Minimum Lot Requirements. For RPD developments and/or sections of RPD developments proposed for single and two-family dwellings, the following minimum lot and frontage requirements shall supersede those set forth in Section 17.20.110 of this title.
Zone District Single-Family Dwellings Minimum Lot Area
(sq. ft.)Single-Family Dwellings Minimum Lot Frontage
(feet)Two-Family Dwellings Minimum Lot Area
(sq. ft.)Two-Family Dwellings Minimum Lot Frontage
(feet)A-80 20,000 125 60,000 150 A-20 10,000 80 15,000 100 A-12 6,000 60 9,000 80 A-8 4,000 50 6,000 60 A-6 4,000 50 Not Allowed Not Allowed B-1 4,000 50 6,000 60 B-2 4,000 50 6,000 60 Allowance for these minimum lot sizes shall not confer to the applicant any right to exceed the number of lots which would be permitted in the zoning district(s) in which the tract lies if developed in a conventional manner.
- F. Open Space. No less than twenty-five (25) percent of the total land area of a residential planned district shall be open space. This figure shall be computed by multiplying the applicant's total adjacent undeveloped land acreage by a factor of .25, exclusive of area covered by existing water bodies and streams. This open space shall not include building lots, street rights-of-way, or land possessing other physical constraints causing it to be unsuitable for residential development.
- 1. At least one-half of the open space of twelve and one-half (12.5) percent of the total land area shall possess no significant constraints to development for active recreation.
- 2. Provisions shall be made to insure that no more than twenty (20) percent of the open space shall be devoted to paved areas and permitted recreation related structures.
- 3. Use of open space shall be subject to site plan review. All physical improvements proposed for the open space area of the project shall be included in the final subdivision plans.
- 4. Minor alterations may be authorized by the planning director after planning commission approval, prior to recording of the plat. Minor alterations include:
- a. Slight changes in location of physical improvements including accessory buildings, recreation facilities and walkways.
- b. Slight changes in landscaping and lighting of common areas.
- 5. All other alterations to the open space area of a final subdivision plan shall be considered major alterations and require approval of the planning commission. Major alterations include:
- a. Relocation of roadways and drainage facilities.
- b. Addition of new physical facilities.
- c. Alterations to the natural features or systems.
After conveyance of fifty-one (51) percent of lots, major alterations may be permitted by the planning commission with written concurrence of at least two-thirds of the homeowners association membership. No structure on the open space may be located within fifty (50) feet of a residence.
- 6. Access areas to public open space shall be clearly marked.
- 7. Open space may be in one or more parcels.
- 8. Open space may be used for active recreation, passive recreation, buffers, conservation, agriculture, forestry, utilities and drainage facilities. Where utilities and drainage facilities are to be sited in the open space area, adequate access shall be provided so that they may be serviced by city maintenance vehicles, whether or not said facilities are intended to be dedicated to the city.
- 9. Land which has been environmentally damaged prior to final approval shall not be accepted as common open space unless and until the land is returned to reasonable and appropriate condition, to effect the purpose of this chapter.
- 10. Impact Fee Credit. Open space dedication, as required under this chapter, shall not be applied as a credit to the capital facilities development impact fee requirement of Section 15.04.020 of the code with the following exception:
- a. Where by virtue of its location and size, the planning commission determines a particular parcel to possess significant public value, and the developer is willing to dedicate all or a significant portion of the open space acreage for public access and use, the planning commission may at its discretion waive all or part of the capital facilities development impact fee in return for said dedication.
- G. Streets. All streets in the RPD which are intended for dedication to the city shall be improved in accordance with specifications outlined in the "Subdivision and Development Regulations, 1989", as amended. Private roads intended for internal circulation and access shall be designed and constructed to support the weight and allow passage of city fire and rescue vehicles. Such roads shall be maintained to control overgrowth of vegetation and periodically resurfaced to maintain a safe and uniform driving surface.
(Prior code § 30-35(b); Ord. 2026-2, 1/20/2026)