Submission requirements

• A. Submission Requirements Pre-Application Meeting.
  • 1. Existing conditions plan showing property boundaries, structures, streets, easements, natural resources, contours, wetlands and generalized drainage pattern;
  • 2. A proposed site plan showing in general terms site layout, building footprints, parking and site circulation, landscaping and drainage.
• B. Submission Requirements for DPR.
  • 1. A complete application for DPR shall include:
    • a. Six copies of the application including plans, plus one electronic copy;
    • b. A filing fee of five hundred dollars ($500.00) plus twenty dollars ($20.00) per acre for each full acre in the development;
    • c. Supporting documentation as determined in the pre-application meeting or required below;
    • d. Identification of all permits required from state or federal agencies prior to start of construction;
    • e. A municipal lien certificate showing that all taxes are current;
    • f. A list of the owners of all land within two hundred (200) feet of the perimeter of the parcel that is being reviewed and a set of stamped envelopes addressed to the abutters in the order which they appear on said list.

    Plans shall be prepared by a professional engineer (RPE) or surveyor (PLS), landscape architect or architect licensed in Rhode Island. Topographical and boundary surveys plans shall be stamped by a PLS. Engineering designs shall be stamped by a RPE. Plans shall be drawn to a scale that is appropriate to the size of the development.

  • 2. At a minimum, an application shall include a project narrative, plans and a drainage plan and report.

    The plans may include the following as appropriate:

    • a. A locus map referencing the development to the surrounding area, streets and zoning district boundaries within five hundred (500) feet.
    • b. Name of the development, north arrow, scale, assessor's plat and lot number, bench mark and datum, the dates of plans and revisions and signature blocks on all plans to be endorsed.
    • c. Name and address of the owner of record, applicant and professionals preparing the plan.
    • d. Assessor's plat and lot number and names of all owners of land abutting the development.
    • e. Zoning district boundaries and all the data necessary to show compliance with zoning.
    • f. Parcel area and boundaries; existing/proposed streets, lot lines, easements and public areas.
    • g. Distances to the nearest street intersections and fire hydrants measured along the ROW lines.
    • h. Existing/proposed grading at two-foot contours where slopes are less than fifteen (15) percent and at five-foot counters where slopes are fifteen (15) percent or more. Elevations shall be referenced to the city's datum.
    • i. Environmental features including soils, rock outcroppings, wooded areas, trees eight-inch caliper and above, watercourses, water bodies, wetlands, floodplains (showing base flood elevation).
    • j. Location, dimensions, GFA, floor plans and heights of existing/proposed buildings, equipment and other structures such as walls, fences, culverts and bridges. Buildings and structures to be removed shall be indicated by dashed lines.
    • k. Location of existing/proposed utilities including sewers, water, gas and electricity with pipe sizes, elevations, slopes and directions of flow.
    • l. Location, type and density of land uses that will be in the development.
    • m. Renderings as needed to illustrate the visual impact on abutting properties.
    • n. Signage including location, size, design and illumination.
    • o. Exterior lighting including type, location, intensity, shielding and times of operation.
    • p. Landscape plan including landscape materials, paving, lighting and street furniture. Said plan shall indicate the location, type and size of plantings at the time of planting and at maturity.
    • q. Site circulation showing access to and egress from the development; size and location of driveways and curb cuts; parking, loading and outdoor storage areas; dumpsters and any off-site traffic improvements necessary to ensure public safety.
    • r. Profile and cross-section of proposed streets and sidewalks showing utilities.
    • s. Such other information as may be required to show compliance with zoning.
  • 3. A drainage plan/report demonstrating that the development's stormwater management system will meet the standards set by the Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual as most recently amended. At a minimum said plan/report shall show the following:
    • a. Changes in land use and the routes that storm water will flow through the development.
    • b. Existing/proposed drainage structures, basins and channels. (Drainage structures shall comply with city specification and shall be approved by the city engineer.)
    • c. Drainage calculations demonstrating that the peak rates of storm water runoff leaving the post-development parcel will not exceed the pre-development conditions for the two-year, 10-year, 25-year and 100-year storm events. Said calculations shall be based on the rational method, SCS TR55 or other method approved by the city engineer.
      • i. The drainage system shall be designed to accommodate the 25-year storm event.
      • ii. Retention or detention basins shall be designed to accommodate a 100-year storm event.
    • d. A drainage plan showing tributary and downstream areas affected by run-off, soil types and surficial cover characteristics for both pre- and post-development conditions.
    • e. Design calculations to determine the size of all pipes, culverts and basins, sizing of the piping system shall be based on the rational method.
    • f. Results of percolation tests performed for any proposed retention/detention basin in order to determine the suitability of the subsurface conditions to accommodate said basin.
    • g. A maintenance plan which shall:
      • i. Identify all of the control measures that will be inspected and maintained;
      • ii. Provide an inspection schedule for each control measure;
      • iii. List typical maintenance procedures for each control measure;
      • iv. Describe steps to take if additional repair is required;
      • v. Provide forms and instructions for record keeping and notification to the city;
      • vi. List the names and personnel assigned to each task and the training needed to be able to do the job.

      An applicant carrying out maintenance activities under an approval, and all subsequent owners of lots on which said measures have been installed, shall adequately maintain said measures in accordance with the maintenance plan.

• C. Supporting Documentation.
  • 1. Impact Assessment (IA).
    • a. An IA shall be required for any development that proposes to construct:
      • i. Retail and/or office building(s) of one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet or more or that involves eight or more acres of land;
      • ii. Industrial building(s) one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) square feet or more or that involves fifteen (15) or more acres of land;
      • iii. Multi-family building(s) of one hundred (100) units or more. If a parcel of land which has been partially developed since January 1, 1966, the units resulting from said development shall be included in calculating the total number of units being developed.
    • b. The DPRC may determine that an IA as required above is not warranted. In making its determination, the DPRC shall identify the potential impacts that may be generated by a development and shall make findings as to why no further review is required.
    • c. For any development not meeting the criteria above, the DPRC may require an IA if it determines there is a reasonable expectation that a development will have a significant negative impact on a site or nearby properties or on the built or natural environment.
    • d. If an IA is required, the DPRC shall inform the applicant in writing of the need to submit said assessment and of the scope of work to be addressed.
      • i. The scope of work may include but not be limited to an assessment of the following impacts: fiscal, traffic, environmental, scenic, historic, use-compatibility, noise and similar such items.
      • ii. An IA shall be prepared by licensed or other appropriate professionals the names, education, disciplines and experience of whom shall be included in the report.
      • iii. An IA shall evaluate direct and indirect impacts created by a development, all measures required to mitigate any negative impacts that have been identified and the party responsible for implementing said mitigation.
      • iv. Where appropriate, an IA shall include a plan to monitor the impacts from a development and the success of any mitigation that may be required.
  • 2. Traffic Impact Study. If deemed necessary by the DPRC, a study of traffic conditions (both on- and off-site) shall be provided. Said traffic impact study may include, but not be limited to:
    • a. Analyses of the roadways and intersections that may be impacted by a development.
    • b. Existing volumes (both ADT and peak hour counts).
    • c. Safety issues (accident data, sight distance, roadway conditions, etc.).
    • d. Development generated and future traffic volumes (both ADT and peak hour projections).
    • e. Capacity analysis utilizing Transportation Research Board Special Report 209 or other document as specified by the city's traffic engineer.
    • f. Traffic improvements, if any, needed to mitigate impacts from a development.
    • g. *Consideration of bicycle and pedestrian routes.
  • 3. Open Space. If a development will include common or open spaces, the plans shall show the location and size of said spaces and identify the entity that will own and maintain said spaces.
  • 4. Easements, Deed Restrictions, Covenants. An application shall include a copy of covenants, deed restrictions or easements that currently exist or are proposed for the development.
  • 5. Maintenance. A maintenance plan shall be provided specifying that all private roads and other applicable facilities shall be maintained by the applicant or successors and assigns. At a minimum, said plan shall identify all of maintenance activities to be undertaken, the parties responsible for said activities, a schedule for each activity, and identify the records of maintenance to be kept.
  • 6. Monitoring. In order to insure compliance with any standard that may be set in an approval, periodic monitoring may be required during and after construction. If monitoring is required, the applicant shall provide the DPRC for review and approval a draft of a monitoring program and the identity of the entity that will undertake the monitoring. Monitoring shall be at the expense of the applicant. Copies of all monitoring reports shall be provided to the DPRC.

(Ord. 2012-23, § 1, 9/24/2012)