General regulations

[Amended 2-25-2002 by Ord. No. 717; 11-4-2002 by Ord. No. 729; 3-14-2016 by Ord. No. 849; 12-11-2023 by Ord. No. 920-B]

The following regulations shall be applicable to all zones unless otherwise indicated:

A. Where residential structures are permitted, only one residential structure shall be located on a lot.
B. For all new residential construction, the maximum bottom of the foundation elevation of the principal structure shall be two feet above the proven wet-season high-water table. A site plan submitted as part of the building permit application shall note this relationship.
C. Ordinary projections of window sills, cornices and other structural features may not extend more than 12 inches into the space above a required setback.
D. On a street in a residential zone in which 25% or more of the frontage is improved with buildings, the front setback for a building hereafter erected may extend to the average alignment of such existing buildings on the same side of the street instead of as provided for in Table 2 of this chapter, except that no buildings shall have a front setback of less than 10 feet.
Editor's Note: Table 2 is attached to this chapter.
E. The Zoning Board of Review may, by dimensional variance, grant relief from the dimensional and intensity regulations of this chapter for any use it authorizes by special use permit.
F. Accessory structures, swimming pools and/or tennis courts shall only be permitted in rear yards in the building envelope and shall not fall within any required side or front setbacks. Such structures may be no closer than 10 feet from the rear lot line in the R-30, F-1 and F-2 Zones, and no closer than five feet in the R-20, R-10, R-6 and W Zones. On corner lots where no rear yard or rear lot line is present, accessory structures may be permitted to be sited within the side setback, subject to the limitations as noted above.
G. No wall, fence, structure, vehicle, tree, shrub or other growth on the property shall so obstruct the view as to cause a hazard to traffic in the street nor shall it cause pedestrians to walk in the street where a sidewalk or road shoulder would otherwise be available. At street intersections, no structure shall be erected and no vegetation shall be planted or maintained in the space between the heights of 2 1/2 feet and 10 feet above the triangle formed by the street lines and a third line joining points on the street lines 15 feet from the intersection.
H. Development of the lot shall provide no increase in stormwater runoff quantity or reduce the quality of the runoff from the lot. Where additional runoff cannot be retained on site, the applicant shall demonstrate to the Department of Public Works that the existing public drainage systems are capable of transporting the increased runoff.
I. Where permitted, commercial uses shall be buffered from adjacent residential uses through landscaping and/or screening, as further defined in Article VI. When a lot in an LI/O or CH Zone is situated on the opposite side of the street from or is bounded by property zoned for residential use, a buffer strip not less than 100 feet in width shall be provided on each side of such lot which is situated on the opposite side of the street from or which bounds property zoned for residential use. Each such buffer strip shall be maintained in its natural state or shall be planted with evergreen trees or shall be made to contain other opaque screening.
J. Where permitted, outside storage and dumpsters shall be enclosed and buffered from adjacent properties (including rights-of-way) as may be further defined in Article VI. The owner or operator of any commercial establishment which receives a license or permit from the Town Council and where swill, garbage or refuse accumulates shall provide at such establishment a covered container, which does not leak, for the deposit of all swill, garbage and refuse. The container shall have a cover, which shall be fully closed at all times except when refuse is deposited or removed. No excess refuse may protrude from said container. If deemed necessary and feasible by the Building Official, all containers shall be placed on either a concrete or asphalt pad with an adequate water supply and drainage available for washing the container and the pad. Unless the Building Official determines that it is not feasible, any container which is visible from the street and which holds perishable food waste shall be located within an opaque fenced area, which fence must be at least one foot higher than the highest point of the container on three sides. The fourth side shall have a properly hinged access door, which shall be kept closed at all times except for the depositing or removal of refuse. All containers holding perishable food waste shall be located more than 30 feet from the nearest residence unless the Building Official determines it is not feasible to do so.
Editor's Note: See Ch. 212, Solid Waste Management.
K. Curb cuts shall require approval by the Director of Public Works. Only one curb cut for vehicle access to a parcel shall be provided from each street frontage. Gas stations shall be permitted two curb cuts along a single frontage and one curb cut along a second frontage, for a maximum of three curb cuts.
L. Where the rear of a property falls along Greenwich Cove, the rear setback shall be used for a combination of landscaping and boardwalk along waterfront properties. The rear setback shall not be covered with an impervious surface but shall allow for natural infiltration in order to protect the water quality of the Cove.
M. Fences and walls not exceeding 10 feet in height in the LI/O Zone and seven feet in all remaining zones may be constructed. Fencing for tennis courts may exceed the seven-foot maximum but must be no greater than 12 feet around the playing surface of the court.
N. It shall be the policy of the Town of East Greenwich that high-voltage transmission lines should be sited so as to reduce the risk of electromagnetic field exposure to the lowest possible level obtainable by existing technology. Since the siting of such lines is within the jurisdiction of the Energy Facility Siting Board (EFSB), the Town shall actively participate in the EFSB review process, and Town agencies rendering advisory opinions to the EFSB shall urge that said transmission lines be regulated in accordance with the Town's policy.
O. Private streets shall be prohibited in all residential developments.
P. Subject to compliance with the requirements of all applicable federal and state wetlands regulations, wetlands created by action of the Town of East Greenwich other than stormwater detention and retention measures shall be excluded from the calculation of wetlands with respect to the requirements of the PD and MUPD Zones, cluster development and minimum building envelope.
Q. The maximum building height of a detached accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 20 feet.