Unified development review established

[Amended 12-11-2023 by Ord. No. 920-F]

There shall be unified development review for the issuance of variances and special use permits for properties undergoing review by development plan review and/or land development or subdivision review.

• A. Application procedure. Requests for dimensional and use variances and special use permits submitted under the unified development review provisions of this Zoning Ordinance shall be submitted as part of the subdivision or land development application to the administrative officer of the Planning Board, pursuant to R.I.G.L. § 45-24-46.4.
• B. Public hearing. All land development and subdivision applications, and development plan review applications that include requests for variances and/or special use permits submitted pursuant to this section shall require a public hearing that meets the requirements of R.I.G.L. § 45-23-42(b) and § A263-20 of the East Greenwich Code.
• C. Standards of review. In granting requests for dimensional and use variances, the Planning Board shall be bound to the requirements of § 260-91, relative to entering evidence into the record in satisfaction of the applicable standards. In reviewing requests for special use permits, the Planning Board shall be bound to the conditions and procedures under which a special use permit may be issued and the criteria for the issuance of such permits, as found within this Zoning Ordinance in § 260-91, and shall be required to provide for the recording of findings of fact and written decisions as described in R.I.G.L. § 45-23-63.
• D. Appeals. An appeal from any decision made pursuant to this section may be taken pursuant to R.I.G.L. § 45-23-71.