Standards and requirements for P-Districts

The following provisions shall apply in a P-District, which district shall also be subject to other provisions of this chapter, except that where conflict in regulations occurs, the regulations specified in this article shall apply.

• A. P-Districts may be established on parcels of land which are suitable for, and of sufficient size to be planned and developed in a manner consistent with the purpose of this article and the objectives of this chapter. No P-District shall include less than 25 acres of contiguous land unless the Planning Board and the Town Council find that property of less acreage is suitable as a P-District by virtue of its unique historical character, topography, or land features.
• B. No P-District shall be established or plans reviewed by the Planning Board unless and until there is on file with the Town written consent of every property owner within such district at the time of the establishment of the district agreeing that the applicant shall be bound by the conditions and regulations proposed and which will be effective within the district.
• C. Standards for area, coverage, density, yard requirements, parking and screening for P-District uses shall be governed by the standards of the residential, commercial and industrial zoning district most similar in nature and function to the proposed P-District use(s), as determined by the Planning Board. Standards for public improvements shall be governed by applicable ordinances of the Town. Exceptions to these standards by the Planning Board and Town Council are possible when these bodies find that such exceptions encourage a desirable living environment and are warranted in terms of total proposed development or unit thereof.
• D. The gross population density and building intensity of any area proposed for development under the planned unit approach may be increased and therefore do not have to conform to the basic overall density and building intensity requirements of the zoning district. In addition, lot dimensions, building setbacks and area do not have to meet the specific ordinance requirements, provided that a more functional and desirable use of the property is made.
• E. Lot size and layout.
  • (1) Residential lot sizes related to single-family detached units may be reduced as follows (provided that public water and sewers are available):
    • (a) A-4: 60,000 square feet (with public water and sewers).
    • (b) A-3: 40,000 square feet (with public water and sewers).
    • (c) R-2: 20,000 square feet (with public water and sewers).
  • (2) Drawings must be submitted that show that the relationship of interior and exterior living or working area is desirable and adequate and that the living and working environment is just as desirable as the strict requirements of this chapter. Building intensities may be increased if, in the opinion of the Planning Board and the Town Council, the character and configuration of the land will accommodate the increased density and that such development will not violate the intent or character of the proposed P-District.
• F. For each six square feet of land gained within a residential subdivision, through the reduction of lot size below minimum chapter requirements, or other means, one square foot of land shall be dedicated to the Town, either by rights in fee or through a conservation easement, and retained as open space for park, recreational and related uses. All lands dedicated in fee or easement must meet the Town's requirements.
• G. All water supply sources and sewage treatment systems must be consistent with Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management regulations. All such regulations are hereby considered as part of this chapter together with any new regulations that the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management may add from time to time.
• H. Ownership and maintenance of water and sewer facilities must be arranged to the satisfaction of the Town of Glocester prior to final approval of a P-District.
• I. Townhouses.
  • (1) In areas where townhouses are uses, there shall be no more than five townhouse units in any contiguous group. A townhouse is defined as a single-family dwelling with no side yards between adjacent townhouses.
  • (2) A variety of building setbacks, color and building materials for contiguous townhouse units is encouraged. An average rear yard depth shall be a minimum of 25 feet where the lot does not abut a park or open space easement. A minimum side yard between the two end units, or contiguous townhouse groups, shall be a minimum of 80 feet plus five feet for each additional story over one story for the end units.
• J. All areas proposed for dedication to the Town under the planned districts approach must be acceptable as to shape, size and location, as required by the Glocester Planning Board.
• K. In all areas proposed as homeowner parks or similar approaches, if using the advantages of the planned districts approach, the developer must convey to the Town the development rights (i.e., conservation, recreational and open space easement) and must meet the requirements of the Planning Board as to shape, size and location.
• L. Rights-of-way for riding, hiking or other types of trails and scenic ways may be dedicated in fee to the Town through a space exchange by reduction in lot sizes on a six-to-one basis, provided that the requirements as to area and location meet the requirements of the Planning Board. Rights-of-way for watercourses and other similar channels are not acceptable for space exchange under planned unit development. However, the portion of the right-of-way that is usable as a trail or similar way may be acceptable but must be approved by the Glocester Planning Board.
• M. A possible clustering of dwellings may be accomplished through reduction of lot area and the provision of usable and desirable open space easements dedicated to the Town; size and location of such easements to be subject to approval by the Planning Board.
• N. Public utility and other similar easements cannot be used for a space exchange under the planned district approach.
• O. Any subdivision which includes the proposal to dedicate to the Town land for park and open space use, under the planned district approach, must include, by dedication or by other reasonable means, the total park area, at the time of filing of the final map on all, or any portion, of the tract or tracts.
• P. The Town will do the basic working drawings and landscape architectural design for all areas dedicated to the Town for public purpose and provide the basic landscape requirements if the developer will do the grading and reasonable contouring work to an approved plan; the necessary grading plan of the park to be provided by the Town upon a minimum of 30 days' notice by the developer at the tentative map stage.
• Q. Planned district development is not limited to the creation of park area. Application could be made to permit variety in the location of dwelling units within the subdivision.
• R. A diversification of lot sizes may be permitted within a zoning district without the dedication or creation of park areas, provided the overall density of the zoning district is not increased.
• S. Note: The developer is encouraged to obtain a trained and experienced land planner, registered architect, and/or landscape architect to prepare plans for all planned district developments, to enable the most expedient processing of such developers. The use, by developers, of qualified professionals to do plans for planned district developments enables the Planning Board to reduce the time it must spend on said development.