Port of Galilee special district

• (a) District defined. The Port of Galilee special district consists of the commercial fishing village of Galilee, which includes the commercial waterfront along Point Judith Pond, and the adjoining mixed residential, commercial and recreational areas along Galilee Escape Road, Great Island Road, Sand Hill Cove Road and Galilee Connector Road. The boundaries of this special district are designated on the map titled "Port of Galilee Special District" attached to this ordinance.

• (b) Purpose. The purpose of this special planning district is to recognize the unique characteristics of Galilee, including its statewide importance as a commercial fishing port, and to achieve the goals of the Galilee Special District Plan, an addendum to the Narragansett Comprehensive Plan.

• (c) Special district zones. The Port of Galilee special district shall be comprised of the following zoning districts, including three zones which are unique to Galilee and which shall supercede any zones in place prior to the effective date of this special planning district:

  • (1) Galilee — fishing zone (G-Fi). This zone is that area within the Port of Galilee special district which encompasses the developed waterfront and certain other areas which are to be used primarily for commercial fishing and related activities, and other water-dependent uses including charter fishing.

  • (2) Galilee — ferry zone (G-Fe). This zone is that area within the developed waterfront of the Port of Galilee special district which is to be used for land-based activities supporting ferry service to Block Island.

  • (3) Galilee — business zone (G-B). This zone is that area which comprises the general commercial and mixed-used area within the Port of Galilee special district which is to be used primarily for retail goods and services, commercial off-street parking and mixed uses.

  • (4) Residence—20 zone (R-20). As defined in subsection 3.1 of this ordinance.

  • (5) Public use zone (P). As defined in subsection 3.1 of this ordinance.

• (d) Use regulations. The following table of use regulations lists the uses applicable to each of the special district zones. Uses governing R-20 are delineated in section 6.1, use regulations. The uses applicable to the public use zone as shown below shall replace those delineated in section 6. The following symbols indicate the status of each use:

  P = Permitted use	X = Prohibited use
  S = Use allowed by special use permit	A = Allowed as an accessory use

 

Any use not specifically listed shall be deemed to be prohibited within the Port of Galilee special district.

 

Marine-related uses specifically prohibited within the Port of Galilee special district shall include, but not be limited to, cargo handling facilities; boat building or the manufacture of marine products; boat storage and repair; and boat liveries (small boat rentals).

* The granting of a special use permit for a ferry service in the Galilee fishing zone is also subject to the provisions of subsection 12.19, standards for ferry services.

** The granting of a special use permit for seafood distribution and/or processing in the Galilee business zone is also subject to the provisions of subsection 12.20, standards for seafood distribution facilities and seafood processing plants.

*** Outdoor storage of commercial vehicles shall not include the temporary parking of trucks or buses waiting to board the ferry; such temporary parking shall not exceed 24 hours.

 

Hotel, retail and service uses specifically prohibited within the Port of Galilee special district shall include, but not be limited to, motel or tourist court; outdoor parking of major recreational vehicles and commercial vehicles (as a principal use); any drive-through use; packaged liquor store; and gasoline filling station.

* The expansion of any pre-existing nonconforming use within the G-Fi zone shall be subject to the provisions of subsection 10.2, standards for expansion of a nonconforming use in the Galilee fishing zone.

** There shall be no expansion of off-street parking lots into the property commonly known as the Galilee Bird Sanctuary.

*** A mixed parking garage/commercial structure shall consist of both commercial parking and retail and/or service uses in a single structure.

 

Wind generation facilities are specifically prohibited within the Port of Galilee special district.

• (e) Dimensional regulations. The following table of dimensional regulations lists the dimensional requirements applicable within the special district zones. Dimensional requirements governing uses in R-20 are delineated in subsection 6.4, dimensional regulations. No dimensional requirements have been established for uses in the public use zone.

  	Minimums					Maximums
  Zoning district	Lot size (square feet)	Lot width (feet)	Front yard (feet)	Rear yard (feet)	Side yard (feet)	Building coverage (percent)	Height of structures (feet)
  G-Fi/G-Fe
  Any permitted use	None	None	6	0	11.5	61	30
  G-B
  Hotel	20,000	100	23 *	23	11.5	52	52 **
  Inn	10,000	100	17 *	17	11.5	52	43 **
  Other permitted use	10,000	100	6	11.5	11.5	43	30

 

Yard dimensions listed above shall be subject to the maintenance of a ten-foot wide fire lane where required by the Town of Narragansett.

* A hotel or inn that has a front porch may be located within six feet of the front lot line.

** Requires a pitched roof having a minimum slope of 8/12 ; no flat roofs are permitted.

• (f) Design and site plan review required. All redevelopment or new development occurring within the Port of Galilee special district that consists entirely or partially of commercial uses shall undergo design and site plan review by the Narragansett Planning Board under the provisions of section 18, site plan review. Such review shall occur regardless of the need for a variance or special use permit. In addition, approval by the planning board of all site, building and signage plans is required prior to the issuance of any state or local building permits.

Applicants proposing any new or expanded commercial or mixed-use development within the special district shall undergo a pre-submission conference with the planning division and submit a site plan with all applicable information as required under subsection 18.2. In addition, the applicant shall submit details of any proposed business sign indicating the dimensions and material, size of letters and logo, colors and type of illumination.

The following development standards shall be applied by the planning board in their review of new commercial and mixed-use development in the special district. These may be enhanced or further defined by more specific design standards as may be adopted from time to time by the Narragansett town Council for the Port of Galilee. All design elements of new development must be shown to be in keeping with the Galilee special district design standards.

• • (1) Building placement and design.

    • (a) A new building shall be placed as close as feasible to the street, no further than necessary or desirable from the five foot front yard setback. Building placement shall be planned so that a consistent setback is ultimately achieved notwithstanding preexisting setbacks which would be considered excessive under these standards. Benches and bicycle racks may be placed within the five-foot front yard setback.

    • (b) The scale of the building, and the relationship of building masses with spaces, shall be compatible with the character of a traditional New England fishing village, or with architectural and development standards that the town determines suitable for the port area.

    • (c) The building height, the roof design and pitch, the proportions of and relationships between doors and windows, and the relationship of the width to the front facade height (massing), shall be compatible with the style of a building in a traditional New England fishing village, or with architectural and development standards that the town determines suitable for the port area.

    • (d) A building shall have the same materials, or those which are architecturally harmonious, used for all walls and other exterior building components.

    • (e) Additions or alterations to an existing building should be complementary in scale to the original structure, and architectural details, including materials, colors and textures, shall be treated so as to be compatible with the original architectural style of the building, providing such details preserve and enhance the character of the surrounding area.

    • (f) Mechanical equipment and utility hardware on the roof shall be screened from public view with materials harmonious to the building. Utility structures that cannot be placed on the roof shall be located so they are not visible from the street or public open space, and shall be screened with landscaping or materials that are compatible with the building.

    • (g) When used, the design and size of exterior lighting and/or widow lighting shall be compatible with the building and the adjacent areas. Review of lighting features by the planning board shall include color, lumens, location, design and impact on adjacent properties.

    • (h) All new or extended utilities in the Galilee business zone shall be installed underground.

  • (2) Signage. The following standards for commercial signs in the special district shall supersede those regulations contained in subsection 7.18(i)(2), commercial signs. All new proposed commercial signage shall be subject to review by the planning board as part of the design and site plan review process.

    • (a) One wall-mounted sign on the entrance facade shall be allowed per business unless there is also either a rear or side entrance to said business, in which case a second wall-mounted sign shall be allowed. The principal business sign shall not exceed 30 square feet in area nor 70 percent of the length of the entrance facade; the secondary business sign shall not exceed 15 square feet in area.

    • (b) A projecting sign shall be allowed in place of a flush-wall mounted sign. The projecting sign shall have a minimum clearance of ten feet and shall not exceed 15 square feet in area.

    • (c) One freestanding sign shall be allowed for either an individual business establishment which does not have an equivalent flush-wall or projecting sign, or for a multitenant building or plaza to provide joint identification of the occupant businesses. The freestanding sign shall be no more than ten feet in height and shall be set back at least four feet from any street or property line. An individual business freestanding sign shall not exceed 15 square feet in area; a multitenant freestanding sign shall not exceed 15 square feet in area for the building or plaza name, and two square feet in area for each business name. No individual freestanding signs shall be allowed for businesses in a multitenant building or plaza.

    • (d) No sign, window opening, store facade, or the like shall be internally illuminated.

  • (3) Site design and landscaping.

    • (a) The layout and design of all means of vehicular and pedestrian circulation, including interior drives, parking areas and walkways, shall provide for safe interior circulation and separation of pedestrian, vehicular and service traffic.

    • (b) The number of site entrances shall be the minimum necessary for effective traffic control, and sharing of access driveways and parking areas by adjoining properties shall be incorporated into the site design wherever possible.

    • (c) Provisions for pedestrian movement, in the form of sidewalks or walkways, shall be made to allow for safe access between parking areas and retail establishments.

    • (d) Bicycle parking facilities shall be provided at all commercial parking areas in the Galilee business zone designed for 50 or more cars, with a ratio of at least one bicycle space for each ten car spaces.

    • (e) Landscape treatment shall be provided to enhance architectural features and improve aesthetics. The site shall be planned to achieve a desirable transition between the building and the street, with landscaping required and the use of pedestrian walkways, special lighting, benches and other amenities encouraged.

    • (f) The amount of frontage along a street occupied by parking should be minimized for sites undergoing redevelopment, while all parking shall be placed behind the building(s), if practicable, for sites undergoing new development. No new parking areas shall be located within the front yard. If possible, all parking areas should be designed in small groups or courts to lessen visual impacts.

    • (g) Parking lots that front on public streets shall be screened by landscaping or with walls or fencing a minimum of three feet in height. Walls and fences shall be of a scale and material appropriate to the site and surrounding area.

    • (h) The interior of all paved parking areas within the Galilee business zone shall be enhanced with planted islands, with a minimum of one island for each 20 parking spaces. The planted islands shall be placed so as to prevent long rows of uninterrupted parking spaces and be designed to assist in treatment of stormwater runoff. All islands shall be surrounded by continuous raised curbing.

    • (i) Plantings along the perimeter of parking areas and new streets should include either evergreen species, or street trees of at least 3.5-inch caliper planted at intervals of 35 feet. Planted islands may include shrubs, plants and other live vegetation, but should include one tree of at least three-inch caliper. Species to be selected shall be tolerant of high salt concentrations and heavy wind conditions.

    • (j) Only nursery grown plant materials shall be accepted, and all trees, shrubs and ground covers shall be planted according to accepted horticultural standards. The owner shall be responsible for maintaining the landscaping and for replacing all dead or diseased plant materials on at least an annual basis. Failure to adequately maintain required plantings may result in such work being performed by the town at the owner's expense.

    • (k) Screening of refuse areas, service and storage yards and exterior work areas shall be accomplished by use of walls, fencing, plantings or a combination of these.

  • (4) Environmental inventory overlay district requirements. Proposed uses within the Port of Galilee special district shall be subject to the requirements of all applicable environmental inventory overlay districts as described in subsections 4.3 through 4.7 of this ordinance, except, however, a special use permit shall not be required for uses or activities as defined in the appropriate sections of the overlay district regulations. Review by the zoning board of review under the provisions of section 12, special use permits shall be replaced by review by the planning board under the provisions of section 18, site plan review. The planning board shall ensure that all applicable development standards of the overlay districts are complied with. The planning board shall also apply the standards contained in subsection 7.7, supplementary drainage requirements, relating to stormwater management and erosion and sediment control, in reviewing development proposals within the special district.

  • (5) Parking requirements. Parking requirements for development within the Port of Galilee special district shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. As part of the site plan review of any new development, the applicant shall present a parking plan to the planning board that addresses existing parking, projected demand and a means of addressing this demand. The parking plan shall take into account available on-site and off-site parking. Shared parking among different businesses and uses is encouraged. Approval by the planning board of a parking plan for development within the special district shall supersede the parking standards contained in subsection 7.9, automobile parking space.

(Ch. 828, § 1(4), 2-3-2003; Ch. 1118, § 5, 12-18-2023)