Residential A Zone (RA Zone)
§ 306 Residential A Zone (RA Zone)
[Amended June 21, 2000; May 23, 2001; June 19, 2002; December 6, 2004; July 2, 2007; October 6, 2008; Ord. of 8-17-2011; amended 3-5-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-02; 7-15-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-05; 2-7-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-01; 3-20-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-09; 4-17-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-11]
A. Purpose. The Residential A Zone (RA Zone) comprises primarily rural land mostly remote from the village center and much of which is served by narrow lanes. It is intended that new development be integrated into the existing pattern of fields, walls, ponds and wetlands.
B. Residential Density. Minimum Developable land area required for each dwelling unit. (See § 202, Definitions, "Developable Land")
1. For lots of record of 200,000 square feet or less lawfully existing as of March 4, 1989, 70,000 square feet of developable land is required; or
2. For lots of record greater than 200,000 square feet, 90,000 square feet of developable land is required.
3. For all newly created lots, 120,000 square feet of developable land is required, in accordance with § 302 of the Land Development and Subdivision Regulations.
C. Dimensional Standards. [Table Amended October 6, 2008; October 21, 2009; November 5, 2012 by Ord. No. 2012-10; 7-15-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-05; 4-17-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-11]
| Minimum Lot Area (See § 305) | 120,000 square feet | |
| Minimum Lot Frontage | 200 feet | |
| Minimum Setbacks for Principal and Accessory Structures: |
| |
| Front | 50 feet | |
| Side | 50 feet | |
| Rear | 50 feet | |
| Minimum Setbacks for Accessory Structures: Building footprint limited to 144 square feet, and building height limited to 12 feet |
| |
| Front | 50 feet | |
| Side | 15 feet | |
| Rear | 15 feet | |
| Minimum Setbacks for Substandard Lots of Record | See § 113E | |
| Maximum Lot Building Coverage:* |
| |
| As applied to the principal structure | 3% | |
| As applied to all structures on the lot | 4% | |
| Maximum Lot Building Coverage for Substandard Lots of Record | See § 113E | |
| Maximum Lot Coverage | 10% | |
| Maximum Height: |
| |
| Main Structure | 32 feet** | |
| Accessory Structure | 25 feet | |
| * | Lot building coverage shall be measured as a percentage of total lot area; see also exemption allowed for substandard lots under the provisions of § 113E | |
| ** | No portion or any side of a building shall exceed 37 feet in height, as measured from finished grade. | |
| *** | The maximum height for any main structure located in a special flood hazard area, as shown on official FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps, shall be 25 feet. The maximum height for any accessory structure located in a special flood hazard area, as shown on official FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps, shall be no higher than 80% of the height of the main structure. | |
D. Permitted Uses.
| Accessory Dwelling Units (Subject to § 406 and § 513) |
| Accessory Residential Structures (See § 511, Accessory Residential Structure) |
| Accessory Uses/Home Occupation (See § 510, Accessory Uses) |
| Community Residences |
| Family Day Care Homes |
| Farming |
| Rental Rooms (See § 509, Rental Rooms) |
| Single Family Dwelling Units (one per lot) |
| WECS subject to § 508 |
| Hawking and Peddling pursuant to a license duly issued by the Town Council pursuant to Chapter 8, Article V, Section 8 for a location that is open to the public and established by the Town Council under said Chapter 8, and which activity is in compliance with the provisions of Title 5, Chapter 11 of the Rhode Island General Laws. |
| Mobile Food Establishment pursuant to a duly issued license issued by the Town Council pursuant to Chapter 8, Article V, Section 8 for a location that is open to the public and established by the Town Council under said Chapter 8, and which activity is in compliance with the provisions of Title 5, Chapter 11.1 of the Rhode Island General Laws. |
E. Uses Allowed with Special Use Permit (See Article 4).
| Accessory Dwelling Units (See § 406 and § 513) |
| Affordable Housing (See § 405, Affordable Housing) |
| Day Care Center |
| Earth Removal (See § 418, Earth Removal) |
| Governmental Facilities |
| Public Works Facilities |
| Recreational Facilities: Limited to Field Sports; Tennis Courts; Regulation Golf (See § 410, Recreational Facilities) |
| Religious Facility |
| Stables |
| Secondary Dwelling Development (See § 403, Secondary Dwelling Development) |
| Utility Facility (See § 417 - Utility Facilities) |
| Waterfront Uses (See Sections 318, Waterfront Overlay and 415, Waterfront Uses) |
| WECS subject to § 508 |
A Single Family Dwelling Unit, Accessory residential Residential Structure or Accessory Structure associated with a residential use (garage, barn, greenhouse, boat shed, etc), that meets any of the following thresholds measuring building size and/or site disturbance (see § 406):
1. An individual building footprint in excess of 2,000 square feet, exclusive of ground level or first floor decks or one story unenclosed porches (see § 202 Definitions, "Building Footprint");
2. A total living area in excess of 3,300 square feet (see § 202 Definitions, "Floor Area, Living");
3. A total gross area in excess of 5,000 square feet, exclusive of ground level or first floor decks or one story unenclosed porches (see § 202 Definitions, "Gross Area);
4. A total building volume in excess of 45,000 cubic feet (see § 202 Definitions, "Building Volume"); and/or
5. Any retaining wall constructed of concrete, metal, fiberglass or other similar manufactured material that is in excess of five feet in height and/or fifteen feet in length, exclusive of a retaining wall associated with a walk- out basement.
F. Uses Allowed Only As Land Development Projects.
Flexible Design Residential Development (See § 402, Flexible Design Residential Development).