Interpretation of Use Table and Symbols

Sec. 5.3. Interpretation of Use Table and Symbols.

The status of uses which appear in the table of district use regulations vary from district to district as indicated by the symbol appearing under the appropriate column heading. The interpretation of symbols shall be as follows: Y - The use is permitted by right. S - The use may be permitted as a Special-use under the provisions of Section 19.22 of this ordinance. Y - The use shall be permitted under provisions of this Ordinance for a limited time as T customarily appropriate to the use, not to exceed one (1) year. N - The use is not permitted. Where any proposed use is not listed in this section or in Section 21, Definitions, it shall be the duty of the Zoning Enforcement Officer to determine if the use is substantially similar to any existing use. If the Officer determines that the proposed use is not substantially similar to any existing use, then such use shall be prohibited in all zones. A decision of the Officer, either to classify a proposed use within an existing use contained in the table below, or to prohibit the use, shall be appealable to the Zoning Board as set forth in Section 18. Uses permitted by right or by special-use must also comply with all other aspects of this Ordinance, such as the dimensional regulations and on-site parking requirements. Environmental constraints and infrastructure limitation may further restrict a parcel’s buildout and use. For example, the minimum lot areas listed in the table may not be adequate in certain cases to meet state standards for on-site sewage disposal; a larger lot area may be specified by the Department of Environmental Management as part of the approval of an individual septic disposal system. Uses listed in the following table may also be governed by the Groundwater Aquifer and Historic overlay districts, or by the provisions of Section 8, Flood Hazard Areas. Any uses involving materials having a health hazard rating of 2,3,or 4 or a flammability hazard rating of 1,2,3,or 4 as defined by NFPA 325M shall require a Special-use Permit. Uses permitted by right involving the construction of multiple uses or units will require review approval by the Planning Board as a Land Development Project. The process associated with the review and approval of a Land Development project is contained in the Town of North Smithfield’s Land Development and Subdivision Regulations.