Design Process

Land Development and Subdivision Review Regulations Town of Smithfield, RI

1. If an applicant requests approval of a major conventional subdivision, the Planning Board shall first require the applicant to submit a plan(s) of a conservation development for the property proposed for development, following the requirements and procedures for conservation developments provided in this section. As a comparison, the applicant shall also submit plan(s) for the conventional subdivision requested. If the Board finds that the conventional subdivision meets the general purposes of these Regulations as set forth in Section I. Article A, and after consideration of the purposes of conservation developments set forth in Section X, Article A, herein, the Board may permit the application to be reviewed in a form other than conservation development. For major subdivisions or land development projects, the Board may make this determination at the pre-application meeting, but no later than the master plan stage of review.
2. All requests for development of a major conventional subdivision shall only be authorized by the Planning Board by the granting of a waiver, in accordance with the provisions of Section VI, Article C of these Regulations.

ARTICLE C. PROCEDURES

Applications for Conservation Development approval shall be made in accordance with the procedures for approval of a major or minor subdivision or land development project based on the number of lots or dwellings in the development as provided in Section III of these Regulations.

ARTICLE D. DESIGN PROCESS

The design of a Conservation Development shall follow the design process specified in the following steps. As a guide in designing Conservation Developments, applicants are encouraged to review the provisions of the Rhode Island Conservation Development Manual, RIDEM, June, 2003, and any amendments thereto, in the preparation of plans. The maps illustrated in this manual will provide graphic examples of what is required of applicants. When the Master Plan is submitted for major land development projects or subdivisions, or preliminary plans for minor land development projects or subdivisions, applicants shall demonstrate to the Planning Board that this design process was considered in determining the layout of proposed streets, building locations, and open space. See the appropriate checklist for specific requirements.

1. Analyze the Site

   The first step is to inventory existing site features, taking care to identify sensitive and noteworthy natural, scenic and cultural resources on the site, and to determine the connection of these important features to each other and strategies for protection. For pre-application meetings, the applicant shall submit the information required by Pre-Application Checklist C. For master plan meetings, this information shall be submitted in the form of an Existing Resources and Site Analysis Map, as specified in Section X, Article Q.

2. Evaluate Site Context

   The second step is to evaluate the site in its larger context of the neighborhood and Town by identifying physical (e.g., stream corridors, wetlands), transportation (e.g., street and bicycle networks), and cultural (e.g., open spaces, recreational opportunities) connections to surrounding land uses and activities. This information shall be submitted in the form of a Site Context Map, as specified in Section X, Article F.

3. Designate Potential Conservation Areas

   The third step is to identify the areas on the site to be preserved on the site as open space. The open space shall at a minimum include portions of the site that are unsuitable for development and which constitute the most sensitive and noteworthy natural, cultural and recreational resources of the site. Where appropriate, areas that serve to extend neighborhood open space networks to/from surrounding property shall be identified. The designation of open space shall reflect consistency with the Smithfield Comprehensive Plan.

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