Existing Resources & Site Analysis Map

Land Development and Subdivision Review Regulations Town of Smithfield, RI

1. The width of the required perimeter buffer shall be at least fifty (50) feet provided, however, that the Planning Board may reduce this width to a minimum of ten (10) feet. In making this determination, the Planning Board shall consider the following factors:
   1. the nature of adjacent land uses existing at the time of master plan review( or preliminary review for a minor subdivision or land development project);
   2. the nature of proposed or projected future land uses on adjacent property;
   3. the physical characteristics of adjacent property (e.g., wetlands, slopes, stone walls, etc.);
   4. the ownership of adjacent property (e.g., private, public, non-profit conservation, etc.);
   5. the zoning of adjacent property;
   6. the land use classification of adjacent property as provided on the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Plan Map.
2. If lots on the outer perimeter of the proposed Conservation Development are not contiguous to developed residential building lots outside the Conservation Development, the Planning Board shall determine if a buffer is required.
3. Lots on the outer perimeter of the proposed Conservation Development, which are directly adjacent to a public street, must be separated from said public street by a thickly wooded buffer or screen of at least fifty (50) feet in depth along the entire street frontage, except for any necessary access streets.
4. If development within the Conservation Development is such that individual building lots are not being created (i.e., subdivision) but that buildings are proposed to be located on a single lot (i.e., multifamily or condominium) or combination thereof, the provisions stated above with regard to buffer areas shall be interpreted to apply to the setback, screening and location of individual buildings. The minimum yard dimensions for multifamily dwellings provided in Section 5.5 shall apply.

ARTICLE O. STREETS

Streets within a Conservation Development may be publicly or privately owned and maintained and shall conform to the standards of Section V of these Regulations. Streets shall be designed to conform to the standards of the Town where the street is or may be ultimately intended for dedication and acceptance by the Town. Private streets shall be adequate for the intended use and vehicular traffic and shall be maintained by an association of unit owners or such other means or entity as may be approved by the Planning Board.

ARTICLE P. DECISION

The Planning Board may approve, approve with conditions, or deny an application for a Conservation Development upon finding that the Conservation Development better promotes the objectives of the Planning Board's Subdivision and Land Development Regulations than would a conventional development, and after consideration of the general requirements set forth in Section I, Article B, the required findings for approval set forth in Section II, Article B, and after consideration of the purposes of Conservation Developments set forth in Section X, Article A, herein.

ARTICLE Q. EXISTING RESOURCES AND SITE ANALYSIS MAP

Subdivisions and land development projects, whether or not proposed to be developed as a conservation development, shall be required to prepare an Existing Resources and Site Analysis Map, if required by Checklists C and D. Administrative subdivisions and subdivisions that create lots which are not for the purpose of present or future development shall not be required to provide such Map. The purpose of this Map is to provide the Planning Board with a comprehensive analysis of existing conditions on the proposed development site.

Page 75 Land Development and Subdivision Review Regulations Town of Smithfield, RI

An Existing Resources and Site Analysis Map is required to be prepared at the following review stages of subdivisions and land development projects:

• Checklist C - Checklist for Pre-application Meetings - /Major – Subdivision Plan/Land Development Project
• Checklist D - Master Plat Checklist for Major Subdivisions / Land Development Projects

The checklists referenced above provide guidance to the applicant regarding preparation and use of the Map and its components. The Planning Board shall review the Map to assess its accuracy, conformance with municipal ordinances, and likely impact upon the natural and cultural resources on the property. Unless otherwise specified by the Planning Board, such plans shall generally be prepared at the scale of 1" = 100' or 1" = 200', whichever would fit best on a single standard size sheet (24" x 36"). Where necessary for clarity, the Map may be submitted as a series of more than one map. The following information shall be included in this Map(s).

1. Topography and Slopes
   1. Topography, the contour lines of which shall generally be at 10-foot intervals, interpolated from U.S.G.S. published maps. More detailed topographic mapping determined by photogrammetry or on- site survey shall be required in areas proposed for development. The determination of appropriate contour intervals shall be made by the Administrative Officer, who may require greater or lesser intervals on exceptionally steep or flat sites. Slopes between 15 and 25 percent and exceeding 25 percent shall be clearly indicated by shading on the map, and the area thereof in acres shall be indicated. Topography for major subdivisions shall be prepared by a professional land surveyor or professional engineer from an actual field survey of the site or from stereoscopic aerial photography and shall be coordinated with official U.S.G.S. benchmarks.
2. Natural Resources Inventory
   1. The location and delineation of ponds, streams, ditches, drains, special aquatic sites, vernal pools, natural drainage swales, 100-year floodplains and freshwater wetlands, as defined in the Zoning Ordinance. Additional areas of wetlands on the proposed development parcel shall also be indicated, as evident from testing, visual inspection, or from the presence of wetland vegetation.
   2. Vegetative cover conditions on the property according to general cover type including cultivated land, agricultural land, permanent grass land, meadow, pasture, old field, hedgerow, woodland and wetland. Trees with a caliper in excess of eighteen inches DBH, if located within an area proposed for disturbance or alteration shall also be indicated. Vegetative types shall be described by plant community, relative age and condition. Specimen vegetation as defined in Section 2 shall be identified.
   3. Soil series, types and map units, as mapped by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service in the latest published soil survey for the State, and accompanying data published for each soil relating to its suitability for construction and for septic suitability
   4. Geologic formations on the proposed development parcel, including rock outcroppings, cliffs, kettle holes, eskers, etc. based on available published information or more detailed data obtained by the applicant.
   5. Ridge lines of existing hills and watershed boundaries shall be identified.
   6. Wellhead protection areas for public or community drinking water wells.
3. Cultural Resources Inventory
   1. All existing man-made features including but not limited to streets, driveways, farm roads, woods roads, buildings, foundations, walls, wells, drainage fields, dumps, excavated areas, utilities, and storm and sanitary sewers.
   2. Location of all historically significant sites or structures on