Zoning districts
For the purpose of this ordinance, the town is hereby divided into twenty-two (22) zoning districts as set forth below. The specific purpose of each zoning district shall be as follows:
A. Residential.
R200 - Rural Very Low Density District. This district allows a residential density of up to two-tenths (0.2) dwellings per acre. The minimum lot size for single-household detached dwellings is two hundred thousand (200,000) square feet. The primary purpose of this district is to provide protection to sensitive environmental resources, such as groundwater reservoirs and recharge areas, immediately adjacent thereto; and coastal pond watersheds. It provides a residential density low enough to discourage the conversion of open lands and farmlands to more intensive use, while still allowing reasonable economic use of the land. It also includes privately-owned open spaces, freshwater wetlands, coastal features such as beaches and salt marshes, and farmlands. Public water service may be provided, but public sewers are discouraged in favor of waste water management districts and water conservation practices. This district also includes open space, conservation lands and land unsuitable for development. Portions of this district are within the High Flood Danger (HFD) Overlay District.
R80 - Rural Residential Low Density District. This district allows a residential density up to fifty-five-hundredths (0.55) dwellings per acre. The minimum lot size for single-household detached dwellings is eighty thousand (80,000) square feet. These are primarily rural areas which are not served by public facilities, and in which intensive development should not occur. They are characterized by low-density residential development, large estates, agriculture and certain low intensity nonresidential activities incidental to a rural environment. Public water service may be provided, but public sewers are discouraged in favor of waste water management districts and water conservation practices. This district may also include open space, conservation lands and land unsuitable for development. Portions of this district are within the High Flood Danger (HFD) Overlay District.
R40 - Medium Density Residential District. This district allows a residential density of up to one (1) dwelling per acre. The minimum lot size for single-household detached dwellings is forty thousand (40,000) square feet. Residential compounds will be the preferred type of residential development because they have low visual and environmental impact and fit the rural landscape. This district presently includes large estates, farms and large single-household residential lots, and the character of these lands should be maintained. Any intensive development here is not recommended. However, if major subdivision activity is proposed, cluster zoning techniques should be encouraged. Public water and public sewer service may be available but are not required. In addition, topographic and soil conditions in some portions of this district make large-scale development impractical. These areas may be environmentally sensitive and may contain much of the town's wetlands and prime agricultural areas.
R30 - Medium Density Residential District. This district allows a residential density of up to one and forty-five-hundredths (1.45) dwelling units per acre. Single-household detached units will be the predominant type of housing, although duplexes will be allowed by special use permit. Residential cluster developments should be considered for major subdivision proposals in this district. The lot sizes for single-household detached dwellings is thirty thousand (30,000) square feet. Water service generally is available to this district, or could easily be provided. While public sewers presently serve some of this district, public sewers should not be considered for the outlying villages as designated on the Land Use Plan, except for Middlebridge and the industrially zoned area of West Kingston.
R20 - Medium High Density Residential District. This district allows a residential density of up to two and two-tenths (2.2) dwelling units per acre. The lot sizes for single-household detached dwellings is twenty thousand (20,000) square feet. This district reflects the amount and type of development that already has taken place, as well as areas into which future expansion would be appropriate. These areas should be considered a high priority for the provision of public water and sewer service and for general infrastructure upgrading. However, public sewer service in Matunuck, and Snug Harbor is not recommended. A waste water management approach for these areas is preferred. Mixed uses historically have developed and should be permitted to continue and to expand subject to strict environmental controls. A neighborhood center/village district approach should be taken for additional development in this district. Special care in site planning must be taken. However, such patterns of residential development can be economically and environmentally sound. While the population density may be high, the existing physical development is varied and extensive. Shopping districts, personal services, community facilities, and public water and sewer generally are available and convenient and support local residents as well as the region. This district is highly accessible and served by a well-developed network of roads and public transit.
R10 - Medium High Density Residential District. This district allows a residential density of up to four and thirty-five-hundredths (4.35) dwelling units per acre. The lot sizes for single-household detached dwellings is ten thousand (10,000) square feet. This is a high-density residential area with public water and is expected to be served by the sewer system. Selected public and semipublic uses are allowed in this district.
RM - Residential Multi-Household District. This district allows an average residential density greater than four and thirty-five-hundredths (4.35), but less than seven and seventy-one-hundredths (7.71) dwelling units per acre and is intended to provide areas within the town for multi-household housing. This district is suitable for most types of apartment and condominium projects and individual multi-unit buildings. Duplexes are also permitted. This area is also suitable for single-household residential dwellings on lots having a minimum area of ten thousand (10,000) square feet. Public water and sewer service should be provided to these areas.
B. Commercial.
CN - Commercial Neighborhood. This district provides small-scale retail establishments designed to provide local business service to residential neighborhoods throughout the town. This district includes mixed uses within specially designed retail areas which include office uses and specific public and semi-public uses with single and multi-household residential development under special conditions, all of which must meet certain design and site planning requirements.
CN-M - Commercial Neighborhood - Matunuck. This district represents a portion of the commercial area within Matunuck that allows for small-scale retail establishments designed to provide local business service to residential neighborhoods within the village. This district recognizes Matunuck's unique characteristics and rich history and aims to allow for compatible land uses that complement its diversity while preserving its cultural importance and integrity.
CD - Commercial Downtown. This is the central business district of the town which developed along Wakefield's Main Street and adjacent side streets, from approximately Belmont Avenue to Holley Street and in the central portion of Peace Dale. The CD district is characterized by buildings with little or no setback requirements or off-street parking, a mix of land uses, and a pedestrian scale. Numerous historic structures exist as well as new buildings and reconstructed properties. It is important for this district to maintain its historic qualities and "Main Street" character. It includes small-scale retail centers designed to provide local business service to the town. The primary uses in this district are neighborhood retail, commercial offices, restaurant and entertainment, and may include residential uses. Excluded are commercial repairing, open lot sales, wholesale and storage uses, and uses primarily oriented toward the automobile.
CH - Commercial Highway. This district represents an orientation toward the automobile, with sufficient off-street parking areas and direct traffic access to major highways. The predominant pattern is the shopping center, where several individual stores are planned and owned as a unit on the same parcel of land, but also may include many individual single-unit buildings and uses as well. Such retail uses as gas stations, fast food establishments and the larger supermarkets predominate in shopping centers. Also included are such uses as repairing, open lot sales, wholesale business, storage, etc. These uses are subject to performance standards. It is intended that this zone permits and encourages revitalization and intensification so that the areas so zoned are used to their peak potential. Provision of public water in the future may be permitted, particularly if area wells become contaminated, but such water line extensions should not be used to justify commercial expansion. Residential development is excluded from these areas.
CW - Commercial Waterfront. This district recognizes the use of the waterfront areas of the town for such marine-oriented businesses as marinas, fishing, marine services, and commercial docks.
MU - Mixed Use. These are zoning districts established within the Kingstown Road Special Management District in order to provide a mixture of residential and limited commercial uses as provided in the comprehensive community plan.
COD-R/MOD-R - Cannabis and Marijuana Overlay District Retail. This zoning overlay district identifies areas where the retail sale of cannabis and/or cannabis related items and marijuana and marijuana related items may occur per section 504.15.
C. Industrial.
Ind-1 - Industrial One. This district is intended to permit manufacturing, wholesale storage and distribution activities within existing manufacturing areas in West Kingston, existing mills in Wakefield and Peace Dale, and new locations for such activities, as follows:
Wakefield/Peace Dale - Industrial operations permitted within these districts may include manufacturing and wholesale storage and distribution facilities. These areas are intended to recognize the existing mills and other industrial areas in Peace Dale and Wakefield around which the town's economy historically has developed and also to provide for new locations without significant environmental constraints. However, a high level of environmental protection also must be enforced in these areas to avoid any degradation of existing natural resources. Public water and sewer service is mandatory for these areas. Any industry or process which would create environmental hazards or generate significant quantities of hazardous waste or pollutants is prohibited. This district may also permit, subject to development plan review as applicable, Use Code 21, Higher Educational Institution, Privately Owned and Operated, and Use Code 21.1, Higher Educational Institution, State Owned and Operated, as an accessory use to permitted primary uses.
West Kingston - The Ind-1 Zoning district covers the existing manufacturing district located in West Kingston. This is an area with environmental limitations but already has been developed as a significant area of light manufacturing, wholesale operations and storage facilities. This area is not to be used for any activity which would constitute a threat to either ground or surface waters or adjacent wetlands. It will be limited to clean operations which do not generate significant quantities of waste water and which are not water intensive. The provisions of the Groundwater Protection Overlay District will apply to this area. Public water and sewer service may be provided to these areas. This district may also permit, subject to development plan review as applicable, Use Code 21 Higher Educational Institution, Privately Owned and Operated, and Use Code 21.1 Higher Educational Institution, State Owned and Operated, as an accessory use to permitted primary uses.
Ind-2 - Industrial Two. This district is established to cover proposed activities designated on the west side of Rose Hill Road and is created to provide for certain businesses and/or industrial operations that do not require traditional industrial park or commercial district locations. Such uses exhibit characteristics of both industrial operations as well as retail or wholesale business uses. They include automotive-related repair and service, outdoor yard storage, warehousing, multi-purpose trade centers, wholesale and retail sales of landscape and building materials and the like. Extractive operations, including the storage of sand and gravel would be permitted, but processing of these materials from either on site or off site sources, or the manufacture of concrete or asphalt and similar operations would be prohibited. Industries should be well screened from adjacent public streets and buffered from surrounding residential uses. Public water and sewer service is not a prerequisite but may be provided.
Ind-3 - Industrial Three. This district is established to cover the existing manufacturing zone on the west side of North Road in Peace Dale. Permitted uses would include extractive operations and processing of sand and gravel, and the manufacture of asphalt and concrete and related products. Public water and sewer may be provided to these areas but is not required.
COD/MOD-CMT - Cannabis Overlay District and Marijuana Overlay District—Cultivation/Manufacturing/Testing. This zoning overlay district identifies areas where the cultivation and/or manufacturing of cannabis/marijuana products and/or cannabis/marijuana related items and/or laboratory testing of cannabis products may occur per Section 504.15.
COD/MOD-MT - Cannabis Overlay District and Marijuana Overlay District—Manufacturing/Testing. This zoning overlay district identifies areas where the manufacturing of cannabis/marijuana products and/or cannabis/marijuana related items and/or laboratory testing of cannabis products may occur per section 504.15.
D. Government and Institutional.
GI - Government and Institutional. This district includes land holdings of the town, state and federal governments or their agencies, major semi-public institutions, fire districts, and land designated under CERCLA. It also includes land of the University of Rhode Island, the largest institution in the town, and South County Hospital. The purpose of this district is to recognize the extent of public and semi-public land holdings and to provide guidance to utilization of these lands should they be sold or otherwise transferred to private ownership. Any significant use of land in the areas shown within this district for proprietary purposes or uses by nongovernmental entities, other than health care institutions, shall require rezoning to an appropriate zoning district.
OS - Open Space, Conservation and Recreation. This district includes properties owned by the town, state or federal government, and are presently used for such public recreation or conservation purposes as the Great Swamp Management Area or town-owned parks. It also includes quasi-public or privately-owned land where development rights have been conveyed or for which there is a reasonable expectation of long-term use for open space, conservation or recreation, such as Audubon Society or Nature Conservancy lands. Certain limited residential, recreational, agricultural and educational uses are permitted.
GI-1 - Government and Institutional-1. This district includes land holdings of the town and/or land holdings of a land trust. The purpose of this district is to recognize the extent of public holdings and preservation entities (i.e., land trusts) and to provide guidance to utilization of these lands. Any significant use of land in the areas shown within this district for proprietary purposes or uses by nongovernmental entities, other than the town or a land trust as established under Rhode Island Law, shall require rezoning to an appropriate zoning district.
(Ord. of 7-25-16; Ord. of 3-13-23(2); Ord. of 10-23-23(1); Ord. of 10-23-23(2); Ord. of 1-13-25(2))