Public hearing requirement
a. The board shall fix a reasonable time for the hearing of an appeal or application for a special use permit or variance, and shall publish notice thereof in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Tiverton at least 14 days prior to the hearing; shall give due notice by registered mail to the applicant and owners of property within 200 feet of the property in question; and shall hear the appeal, special use permit or variance within a reasonable time. In addition, notice shall be forwarded by first class mail to the following:
(1) The city or town council of any adjacent community which is located within 200 feet of the subject property, or where there is a public, quasipublic or private water source lying within 2,000 feet of any area affected by the proposed action;
(2) The governing body of any state or municipal water department or agency, special water district or private water company that has riparian rights to a surface water resource and/or surface watershed that is used or is suitable for use as a public water source, and that is within 2,000 feet of any area affected by the proposed action, provided, however, that such governing body has filed with the zoning officer a map survey, which shall be kept as a public record, showing areas of surface water resources and/or watersheds and parcels of land within 2,000 feet thereof.
b. The board shall make a record of all its proceedings and actions, showing specific reasons for its decisions, including all findings of fact and conditions, the vote of each member participating therein, and the absence of a member or his or her failure to vote. Decisions shall be recorded and filed in the office of the town clerk within 30 working days from the date when the decision was rendered, and shall be available for review by the public. For any proceeding in which the right of appeal lies to the superior or supreme court, the zoning board of review shall have the minutes taken either by a competent stenographer or recorded by a sound-recording device.
c. Any decision by the board, including any special conditions attached thereto, shall be mailed to the applicant, to the zoning officer and to the associate director of the division of planning of the Rhode Island department of administration. Any decision evidencing the granting of a special use permit or variance shall also be recorded in the land evidence records of the Town of Tiverton.