Administrative procedures for overlay districts
The administrative procedures described in this subsection apply to the following overlay districts, except for flood hazard, historic overlay, watershed protection and groundwater protection overlay districts, which are described in subsections 310 and [through] 313, respectively:
Institutional-health care (IH), subsection 306.
Institutional-educational (IE), subsection 307.
Planned district residential (PDR) and planned district residential - limited (PDR-L), subsection 308.
Planned unit development (PUD), subsection 309.
For the purposes of this subsection, all references to "overlay districts" shall specifically include only the four overlay districts listed above.
305.1. Administrative procedure. Overlay districts may be enacted by the city council following full compliance with this subsection.
(A) Preapplication conference. The applicant for an overlay district is required to submit written and graphic descriptions of his/her proposed development to the department of city plan. The plan shall include the location and areas of all open spaces, building area, recreational areas, and parking spaces. The preapplication conference is intended to allow [the] department to:
(1) Acquaint the applicant with the comprehensive plan and any specific plans that apply to the site, as well as this and other ordinances that affect the proposed development;
(2) Suggest improvements to the proposed design on the basis of a review of the sketch plan;
(3) Advise the applicant to consult appropriate authorities on the character and placement of public utility services; and
(4) Help the applicant to understand the steps to be taken to receive approval.
(B) Development plan review prerequisite for approval. Any amendment to this zoning ordinance by which an overlay district would be established shall be considered and/or enacted only after a development plan for said overlay district shall have been received and given a recommendation by the Planning Board of the City of Warwick.
(C) Application to city council for a change of zone. In order for an overlay district to be established, the city council must amend the "zoning map" as defined in subsections 303 and 1007 of this ordinance.
(D) Final site plan submission. After a change of zone by the city council, the applicant shall submit copies of the complete and final site plan for the overlay district as approved by the city council, with any modifications thereto, to the building official, who shall forward such plan to the director of city plan for review.
(E) Action on the site plan. Not more than 30 days after receipt of the development plan, the director of city plan shall determine whether the proposed development complies with all requirements of this zoning ordinance, the comprehensive plan and all modifications imposed by the city council. The site plan submitted for final review must be in substantial conformity with the plan approved by the city council, provided the number of dwelling units and/or the number and gross floor area of buildings does not change. The director of city plan shall notify the building official in writing that the plan meets the requirements of the zoning ordinance.
(F) Change of approved site plan. If the applicant wants to make any amendment to an approved development plan, a written request shall be submitted to the building official. The building official shall forward such plan to the director of city plan for review. If in the opinion of the director of city plan a requested change is sufficiently substantial, the building official shall require that the applicant repetition the city council according to the procedures outlined in this subsection.
(G) Duration of approval. Any amendment to this zoning ordinance by which an overlay district is established may be repealed by the city council one year from the date of its enactment unless a building permit for construction in the overlay district shall have been issued. The action to repeal shall be in accordance with subsection 1007 of this ordinance. The zoning classification of any overlay district which has been repealed shall revert to the classification in effect before the enactment of the appropriate overlay district amendment.
305.2. Content of site plan. Applicants for an overlay district shall submit six copies of a site plan drawn by a registered engineer, architect or surveyor at a scale of no more than 100 feet to the inch indicating:
(A) Existing and proposed property boundary lines, zoning lines, [and] abutting lots including those across any street and the property owners of such.
(B) Location and dimensions of existing and proposed principal and accessory buildings and structures on the site.
(C) Location of existing and proposed roads and sidewalks and the location, dimensions and number of off-street parking and loading spaces including guest parking spaces.
(D) Location, dimensions, and design of existing and proposed signs and exterior illumination of the site.
(E) Location of existing and proposed recreation facilities, open space, easements and/or rights-of-way, and utilities including water supply, sewage disposal, storm drainage, and electrical or gas service.
(F) Soil types and where regrading is proposed, existing and proposed grade contours at five-foot intervals (to be shown separately if necessary).
(G) Location and type of existing and proposed major tree and shrub areas, flood hazard areas as defined by this ordinance, and location and area of coastal or freshwater wetlands, as defined in subsections 200.36 and 200.146.
(H) Location, dimensions and type of existing and proposed screening, fences, or walls.
(I) Proposed density, number of bedrooms per dwelling unit, and percentage of lot coverage as defined by subsection 200.93 of this ordinance.
(J) General exterior architectural plans and elevations of all proposed structures indicating proposed style and materials.
(K) Any other information deemed necessary by the secretary of the Planning Board or the director of city plan.
(L) Title block in the lower righthand corner of the site plan showing names of the property owner and developer, date of original plan and revisions, if any, north arrow, and a blank for the signature of the director of city plan for final site plan approval as required in subsection 305.1(E).
(M) The director of city plan may waive any of the above submittal requirements ([subsections] (A) through (L)) if he/she determines such are unnecessary.
(Ord. No. O-10-19, § I, 10-19-10; Ord. No. O-23-24, § I, 12-20-23)