General purposes

These zoning regulations are developed and maintained in reliance upon the West Warwick comprehensive plan prepared and adopted by the town in accordance with the Rhode Island General Laws and are designed to address the following purposes. The town council recognizes these purposes, each with equal priority and numbered for reference only.

• • 2.1 Promoting the public health, safety, and general welfare.

  • 2.2 Providing for a range of uses and intensities of use appropriate to the character of the town and reflecting current and expected future needs.

  • 2.3 Providing for orderly growth and development which recognizes:

    • 2.3.1 The goals and patterns of land use contained in the comprehensive plan of the Town of West Warwick adopted pursuant to the General Laws;

    • 2.3.2 The natural characteristics of the land, including its suitability for use based on soil characteristics, topography, and susceptibility to surface or groundwater pollution;

    • 2.3.3 The values and dynamic nature of freshwater ponds, riverfront, streambanks and the shorelines, and freshwater wetlands;

    • 2.3.4 The values of unique or valuable natural resources and features;

    • 2.3.5 The availability and capacity of existing and planned public and/or private services and facilities;

    • 2.3.6 The need to shape and balance urban and rural development; and

    • 2.3.7 The use of innovative development regulations and techniques.

  • 2.4 Providing for the control, protection and/or abatement of air, water, groundwater, and noise pollution, and soil erosion and sedimentation.

  • 2.5 Providing for the protection of the natural, historic, cultural, and scenic character of the town and areas therein.

  • 2.6 Providing for the preservation and promotion of agricultural production, forest, silviculture, aquaculture, timber resources, and open space.

  • 2.7 Providing for the protection of public investment in transportation, water, stormwater management systems, sewage treatment and disposal, solid waste treatment and disposal, schools, recreation, public facilities, open space, and other public requirements.

  • 2.8 Promoting a balance of housing choices, for all income levels and groups, to assure the health, safety and welfare of all citizens and their rights to affordable, accessible, safe and sanitary housing.

  • 2.9 Providing opportunities for the establishment of low- and moderate-income housing.

  • 2.10 Promoting safety from fire, flood, and other natural or man-made disasters.

  • 2.11 Promoting a high level of quality in design in the development of private and public facilities.

  • 2.12 Promoting implementation of the comprehensive plan of the Town of West Warwick adopted pursuant to the General Laws.

  • 2.13 Providing for coordination of land uses with contiguous municipalities, other municipalities, the state and other agencies, as appropriate, especially with regard to resources and facilities that extend beyond municipal boundaries or have a direct impact on that municipality.

  • 2.14 Providing for efficient review of development proposals, to clarify and expedite the zoning approval process.

  • 2.15 Providing for procedures for the administration of the zoning ordinance, including, but not limited to, variances, special use permits, and where adopted, procedures for modifications.

  • 2.16 Providing for coordination with contiguous communities. It is the intention of this ordinance to facilitate coordination with contiguous municipalities and state agencies with regard to land use decisions which may affect shared resources and facilities, abutting property, and the greater public good. This coordination shall be carried out be [by] assuring this ordinance is consistent with the West Warwick comprehensive plan and any amendments thereto, which is reviewed by other municipalities and state agencies; and notifying, in accordance with Rhode Island General Laws, property owners, water resource boards, and/or city or town governing bodies of pending variance and special use applications or zoning map amendment petition and associated public hearings. Notices of proposals in neighboring communities or by state agencies shall be forwarded to the planning board for their review and when concerns exist with regard to consistency with the objectives of the West Warwick comprehensive plan, comments shall be prepared and forwarded to the agency submitting notice.

  • 2.17 To satisfy the minimal requirements of the State Zoning Enabling Act as set forth in G.L. 1956 § 45-24-37(e). (Ord. No. 2022-15 , 11-1-2022)

  • 2.18 To satisfy the minimal requirements of the State Zoning Enabling Act as set forth in RIGL § 45-24-33 standard provisions.

  • 2.19. Providing for residential use options that are not limited to single family detached structures, in areas which have available public water and sewer capacity in municipalities in which at least part of the area is located within the urban services boundary which is identified on Rhode Island statewide planning program's future land use map tools and on the Rhode Island geographic information system.

(Ord. No. 2024-5, 6-18-2024; Ord. No. 2024-18, 10-15-2024; Ord. No. 2025-9, 9-16-2025)