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Westerly
Town of Westerly Zoning Ordinance
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§ 260-48

Planned Development (PD) Zoning District

  • A. Planned development authorized.
    • (1) This Zoning Ordinance permits the creation of land development projects in which one or more lots, tracts, or parcels of land are to be developed or redeveloped as a coordinated site for a planned resort.
    • (2) The Planned District is intended to give the Town Council an alternative to a traditional Zoning Map amendment for such use on large parcels of land. The Planned District procedures provide for review by other appropriate agencies concerning transportation and environmental issues as well as public hearings and review by the Planning Board in advance of Town Council consideration of the Zoning Map amendment. If adopted the amendment becomes a contract which can only be modified after notice and public hearing by the Town Council.
  • B. Objectives.
    • (1) Encourage developers to better use the natural features and protect the natural and historic resources by providing the opportunity for more creative approaches in the development of land.
    • (2) Encourage a more efficient, aesthetic and desirable use of land for recreation, conservation and open space uses.
    • (3) Encourage and promote variety in the physical development of land use in the Town of Westerly.
    • (4) Allow for efficient provision and effective use of physical improvement and municipal services relative to land use development.
  • C. Standards and requirement for PD Districts.
    • (1) The following provisions shall apply in a PD District, which district shall also be subject to other provisions of this chapter, except that where a conflict in regulations occurs, the regulations specified in this section shall apply.
      • (a) No PD District shall be established or plans reviewed by the Planning Board unless and until there is on file with the Town written consent of every property owner within such district at the time of the establishment of the district agreeing that the applicant shall be bound by the conditions and regulations proposed and which will be effective within the district.
      • (b) Requirements for area, coverage, density, yard requirements, parking and screening for PD Districts shall be governed by the standards in Table 1 of this section. Exceptions to these standards by the Planning Board and Town Council are possible when these bodies find that such exceptions are warranted in terms of total proposed development or unit thereof.
      • (c) The purpose of these regulations is to encourage the effective and timely development of land in accordance with the objectives and policies of the Comprehensive Plan; to assure suitable design in order to protect the property values and the residential environment of adjacent neighborhoods; and to minimize traffic congestion on the public streets and to deter undesirable strip commercial development. The Town Council may apply such special conditions and stipulations to any PD approval as it may, in its opinion, deem necessary to maintain harmony with neighboring uses and promote the objectives and purposes of the Comprehensive Plan and this Zoning Ordinance.
      • (d) Permitted accessory buildings, structures and uses. The following accessory buildings, structures, and uses may be permitted as part of the PD approval.
        • [1] Off-street parking and loading, including parking structures, subject to the provisions of § 260-77.
        • [2] Any accessory building, structure or use customarily incidental and directly related to the operation of the principal use.
        • [3] Signs, subject to the provisions of § 260-86.
        • [4] The outside storage of goods or materials, provided that no goods or materials shall be stored within any required yards and that landscaping and screening is provided and approved in the development plan review process.
        • [5] All PDs shall conform to off-street parking, off-street loading, lighting, signs and other regulations of the Zoning Ordinance unless modified by the approval.
      • (e) Drawings must be submitted that show that the relationship of interior and exterior environment is desirable and just as desirable as the strict requirements of this chapter.
      • (f) The following regulations regarding utilities shall govern all PD Districts:
        • [1] All buildings in the PD District shall be served by either a public sanitary sewer or individual septic system. If a building is to be served by an individual septic system, no building permit for such building shall be issued until approval for the individual septic system is obtained from the RIDEM. Public sanitary sewers shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Chapter A261, Land Development and Subdivision Regulations, and any other applicable requirements or conditions imposed.
        • [2] All buildings in the PD District shall be served by a public water system with such additional lines as are necessary and shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Chapter A261, Land Development and Subdivision Regulations, and any other applicable requirements or conditions imposed.
        • [3] All other utilities shall be underground and shall be in accordance with Chapter A261, Land Development and Subdivision Regulations.
        • [4] Where public or private utilities serve a planned development with private roads, easements shall be provided to the appropriate utilities.
      • (g) Ownership and maintenance of water and sewer facilities must be arranged to the satisfaction of the Town prior to final approval of a PD District.
      • (h) All areas proposed for dedication to the Town under the planned development (PD) approach must be acceptable as to shape, size and location, as required by the Planning Board.
      • (i) Public utility and other similar easements cannot be used for a space exchange under the planned development approach.
      • (j) Any planned development which includes the proposal to dedicate to the Town land for park and open space used under the planned development approach, must include by dedication or by other reasonable means, the total park area, at the time of filing of final map on all, or any portion of the tract.
    • (2) Regulations for Planned Resort Facilities Development (PRFD).
      • (a) Purpose. The Planned Resort Facilities Development Zoning District is intended to provide for coherent development for resort development and recreational use to assure the necessary supporting infrastructure, and to promote opportunities for expanding the Town's economy.
      • (b) Permitted uses. The following principal uses shall be permitted as part of the PRFD approval:
        • [1] Hotel.
        • [2] Motels.
        • [3] Convention centers.
        • [4] Inns.
        • [5] Associated facilities.
          • [a] Health clubs.
          • [b] Swimming pools.
          • [c] Golf/Driving range.
          • [d] Tennis court.
          • [e] Riding trails/stables.
          • [f] Performance halls.
      • (c) Special conditions.
        • [1] Planned resort developments shall be consistent with the Town Comprehensive Plan, shall not have less than 80 acres, shall require public water, and in the event ISDS pretreatment of effluent is not provided for, public sewer shall also be required.
        • [2] A planned resort area shall not be developed on any site under the jurisdiction of the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC). All structures within a planned resort area shall be located as far as practicable from the property boundaries, while golf courses, fitness or bicycle trails may be located at the limit of the buffer. The architectural design of such a planned resort area shall conform to the character of the architecture of the area where it is to be located. The minimum buffer areas provided hereinafter may be increased in relation to the intensity of the development of the site.
      • (d) Area and dimensional requirements.
        • [1] Minimum lot area: 80 acres.
        • [2] Minimum lot frontage and width: 150 feet.
        • [3] Minimum front yard: 125 feet. Yards abutting a residential zone shall be a vegetated, landscaped buffer area.
        • [4] Minimum side yard: 125 feet. Yards abutting a residential zone shall be a vegetated, landscaped buffer area.
        • [5] Minimum rear yard: 125 feet. Yards abutting a residential zone shall be a vegetated, landscaped buffer area.
        • [6] Maximum building height: 35 feet.
        • [7] Maximum lot coverage: 60%.
        • [8] Landscape open space percentage: 15%.