Browse another municipality →
Westerly
Town of Westerly Zoning Ordinance
Read in full Download
§ 260-87.6

Development standards for Shore Commercial - Watch Hill (SC-WH)

[Added 10-30-2006 by Ch. No. 1589]

  • A. Purpose; exceptions.

    [Amended 6-28-2017 by Ch. No. 1892; 10-26-2020 by Ch. No. 1997]

    • (1) The entire area of the Shore Commercial - Watch Hill Zoning District is within the Watch Hill Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Essential to the preservation of this district is that those existing structures that define the historic character of the district be preserved and that any new construction be compatible with the existing architecture within this neighborhood. This section provides specific development plan review criteria for the Planning Board to ensure that the unique physical character of the Shore Commercial - Watch Hill District (District) is retained, while allowing for beneficial enhancements and redevelopment to occur. In general, the existing scale and proportions of buildings and the overall architectural character of the streetscape shall be preserved along Bay Street.
    • (2) Periodic maintenance and repair of buildings with replacement of in-kind building materials does not require development plan review. All modifications to the exterior of buildings, except such replacement, in-kind of building materials, requires development plan review. Nothing herein shall be deemed to reduce the authority of the Planning Board to waive development plan review and waive and/or modify requirements pursuant to R.I.G.L. 45-23-62.
  • B. Development plan review by the Planning Board shall be regulated by the following standards in conjunction with those contained in § 260-45F:

    [Amended 10-26-2020 by Ch. No. 1997]

    • (1) The uniformity of the building heights, gable orientations, roof pitch, massing and bulk visible from Bay Street shall be used to guide construction of new buildings and additions to existing structures. New buildings shall be designed with traditional roof forms that are compatible with the character of the District.
    • (2) Architectural elements such as dormers and roof gables shall be in proportion to the overall building and shall also be in keeping with the surrounding building context. Exaggerated or excessively large (or tiny) architectural elements shall be avoided. Limitation of a second-story footprint to less than the first-floor footprint of any existing building is not intended by this subsection.
    • (3) The uniform rhythm or sequencing and design of architectural features, including, but not limited to, windows, bays, entryways and doors, storefronts, arcade columns and gables along Bay Street shall be replicated in any new building or retained in any existing building thereon.
    • (4) Traditional exterior building materials, such as wooden shingles or clapboards, "Hardiplank" or similar product, shall be used for building siding.
    • (5) Structures which have been determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be contributing to the historical significance of the District shall be reused whenever possible rather than demolished. Demolition of such buildings shall be permitted when the property owner demonstrates there is no reasonable and feasible alternative to demolition. In the event of demolition, it is preferred that such structures be replicated or reconstructed on their original building footprint and the design be substantiated by historical documentation, including pictorial and written descriptions or archived plans and elevation drawings.
    • (6) New construction shall be of pedestrian-scale, directly fronting the street with covered sidewalk arcades, unless otherwise governed by setback requirements of this chapter. Structures set behind expanses of asphalt or other impervious parking surfaces are prohibited. New construction shall be articulated with building hyphens, other architectural features, and roofline breaks and gables employed to scale-down building mass to match existing surrounding buildings.
    • (7) Long first-floor arcades projecting to public sidewalks shall be incorporated where appropriate in any new design, with arcade width, street-to-arcade setback and sidewalk width matching existing configuration on the street. Arcade roofs shall not be entirely recessed within the building fabric or building mass. The uniformity of existing covered sidewalk arcades, with galleries, decks and porches above, shall guide new construction.
    • (8) In addition to requirements and standards for signage in § 260-86, no freestanding signs shall be permitted.
    • (9) All awnings shall be covered with canvas. Backlit awnings and those displaying logos and/or signs shall be prohibited.
    • (10) Exterior lighting fixtures shall be shielded and directed toward the building or the ground. Electrical conduit and junction boxes shall be located so as to minimize or, if possible, eliminate their visibility from the public. Security devices shall not negatively impact the architectural character of the building and streetscape. Satellite dishes are not permitted on the street side of any structure, nor are they to be visible from Bay Street.
    • (11) HVAC mechanical devices shall not be visible from the street. Such devices may be screened with architectural elements or vegetation where appropriate.
    • (12) The Planning Board may allow historical features which previously existed to be replicated, provided that such elements are substantiated by historical documentation, including pictorial and written descriptions or archived plans and elevation drawings, and such elements are in general compliance with the Zoning Ordinance dimensional requirements.
    • (13) Visually and historically significant landscape features, such as stone walls, fences, curbing treatments, sidewalks (and their width) and the like, shall be preserved whenever possible or replaced in-kind. New features shall be designed to complement and enhance existing features. All new landscaping shall use low-growing material or species hardy to the area. Fixed streetscape features, such as lighting standards and benches, shall be of a consistent and traditional design type which will complement the architecture of the area. Landscaping shall be required to minimize the visual input of any bottomless sand filter or other components of individual septic disposal systems.
    • (14) In new building construction the following character-generating features of Bay Street are encouraged:
      • (a) Natural wood roof shingles or dark-colored architectural grade roof shingles.
      • (b) Substantially proportioned window and building trim, white in color.
      • (c) White deck rail systems with a silhouette (size and detail) consistent with Building Code requirements and with those generally along Bay Street.
      • (d) Arcade lighting mounted on the interior face of the arcade sidewalk column located just below the arcade soffit.
      • (e) Signage using black background with gold letters, which is a Watch Hill Business Village tradition.
      • (f) Generous use of multipaned glazing patterns, which are true divided lights or window grids that are applied to the exterior of the window and have the appearance of such true divided lights.
    • (15) In all construction, synthetic materials or substitutes may be used subject to Planning Board approval; samples of all such materials shall be submitted to the Planning Board as part of the review process.
    • (16) The property of Gail Forbes, described as Assessor's Plat 179, Lot 85, shall be determined not to be contributing to the historical significance of the Watch Hill Historic District as defined by the Secretary of the Interior.
    • (17) An enclosed stairway and elevator for providing handicap access to a rooftop deck over residential unit(s) shall be permitted, provided that it is no higher than necessary to achieve such access.
    • (18) The Planning Board may hire an historical consultant, at the applicant's expense, to review the project for purposes of identifying impacts to the property which can reasonably be expected to diminish or destroy its historical qualities and to provide a recommendation to the Planning Board.
  • C. In addition to the above standards, the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation (36 CFR 67.7), as existing on the date of the passage of this section, shall be used as general design guidance for proposed alterations to the exterior of existing buildings that have been determined to contribute to the historic significance of the National Register Historic District. These widely accepted national preservation standards help define the character and features of historic buildings and provide "best practices" for preserving and enhancing the integrity of these features in rehabilitation of such buildings.
  • D. Compliance with the above standards, incorporation of recommended character-generating features and compliance with the dimensional regulations of this chapter shall demonstrate substantial architectural compatibility with neighboring properties.