Establishment of Zoning Districts
In order to accomplish these ends, the following zoning districts are hereby established for Woonsocket.
2.1-1 Residential Districts.
2.1-1.1 R-1. Very Low Density Single-family Residential District, but including customary incidental home occupations, public and semi-public uses. A minimum of twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet is required per lot.
2.1-1.2 R-2. Low Density Single-family Residential District, but including customary incidental home occupations, public and semi-public uses. A minimum of ten thousand (10,000) square feet is required per lot.
2.1-1.3 R-3. Medium Density Single- and Two-family Residential District, but including customary incidental home occupations, public and semipublic uses. A minimum of seven thousand (7,000) square feet is required for a single-family dwelling, nine thousand (9,000) square feet required for a two-family dwelling.
2.1-1.4 R-4. High Density Single- and Multifamily Residential District, but including customary incidental home occupations, public, semi-public and transient residential uses. A minimum of six thousand (6,000) square feet is required for a single-family dwelling, plus four thousand (4,000) square feet for each additional unit on the same lot.
2.1-2 Commercial Districts.
2.1-2.1 C-1. Urban Commercial District, primarily for the conduct of retail trade, administrative and professional services, and service to the general public. Also permits upper story residential use. A minimum of six thousand (6,000) square feet is required per lot.
2.1-2.2 C-2. Major Commercial District, primarily for the conduct of major retail trade and services to the general public. A minimum of six thousand (6,000) square feet is required per lot.
2.1-3 Mixed-Use Districts.
2.1-3.1 MU-I. Mixed Use Commercial/Residential District, primarily for the purpose of providing day-to-day convenient shopping needs, administrative and professional services, with an emphasis on daily necessities for the immediate residential area, provided that the gross floor area of each establishment shall not exceed three thousand (3,000) square feet, except supermarkets and the lot coverage shall not exceed thirty (30) percent. Minimum required lot area for both residential and nonresidential uses shall be six thousand (6,000) square feet for the first residential or nonresidential unit, plus four thousand (4,000) square feet for each additional residential or nonresidential unit on the same lot, with a maximum possible density of ten (10) dwelling units per acre.
2.1-3.2 MU-2. Mixed Use Industrial/Commercial District, primarily for the conduct of manufacturing and other industrial uses which do not involve excessive smoke, odor, or noise; and/or the conduct of retail trade, administrative and professional services and service to the general public. Also permits accessory residential uses limited to persons conducting primary industrial or commercial uses. A minimum of six thousand (6,000) square feet is required per lot.
(Ch. No. 6585, Sec. 1,4-5-99)
2.1-4 Industrial Districts.
2.1-4.1 I-1. Light Industrial District, primarily for the conduct of manufacturing and other industrial uses which do not involve excessive smoke, odor, or noise. A minimum of six thousand (6,000) square feet is required per lot.
2.1-4.2 I-2. Heavy Industrial District, primarily for the conduct of manufacturing, assembling and fabricating where any resultant noise, odor, vibration, or fumes shall be contained within the limits of the district in which the cause is located. A minimum of six thousand (6,000) square feet is required per lot.
2.1-5 Public Recreation Districts.
2.1-5.1 PR-1. Active Public Recreation District, for the preservation and enhancement of those areas within the city which are best suited for structured, active recreational activities, with or without accessory facilities. No minimum lot size is required.
2.1-5.2 PR-2. Passive Public Recreation District, for the conservation and protection the natural state of designated areas to provide opportunities for walking, hiking, observation and other passive recreational activities, and to provide a category of land held in perpetuity to ensure that the present and future residents of the city shall enjoy the benefits of the natural environment. No minimum lot size is required.
2.1-6 Overlay Districts.
2.1-6.1 Design Review Overlay District. Established to regulate the design of new and existing commercial or mixed-use buildings, structures, improvements, and facilities with regard to assessing the impacts of predominantly commercial development on the surrounding community with regard to issues of health and safety, visual and architectural quality and long-term planning strategies.
2.1-6.2 Planned Residential Development Overlay District. Established to permit the flexible development of large tracts of residentially zoned land in order to encourage harmonious, efficient and convenient living environments and communities; to increase housing opportunities by increasing the variety of residential types, density and design; to facilitate the economical and efficient provision of necessary community services, recreation and open space; to preserve features and sites of natural, ecological and historical interest; to encourage innovative residential designs; and to promote the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Woonsocket.
2.1-6.3 River Corridor Overlay District. Established to regulate the development and use of land, buildings, structures, improvements and facilities in proximity to the Blackstone River, with regard to assessing the impacts of development on the river environment with regard to issues of health and safety, environmental protection, public access, visual and architectural quality and long-term planning strategies.
2.1-6.4 Special Flood Hazard Overlay District. Established to restrict development and use of land, buildings and structures within areas prone to flood damage or destruction.
2.1-6.5. Downtown Overlay District. Established to regulate the development and use of land, buildings, improvements and facilities in the Main Street area; allow additional permitted uses that encourage further growth and concentration of art, cultural and entertainment attractions; promote the use of vacant and underutilized properties; and encourage a walkable vibrant environment”.
2.1-6.6. Downtown Overlay District Boundaries. The Woonsocket Downtown Overlay District includes the following assessor’s lots and/or and modifications, combinations or divisions of those lots which may transpire in the future:
Assessor’s Plat 13; lots 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 102, 104, 171, 172, 191, 268, 289, 294 & 295.
Assessor’s Plat 14; lots 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 118, 119, 120, 121, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 138, 139, 140, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 160, 161, 163, 165, 166, 169, 170, 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 177. 178, 180, 184, 185, 186, 205, 206, 207, 208, 211, 212, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 220, 221, 223, 224, 225, 227, 228, 229, 230, 253, 259, 261, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 284, 286, 288, 289, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 308, 315, 316, 321, 326, 329, 330, 331, 335, 336, 341, 342, 345, 353, 354, 355, 362, 363, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 375, 376, 377, 380, 382, 383, 387, 388, 390, 394, 395, 397, 398, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 418, 420, 421, 422, 423, 425, 427, 428, 430, 432.
Assessor’s Plat 15, lots 13, 15, 16, 61, 201, 216, 221, 222, 224, 231, 235 & 236.
2.1.6-7 Historic Structures Floating Overlay District. Established to regular the development and use of land, buildings, improvements and facilities associated with historic buildings, structures and sites to allow additional permitted uses that encourage the presentation and redevelopment of historic structures in the City of Woonsocket: and further relaxes uses and dimensional restrictions which are deemed as impediments to successful and reasonable redevelopment and preservation and to further permit the flexible development of surplus properties owned or formerly' owned by municipal state or federal governments or their instrumentalities in order to:
1.) encourage harmonious, efficient and convenient living environments and communities;
2.) increase housing opportunities and economic development prospects by increasing the variety of residential commercial or industrial types, density and design:
3.) facilitate the economical and efficient provision of necessary community services, recreation and open space;
4.) preserve features and sites of natural, ecological and historical interest:
5.) encourage innovative design: and
6.) promote the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Woonsocket.
(Ch. 7857, 12-07-2015; Ch. 8133, 10-7-2019)