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City of Woonsocket
City of Woonsocket Zoning Ordinance
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§ 6.17

Adaptive Reuse

 

6.17-1 Permitted Use. Adaptive reuse for the conversion of any commercial or industrial building, including offices, mills, schools, religious facilities, medical building, and malls into residential units or mixed use developments shall be a permitted use if at least ffty percent (50%) of the existing gross floor area is developed into residential units, there are no environmental land use restrictions recorded on the property by the state of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management or the United States Environmental Protection Agency preventing the conversion to residential use, and subject to the other provisions of this Section.

(Ch. 8558, Sec. 1, 3-3-2025)

 

6.17-2. The adaptive reuse development shall provide at a minimum one (1) parking space per dwelling unit.

 

6.17-3 Density.

 

6.17-3.1 For projects that meet the following criteria, the adaptive reuse development shall be permitted a residential density of fifteen (15) dwelling units per acre:

 

  • (1)   Where the project is limited to the existing footprint, except that the footprint is allowed to be expanded to accommodate upgrades related to the building and fire codes and utilities; and;
  • (2)   The development includes at least twenty percent (20%) low- and moderate-income housing; and
  • (3)   The development has access to public sewer and water service or has access to adequate private water, such as a well and and/or wastewater treatment system(s) approved by the relevant state agency for the entire development as applicable.

 

6.17-3.2. For all other adaptive reuse projects, the residential density permitted in the converted structure shall be the maximum allowed that otherwise meets all standards of minimum housing and has access to public sewer and water service of has access o adequate private water, such as a well, and wastewater treatment system(s) approved by the relevant state agency for the entire development as applicable. The density proposed shall be determined to meet all public health and safety standards.

 

6.17-4. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Ordinance for adaptive reuse projects, existing building setbacks shall remain and shall be considered legal nonconforming but no additional encroachments shall be permitted into any nonconforming setback unless otherwise allowed by this Ordinance of relief is granted by the permitting authority.

 

6.17-5. For adaptive reuse projects, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Ordinance, the height of the existing structure, if it exceeds the maximum height of the zoning district, may remain and shall be considered legal nonconforming, and any rooftop construction shall be included within the height exemption. An adaptive reuse development shall not otherwise increase the height of the existing structure.

(Ch. 8558, Sec. 1, 3-3-2025)