2014 -- H 7700 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - ZONING ORDINANCES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives DeSimone, Shekarchi, Slater, Ucci, and Palumbo

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 45-24-57 and 45-24-61 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-24

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entitled "Zoning Ordinances" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     45-24-57. Administration -- Powers and duties of zoning board of review. -- A zoning

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ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter shall provide that the zoning board of review shall:

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      (1) Have the following powers and duties:

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      (i) To hear and decide appeals in a timely fashion within sixty-five (65) days of the date

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of the filing of the appeal where it is alleged there is an error in any order, requirement, decision,

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or determination made by an administrative officer or agency in the enforcement or interpretation

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of this chapter, or of any ordinance adopted pursuant hereto;

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      (ii) To hear and decide appeals from a party aggrieved by a decision of an historic

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district commission, pursuant to sections 45-24.1-7.1 and 45-24.1-7.2;

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      (iii) To hear and decide appeals where the zoning board of review is appointed as the

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board of appeals for airport zoning regulations, pursuant to section 1-3-19;

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      (iv) To authorize, upon application, in specific cases of hardship, variances in the

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application of the terms of the zoning ordinance, pursuant to section 45-24-41;

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      (v) To authorize, upon application, in specific cases, special-use permits, pursuant to

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section 45-24-42, where the zoning board of review is designated as a permit authority for

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special-use permits;

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      (vi) To refer matters to the planning board or commission, or to other boards or agencies

 

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of the city or town as the zoning board of review may deem appropriate, for findings and

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recommendations;

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      (vii) To provide for the issuance of conditional zoning approvals where a proposed

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application would otherwise be approved except that one or more state or federal agency

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approvals which are necessary are pending. A conditional zoning approval shall be revoked in the

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instance where any necessary state or federal agency approvals are not received within a specified

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time period; and

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      (viii) To hear and decide other matters, according to the terms of the ordinance or other

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statutes, and upon which the board may be authorized to pass under the ordinance or other

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statutes; and

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      (2) Be required to vote as follows:

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      (i) Five (5) active members are necessary to conduct a hearing. As soon as a conflict

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occurs for a member, that member shall recuse himself or herself, shall not sit as an active

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member, and shall take no part in the conduct of the hearing. Only five (5) active members are

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entitled to vote on any issue;

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      (ii) The concurring vote of three (3) of the five (5) members of the zoning board of

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review sitting at a hearing are necessary to reverse any order, requirement, decision, or

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determination of any zoning administrative officer from whom an appeal was taken; and

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      (iii) The concurring vote of four (4) of the five (5) members of the zoning board of

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review sitting at a hearing are required to decide in favor of an applicant on any matter within the

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discretion of the board upon which it is required to pass under the ordinance, including variances

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and special-use permits.

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     45-24-61. Administration -- Decisions and records of zoning board of review. -- (a)

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Following a public hearing, the zoning board of review shall render a decision within a

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reasonable period of time fifteen (15) days. The zoning board of review shall include in its

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decision all findings of fact and conditions, showing the vote of each participating member, and

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the absence of a member or his or her failure to vote. Decisions shall be recorded and filed in the

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office of the city or town clerk within thirty (30) fifteen (15) working days from the date when the

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decision was rendered, and is a public record. The zoning board of review shall keep written

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minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, or, if absent or

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failing to vote, indicating that fact, and shall keep records of its examinations, findings of fact,

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and other official actions, all of which shall be recorded and filed in the office of the zoning board

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of review in an expeditious manner upon completion of the proceeding. For any proceeding in

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which the right of appeal lies to the superior or supreme court, the zoning board of review shall

 

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have the minutes taken either by a competent stenographer or recorded by a sound-recording

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device.

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      (b) Any decision by the zoning board of review, including any special conditions

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attached to the decision, shall be mailed to the applicant and to the zoning enforcement officer of

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the city or town. Any decision evidencing the granting of a variance, modification, or special use

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shall also be recorded in the land evidence records of the city or town.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - ZONING ORDINANCES

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     This act would establish a sixty-five (65) day time period from the date of filing an

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appeal with a zoning board of review to hear and decide appeals. It would also require a zoning

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board of review to render a decision within fifteen (15) days after the public hearing and to record

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and file its decision in the city or town clerk's office within fifteen (15) working days from the

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date the decision is rendered.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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