2018 -- S 2751 | |
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LC005328 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - SUBDIVISION OF LAND | |
| |
Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, and Algiere | |
Date Introduced: March 27, 2018 | |
Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government | |
(by request) | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Sections 45-23-32, 45-23-38, 45-23-40, 45-23-41 and 45-23-43 of the |
2 | General Laws in Chapter 45-23 entitled "Subdivision of Land" are hereby amended to read as |
3 | follows: |
4 | 45-23-32. Definitions. |
5 | Where words or phrases used in this chapter are defined in the definitions section of |
6 | either the Rhode Island Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Regulation Act, § 45-22.2-4, or |
7 | the Rhode Island Zoning Enabling Act of 1991, § 45-24-31, they have the meanings stated in |
8 | those acts. Additional words and phrases may be defined in local ordinances, regulations and |
9 | rules under this act. The words and phrases defined in this section, however, shall be controlling |
10 | in all local ordinances, regulations, and rules created under this chapter. See also § 45-23-34. In |
11 | addition, the following words and phrases have the following meanings: |
12 | (1) Administrative officer. The municipal official designated by the local regulations to |
13 | administer the land development and subdivision regulations and to coordinate with local boards |
14 | and commissions, municipal staff and state agencies. The administrative officer may be a member |
15 | of, or the chair, of the planning board, or an appointed official of the municipality. See § 45-23- |
16 | 55. |
17 | (2) Administrative subdivision. Re-subdivision of existing lots which yields no additional |
18 | lots for development, and involves no creation or extension of streets. The re-subdivision only |
19 | involves divisions, mergers, mergers and division, or adjustments of boundaries of existing lots. |
| |
1 | (3) Board of appeal. The local review authority for appeals of actions of the |
2 | administrative officer and the planning board on matters of land development or subdivision, |
3 | which shall be the local zoning board of review constituted as the board of appeal. See § 45-23- |
4 | 57. |
5 | (4) Bond. See improvement guarantee. |
6 | (5) Buildable lot. A lot where construction for the use(s) permitted on the site under the |
7 | local zoning ordinance is considered practicable by the planning board, considering the physical |
8 | constraints to development of the site as well as the requirements of the pertinent federal, state |
9 | and local regulations. See § 45-23-60(4). |
10 | (6) Certificate of completeness. A notice issued by the administrative officer informing |
11 | an applicant that the application is complete and meets the requirements of the municipality's |
12 | regulations, and that the applicant may proceed with the approval process. |
13 | (7) Concept plan. A drawing with accompanying information showing the basic elements |
14 | of a proposed land development plan or subdivision as used for pre-application meetings and |
15 | early discussions, and classification of the project within the approval process. |
16 | (8) Consistency with the comprehensive plan. A requirement of all local land use |
17 | regulations which means that all these regulations and subsequent actions are in accordance with |
18 | the public policies arrived at through detailed study and analysis and adopted by the municipality |
19 | as the comprehensive community plan as specified in § 45-22.2-3. |
20 | (9) Dedication, fee-in-lieu-of. Payments of cash which are authorized in the local |
21 | regulations when requirements for mandatory dedication of land are not met because of physical |
22 | conditions of the site or other reasons. The conditions under which the payments will be allowed |
23 | and all formulas for calculating the amount shall be specified in advance in the local regulations. |
24 | See § 45-23-47. |
25 | (10) Development regulation. Zoning, subdivision, land development plan, development |
26 | plan review, historic district, official map, flood plain regulation, soil erosion control or any other |
27 | governmental regulation of the use and development of land. |
28 | (11) Division of land. A subdivision. |
29 | (12) Environmental constraints. Natural features, resources, or land characteristics that |
30 | are sensitive to change and may require conservation measures or the application of special |
31 | development techniques to prevent degradation of the site, or may require limited development, |
32 | or in certain instances, may preclude development. See also physical constraints to development. |
33 | (13) Final plan. The final stage of land development and subdivision review. See § 45-23- |
34 | 43. |
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1 | (14) Final plat. The final drawing(s) of all or a portion of a subdivision to be recorded |
2 | after approval by the planning board and any accompanying material as described in the |
3 | community's regulations and/or required by the planning board. |
4 | (15) Floor area, gross. See R.I. State Building Code. |
5 | (16) Governing body. The body of the local government, generally the city or town |
6 | council, having the power to adopt ordinances, accept public dedications, release public |
7 | improvement guarantees, and collect fees. |
8 | (17) Improvement. Any natural or built item which becomes part of, is placed upon, or is |
9 | affixed to, real estate. |
10 | (18) Improvement guarantee. A security instrument accepted by a municipality to ensure |
11 | that all improvements, facilities, or work required by the land development and subdivision |
12 | regulations, or required by the municipality as a condition of approval, will be completed in |
13 | compliance with the approved plans and specifications of a development. See § 45-23-46. |
14 | (19) Local regulations. The land development and subdivision review regulations adopted |
15 | under the provisions of this act. For purposes of clarification, throughout this act, where reference |
16 | is made to local regulations, it is be understood as the land development and subdivision review |
17 | regulations and all related ordinances and rules properly adopted pursuant to this chapter. |
18 | (20) Maintenance guarantee. Any security instrument which may be required and |
19 | accepted by a municipality to ensure that necessary improvements will function as required for a |
20 | specific period of time. See improvement guarantee. |
21 | (21) Major land development plan. Any land development plan not classified as a minor |
22 | land development plan. |
23 | (22) Major subdivision. Any subdivision not classified as either an administrative |
24 | subdivision or a minor subdivision. |
25 | (23) Master plan. An overall plan for a proposed project site outlining general, rather than |
26 | detailed, development intentions. It describes the basic parameters of a major development |
27 | proposal, rather than giving full engineering details. Required in major land development or |
28 | major subdivision review. See § 45-23-40. |
29 | (24) Minor land development plan. A development plan for a residential project as |
30 | defined in local regulations, provided that the development does not require waivers or |
31 | modifications as specified in this act. All nonresidential land development projects are considered |
32 | major land development plans. |
33 | (25) Minor subdivision. A plan for a subdivision of land consisting of five (5) or fewer |
34 | units or lots, provided that the subdivision does not require waivers or modifications as specified |
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1 | in this chapter. |
2 | (26) Modification of requirements. See § 45-23-62. |
3 | (27) Parcel. A lot, or contiguous group of lots in single ownership or under single control, |
4 | and usually considered a unit for purposes of development. Also referred to as a tract. |
5 | (28) Parking area or lot. All that portion of a development that is used by vehicles, the |
6 | total area used for vehicular access, circulation, parking, loading and unloading. |
7 | (29) Permitting authority. The local agency of government specifically empowered by |
8 | state enabling law and local ordinance to hear and decide on specific matters pertaining to local |
9 | land use. |
10 | (30) Phased development. Development, usually for large-scale projects, where |
11 | construction of public and/or private improvements proceeds by sections subsequent to approval |
12 | of a master plan for the entire site. See § 45-23-48. |
13 | (31) Physical constraints to development. Characteristics of a site or area, either natural |
14 | or man-made, which present significant difficulties to construction of the uses permitted on that |
15 | site, or would require extraordinary construction methods. See also environmental constraints. |
16 | (32) Planning board. The official planning agency of a municipality, whether designated |
17 | as the plan commission, planning commission, plan board, or as otherwise known. |
18 | (33) Plat. A drawing or drawings of a land development or subdivision plan showing the |
19 | location, boundaries, and lot lines of individual properties, as well as other necessary information |
20 | as specified in the local regulations. |
21 | (34) Pre-application conference. An initial meeting between developers and municipal |
22 | representatives which affords developers the opportunity to present their proposals informally and |
23 | to receive comments and directions from the municipal officials and others. See § 45-23-35. |
24 | (35) Preliminary plan. The required stage of land development and subdivision review |
25 | which requires detailed engineered drawings and all required state and federal permits. See § 45- |
26 | 23-41. |
27 | (36) Public improvement. Any street or other roadway, sidewalk, pedestrian way, tree, |
28 | lawn, off-street parking area, drainage feature, or other facility for which the local government or |
29 | other governmental entity either is presently responsible, or will ultimately assume the |
30 | responsibility for maintenance and operation upon municipal acceptance. |
31 | (37) Public informational meeting. A meeting of the planning board or governing body |
32 | preceded by a notice, open to the public and at which the public is heard. |
33 | (38) Re-subdivision. Any change of an approved or recorded subdivision plat or in a lot |
34 | recorded in the municipal land evidence records, or that affects the lot lines of any areas reserved |
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1 | for public use, or that affects any map or plan legally recorded prior to the adoption of the local |
2 | land development and subdivision regulations. For the purposes of this act any action constitutes |
3 | a subdivision. |
4 | (39) Slope of land. The grade, pitch, rise or incline of the topographic landform or surface |
5 | of the ground. |
6 | (40) Storm water detention. A provision for storage of storm water runoff and the |
7 | controlled release of the runoff during and after a flood or storm. |
8 | (41) Storm water retention. A provision for storage of storm water runoff. |
9 | (42) Street. A public or private thoroughfare used, or intended to be used, for passage or |
10 | travel by motor vehicles. Streets are further classified by the functions they perform. See street |
11 | classification. |
12 | (43) Street, access to. An adequate and permanent way of entering a lot. All lots of record |
13 | shall have access to a public street for all vehicles normally associated with the uses permitted for |
14 | that lot. |
15 | (44) Street, alley. A public or private thoroughfare primarily designed to serve as |
16 | secondary access to the side or rear of those properties whose principal frontage is on some other |
17 | street. |
18 | (45) Street, cul-de-sac. A local street with only one outlet and having an appropriate |
19 | vehicular turnaround, either temporary or permanent, at the closed end. |
20 | (46) Street, limited access highway. A freeway or expressway providing for through |
21 | traffic. Owners or occupants of abutting property on lands and other persons have no legal right |
22 | to access, except at the points and in the manner as may be determined by the public authority |
23 | having jurisdiction over the highway. |
24 | (47) Street, private. A thoroughfare established as a separate tract for the benefit of |
25 | multiple, adjacent properties and meeting specific, municipal improvement standards. This |
26 | definition does not apply to driveways. |
27 | (48) Street, public. All public property reserved or dedicated for street traffic. |
28 | (49) Street, stub. A portion of a street reserved to provide access to future development, |
29 | which may provide for utility connections. |
30 | (50) Street classification. A method of roadway organization which identifies a street |
31 | hierarchy according to function within a road system, that is, types of vehicles served and |
32 | anticipated volumes, for the purposes of promoting safety, efficient land use and the design |
33 | character of neighborhoods and districts. Local classifications use the following as major |
34 | categories: |
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1 | (a) Arterial. A major street that serves as an avenue for the circulation of traffic into, out |
2 | of, or around the municipality and carries high volumes of traffic. |
3 | (b) Collector. A street whose principal function is to carry traffic between local streets |
4 | and arterial streets but that may also provide direct access to abutting properties. |
5 | (c) Local. Streets whose primary function is to provide access to abutting properties. |
6 | (51) Subdivider. Any person who (1) having an interest in land, causes it, directly or |
7 | indirectly, to be divided into a subdivision or who (2) directly or indirectly sells, leases, or |
8 | develops, or offers to sell, lease, or develop, or advertises to sell, lease, or develop, any interest, |
9 | lot, parcel, site, unit, or plat in a subdivision, or who (3) engages directly or through an agent in |
10 | the business of selling, leasing, developing, or offering for sale, lease, or development a |
11 | subdivision or any interest, lot, parcel, site, unit, or plat in a subdivision. |
12 | (52) Subdivision. The division or re-division, of a lot, tract or parcel of land into two or |
13 | more lots, tracts, or parcels. Any adjustment to existing lot lines of a recorded lot by any means is |
14 | considered a subdivision. All re-subdivision activity is considered a subdivision. The division of |
15 | property for purposes of financing constitutes a subdivision. |
16 | (53) Technical review committee. A committee appointed by the planning board for the |
17 | purpose of reviewing, commenting, and making recommendations to the planning board with |
18 | respect to approval of land development and subdivision applications. |
19 | (54) Temporary improvement. Improvements built and maintained by a developer during |
20 | construction of a development project and prior to release of the improvement guarantee, but not |
21 | intended to be permanent. |
22 | (55) Vested rights. The right to initiate or continue the development of an approved |
23 | project for a specified period of time, under the regulations that were in effect at the time of |
24 | approval, even if, after the approval, the regulations change prior to the completion of the project. |
25 | (56) Waiver of requirements. See § 45-23-62. |
26 | 45-23-38. General provisions -- Minor land development and minor subdivision |
27 | review. |
28 | (a) Review stages. Minor plan review consists of two (2) stages, preliminary and final; |
29 | provided, that if a street creation or extension is involved, or a request for variances and/or |
30 | special-use permits are submitted, pursuant to the regulation's unified development review |
31 | provisions, a public hearing is required. The planning board may combine the approval stages, |
32 | providing requirements for both stages are met by the applicant to the satisfaction of the planning |
33 | officials. |
34 | (b) Submission requirements. Any applicant requesting approval of a proposed, minor |
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1 | subdivision or minor land development, as defined in this chapter, shall submit to the |
2 | administrative officer the items required by the local regulations. Requests for relief from the |
3 | literal requirements of the zoning ordinance and/or for the issuance of special-use permits related |
4 | to minor subdivisions and/or minor land-development projects that are submitted under a zoning |
5 | ordinance's unified development review provisions shall be included as part of the preliminary |
6 | plan application, pursuant to § 45-23-50.1(b). |
7 | (c) Certification. The application shall be certified, in writing, complete or incomplete by |
8 | the administrative officer within twenty-five (25) days or within fifteen (15) days if no street |
9 | creation or extension is required, and/or unified development review is not requested, according |
10 | to the provisions of § 45-23-36(b). The running of the time period set forth in this section will be |
11 | deemed stopped upon the issuance of a certificate of incompleteness of the application by the |
12 | administrative officer and will recommence upon the resubmission of a corrected application by |
13 | the applicant. However, in no event will the administrative officer be required to certify a |
14 | corrected submission as complete or incomplete less than fourteen (14) ten (10) days after its |
15 | resubmission. |
16 | (d) Technical review committee. The technical review committee, if established, will |
17 | review the application and will comment and make recommendations to the planning board. The |
18 | application will be referred to the planning board as a whole if there is no technical review |
19 | committee. When reviewed by a technical review committee: |
20 | (1) If the land-development or subdivision application does not include a request for |
21 | unified development review and the plan is approved by a majority of the committee members, |
22 | the application is forwarded to the planning board with a recommendation for preliminary plan |
23 | approval without further review. |
24 | (2) If the plan is not approved by a majority vote of the committee members, or the |
25 | application includes a request for unified development review, the minor land-development and |
26 | subdivision application is referred to the planning board. |
27 | (e) Re-assignment to major review. The planning board may re-assign a proposed minor |
28 | project to major review only when the planning board is unable to make the positive findings |
29 | required in § 45-23-60. |
30 | (f) Decision. If no street creation or extension is required, the planning board will |
31 | approve, deny, or approve with conditions, the preliminary plan within sixty-five (65) days of |
32 | certification of completeness, or within any further time that is agreed to by the applicant and the |
33 | board, according to the requirements of §§ 45-23-60 and 45-23-63. If a street extension or |
34 | creation is required, the planning board will hold a public hearing prior to approval according to |
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1 | the requirements in § 45-23-42 and will approve, deny, or approve with conditions, the |
2 | preliminary plan within ninety-five (95) days of certification of completeness, or within any |
3 | specified time that is agreed to by the applicant and the board, according to the requirements of |
4 | §§ 45-23-60 and 45-23-63. |
5 | (g) Failure to act. Failure of the planning board to act within the period prescribed |
6 | constitutes approval of the preliminary plan and a certificate of the administrative officer as to the |
7 | failure of the planning board to act within the required time and the resulting approval will be |
8 | issued on request of the application. |
9 | (h) Final plan. The planning board may delegate final plan review and approval to either |
10 | the administrative officer or the technical review committee. The officer or committee will report |
11 | its actions, in writing to the planning board at its next regular meeting, to be made part of the |
12 | record. |
13 | (i) Expiration of approval. Approval of a minor land-development or subdivision plan |
14 | expires ninety (90) days from the date of approval unless, within that period, a plat or plan, in |
15 | conformity with approval, and as defined in this act, is submitted for signature and recording as |
16 | specified in § 45-23-64. Validity may be extended for a longer period, for cause shown, if |
17 | requested by the application in writing, and approved by the planning board. |
18 | 45-23-40. General provisions -- Major land development and major subdivision -- |
19 | Master plan. |
20 | (a) Submission requirements. |
21 | (1) The applicant shall first submit to the administrative officer the items required by the |
22 | local regulations for master plans. |
23 | (2) Requirements for the master plan and supporting material for this phase of review |
24 | include, but are not limited to: information on the natural and built features of the surrounding |
25 | neighborhood, existing natural and man-made conditions of the development site, including |
26 | topographic features, the freshwater wetland and coastal zone boundaries, the floodplains, as well |
27 | as the proposed design concept, proposed public improvements and dedications, tentative |
28 | construction phasing; and potential neighborhood impacts. |
29 | (3) Initial comments will be solicited from: |
30 | (i) Local agencies including, but not limited to, the planning department, the department |
31 | of public works, fire and police departments, the conservation and recreation commissions; |
32 | (ii) Adjacent communities; |
33 | (iii) State agencies, as appropriate, including the departments of environmental |
34 | management and transportation and the coastal resources management council; and |
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1 | (iv) Federal agencies, as appropriate. The administrative officer shall coordinate review |
2 | and comments by local officials, adjacent communities, and state and federal agencies. |
3 | (4) Requests for relief from the literal requirements of the zoning ordinance and/or for the |
4 | issuance of special-use permits related to major subdivisions and/or major land-development |
5 | projects that are submitted under a zoning ordinance's unified development review provisions |
6 | shall be included as part of the master plan application, pursuant to § 45-23-50.1(b). |
7 | (b) Certification. The application must be certified, in writing, complete or incomplete by |
8 | the administrative officer within twenty-five (25) forty-five (45) days, according to the provisions |
9 | of § 45-23-36(b). The running of the time period set forth herein will be deemed stopped upon the |
10 | issuance of a certificate of incompleteness of the application by the administrative officer and will |
11 | recommence upon the resubmission of a corrected application by the applicant. However, in no |
12 | event will the administrative officer be required to certify a corrected submission as complete or |
13 | incomplete less than ten (10) days after its resubmission. |
14 | (c) Technical review committee. The technical review committee, if established, shall |
15 | review the application and shall comment and make recommendations to the planning board. |
16 | (d) Informational meeting. |
17 | (1) A public informational meeting will be held prior to the planning board decision on |
18 | the master plan, unless the master plan and preliminary plan approvals are being combined, in |
19 | which case the public informational meeting is optional, based upon planning board |
20 | determination, or unified development review has been requested, in which case a public hearing |
21 | shall be held pursuant to § 45-23-50.1(b). |
22 | (2) Public notice for the informational meeting is required and must be given at least |
23 | seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting in a newspaper of general circulation within the |
24 | municipality. Postcard notice must be mailed to the applicant and to all property owners within |
25 | the notice area, as specified by local regulations. |
26 | (3) At the public informational meeting, the applicant will present the proposed |
27 | development project. The planning board must allow oral and written comments from the general |
28 | public. All public comments are to be made part of the public record of the project application. |
29 | (e) Decision. The planning board shall, within ninety (90) one hundred twenty (120) days |
30 | of certification of completeness, or within a further amount of time that may be consented to by |
31 | the applicant through the submission of a written waiver, approve of the master plan as submitted, |
32 | approve with changes and/or conditions, or deny the application, according to the requirements of |
33 | §§ 45-23-60 and 45-23-63. |
34 | (f) Failure to act. Failure of the planning board to act within the prescribed period |
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1 | constitutes approval of the master plan, and a certificate of the administrative officer as to the |
2 | failure of the planning board to act within the required time and the resulting approval will be |
3 | issued on request of the applicant. |
4 | (g) Vesting. |
5 | (1) The approved master plan is vested for a period of two (2) years, with the right to |
6 | extend for two (2), one-year extensions upon written request by the applicant, who must appear |
7 | before the planning board for the annual review. Thereafter, vesting may be extended for a longer |
8 | period, for good cause shown, if requested by the applicant, in writing, and approved by the |
9 | planning board. Master plan vesting includes the zoning requirements, conceptual layout, and all |
10 | conditions shown on the approved master plan drawings and supporting materials. |
11 | (2) The initial four-year (4) vesting for the approved master plan constitutes the vested |
12 | rights for the development as required in § 45-24-44. |
13 | 45-23-41. General provisions -- Major land development and major subdivision -- |
14 | Preliminary plan. |
15 | (a) Submission requirements. |
16 | (1) The applicant shall first submit to the administrative officer the items required by the |
17 | local regulations for preliminary plans. |
18 | (2) Requirements for the preliminary plan and supporting materials for this phase of the |
19 | review include, but are not limited to: engineering plans depicting the existing site conditions, |
20 | engineering plans depicting the proposed development project, a perimeter survey, all permits |
21 | required by state or federal agencies prior to commencement of construction, including permits |
22 | related to freshwater wetlands, the coastal zone, floodplains, preliminary suitability for individual |
23 | septic disposal systems, public water systems, and connections to state roads. |
24 | (3) At the preliminary plan review phase, the administrative officer shall solicit final, |
25 | written comments and/or approvals of the department of public works, the city or town engineer, |
26 | the city or town solicitor, other local government departments, commissions, or authorities as |
27 | appropriate. |
28 | (4) Prior to approval of the preliminary plan, copies of all legal documents describing the |
29 | property, proposed easements, and rights-of-way. |
30 | (5) If the applicant is requesting alteration of any variances and/or special-use permits |
31 | granted by the planning board or commission at the master plan stage of review pursuant to |
32 | adopted unified development review provisions, and/or any new variances and/or special-use |
33 | permits, such requests and all supporting documentation shall be included as part of the |
34 | preliminary plan application materials, pursuant to § 45-23-50.1(b). |
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1 | (b) Certification. The application will be certified as complete or incomplete by the |
2 | administrative officer within twenty-five (25) forty-five (45) days, according to the provisions of |
3 | § 45-23-36(b). The running of the time period set forth herein will be deemed stopped upon the |
4 | issuance of a certificate of incompleteness of the application by the administrative officer and will |
5 | recommence upon the resubmission of a corrected application by the applicant. However, in no |
6 | event shall the administrative officer be required to certify a corrected submission as complete or |
7 | incomplete less than ten (10) days after its resubmission. |
8 | (c) Technical review committee. The technical review committee, if established, shall |
9 | review the application and shall comment and make recommendations to the planning board. |
10 | (d) Public hearing. Prior to a planning board decision on the preliminary plan, a public |
11 | hearing, which adheres to the requirements for notice described in § 45-23-42, must be held. |
12 | (e) Public improvement guarantees. Proposed arrangements for completion of the |
13 | required public improvements, including construction schedule and/or financial guarantees, shall |
14 | be reviewed and approved by the planning board at preliminary plan approval. |
15 | (f) Decision. A complete application for a major subdivision or development plan shall be |
16 | approved, approved with conditions, or denied, in accordance with the requirements of §§ 45-23- |
17 | 60 and 45-23-63, within ninety (90) one hundred twenty (120) days of the date when it is certified |
18 | complete, or within a further amount of time that may be consented to by the developer through |
19 | the submission of a written waiver. |
20 | (g) Failure to act. Failure of the planning board to act within the prescribed period |
21 | constitutes approval of the preliminary plan and a certificate of the administrative officer as to the |
22 | failure of the planning board to act within the required time and the resulting approval shall be |
23 | issued on request of the applicant. |
24 | (h) Vesting. The approved preliminary plan is vested for a period of two (2) years with |
25 | the right to extend for two (2), one-year extensions upon written request by the applicant, who |
26 | must appear before the planning board for each annual review and provide proof of valid state or |
27 | federal permits as applicable. Thereafter, vesting may be extended for a longer period, for good |
28 | cause shown, if requested, in writing by the applicant, and approved by the planning board. The |
29 | vesting for the preliminary plan approval includes all general and specific conditions shown on |
30 | the approved preliminary plan drawings and supporting material. |
31 | 45-23-43. General provisions -- Major land development and major subdivision -- |
32 | Final plan. |
33 | (a) Submission requirements. |
34 | (1) The applicant shall submit to the administrative officer the items required by the local |
| LC005328 - Page 11 of 14 |
1 | regulations for the final plan, as well as all material required by the planning board when the |
2 | application was given preliminary approval. |
3 | (2) Arrangements for completion of the required public improvements, including |
4 | construction schedule and/or financial guarantees. |
5 | (3) Certification by the tax collector that all property taxes are current. |
6 | (4) For phased projects, the final plan for phases following the first phase, shall be |
7 | accompanied by copies of as-built drawings not previously submitted of all existing public |
8 | improvements for prior phases. |
9 | (b) Certification. The application for final plan approval shall be certified complete or |
10 | incomplete by the administrative officer in writing, within twenty-five (25) fifteen (15) days, |
11 | according to the provisions of § 45-23-36(b). This time period may be extended to forty-five (45) |
12 | twenty-five (25) days by written notice from the administrative officer to the applicant where the |
13 | final plans contain changes to or elements not included in the preliminary plan approval. The |
14 | running of the time period set forth herein shall be deemed stopped upon the issuance of a |
15 | certificate of incompleteness of the application by the administrative officer and shall |
16 | recommence upon the resubmission of a corrected application by the applicant. However, in no |
17 | event shall the administrative officer be required to certify a corrected submission as complete or |
18 | incomplete less than fourteen (14) ten (10) days after its resubmission. If the administrative |
19 | officer certifies the application as complete and does not require submission to the planning board |
20 | as per subsection (c) below, the final plan shall be considered approved. |
21 | (c) Referral to the planning board. If the administrative officer determines that an |
22 | application for final approval does not meet the requirements set by local regulations or by the |
23 | planning board at preliminary approval, the administrative officer shall refer the final plans to the |
24 | planning board for review. The planning board shall, within forty-five (45) days after the |
25 | certification of completeness, or within a further amount of time that may be consented to by the |
26 | applicant, approve or deny the final plan as submitted. |
27 | (d) Failure to act. Failure of the planning board to act within the prescribed period |
28 | constitutes approval of the final plan and a certificate of the administrative officer as to the failure |
29 | of the planning board to act within the required time and the resulting approval shall be issued on |
30 | request of the applicant. |
31 | (e) Expiration of approval. The final approval of a major subdivision or land development |
32 | project expires one year from the date of approval with the right to extend for one year upon |
33 | written request by the applicant, who must appear before the planning board for the annual |
34 | review, unless, within that period, the plat or plan has been submitted for signature and recording |
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1 | as specified in § 45-23-64. Thereafter, the planning board may, for good cause shown, extend the |
2 | period for recording for an additional period. |
3 | (f) Acceptance of public improvements. Signature and recording as specified in § 45-23- |
4 | 64 constitute the acceptance by the municipality of any street or other public improvement or |
5 | other land intended for dedication. Final plan approval shall not impose any duty upon the |
6 | municipality to maintain or improve those dedicated areas until the governing body of the |
7 | municipality accepts the completed public improvements as constructed in compliance with the |
8 | final plans. |
9 | (g) Validity of recorded plans. The approved final plan, once recorded, remains valid as |
10 | the approved plan for the site unless and until an amendment to the plan is approved under the |
11 | procedure stated in § 45-23-65, or a new plan is approved by the planning board. |
12 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC005328 - Page 13 of 14 |
EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - SUBDIVISION OF LAND | |
*** | |
1 | This act would allow minor projects (residential only) to remain minor and subject to the |
2 | lesser time period for certification. This act would also add more time for certification at the |
3 | master and preliminary plan phases on major subdivisions and land developments but reduces the |
4 | time for certification and resubmission at the final plan phase for consistency purposes. The time |
5 | for the master plan decision is increased to one hundred twenty (120) days and the time for the |
6 | preliminary plan decision is restored to one hundred twenty (120) days. |
7 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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| LC005328 - Page 14 of 14 |