2019 -- S 0752

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LC002298

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - SUBDIVISION OF LAND

     

     Introduced By: Senator Michael J. McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: April 04, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 45-23-63 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-23 entitled

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"Subdivision of Land" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     45-23-63. Procedure -- Meetings -- Votes -- Decisions and records.

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     (a) All records of the planning board proceedings and decisions shall be written and kept

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permanently available for public review. Completed applications for proposed land development

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and subdivisions projects under review by the planning board shall be available for public review.

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     (b) Participation in a planning board meeting or other proceedings by any party is not a

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cause for civil action or liability except for acts not in good faith, intentional misconduct,

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knowing violation of law, transactions where there is an improper personal benefit, or malicious,

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wanton, or willful misconduct.

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     (c) All final written comments to the planning board from the administrative officer,

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municipal departments, the technical review committee, state and federal agencies, and local

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commissions are part of the permanent record of the development application.

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     (d) Votes. All votes of the planning board shall be made part of the permanent record and

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show the members present and their votes. A decision by the planning board to approve any land

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development or subdivision application requires a vote for approval by a majority of planning

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board members present at the time of the vote the current planning board membership. A decision

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by the planning board to approve a variance or special-use permit pursuant to any adopted unified

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development review regulations requires a vote for approval by a majority of the planning board

 

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members that were present at the public hearing at which the request was heard. A board member

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who was absent at any hearing on a matter may, upon the consent of the applicant, vote on such

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matter if the member certifies on the record at the hearing that the member has reviewed any

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plans or materials submitted and the transcript or recording of the hearing(s) of such matter at

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which the member was absent and is fully prepared to consider the matter and all the evidence

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and testimony presented at all of the hearings on the application or request.

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     (e) All written decisions of the planning board shall be recorded in the land evidence

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records within twenty (20) days after the planning board vote. A copy of the recorded decision

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shall be mailed within one business day of recording, by any method that provides confirmation

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of receipt, to the applicant and to any objector who has filed a written request for notice with the

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administrative officer.

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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 - SUBDIVISION OF LAND

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     This act would provide that planning board votes for approval require a majority of the

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members present at the time of the vote, and that members absent at any hearing on a matter may,

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upon the consent of the applicant, vote on such matter provided the member certified on the

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record that the member has reviewed the any plans or materials submitted and the transcript or

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recording of any hearing absent and is prepared to consider the matter.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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