2023 -- S 0801 | |
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LC002476 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDNANCES | |
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Introduced By: Senators Kallman, Ruggerio, Quezada, Mack, F. Lombardi, Burke, | |
Date Introduced: March 23, 2023 | |
Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Sections 45-24-31 and 45-24-37 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-24 |
2 | entitled "Zoning Ordinances" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 45-24-31. Definitions. |
4 | Where words or terms used in this chapter are defined in § 45-22.2-4 or 45-23-32, they |
5 | have the meanings stated in that section. In addition, the following words have the following |
6 | meanings. Additional words and phrases may be used in developing local ordinances under this |
7 | chapter; however, the words and phrases defined in this section are controlling in all local |
8 | ordinances created under this chapter: |
9 | (1) Abutter. One whose property abuts, that is, adjoins at a border, boundary, or point with |
10 | no intervening land. |
11 | (2) Accessory dwelling unit (ADU). A residential living unit on the same parcel where the |
12 | primary use is a legally established single-unit or multi-unit dwelling. An ADU provides complete |
13 | independent living facilities for one or more persons. It may take various forms including, but not |
14 | limited to: a detached unit; a unit that is part of an accessory structure, such as a detached garage; |
15 | or a unit that is part of an expanded or remodeled primary dwelling. |
16 | (3) Accessory use. A use of land or of a building, or portion thereof, customarily incidental |
17 | and subordinate to the principal use of the land or building. An accessory use may be restricted to |
18 | the same lot as the principal use. An accessory use shall not be permitted without the principal use |
19 | to which it is related. |
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1 | (4) Aggrieved party. An aggrieved party, for purposes of this chapter, shall be: |
2 | (i) Any person, or persons, or entity, or entities, who or that can demonstrate that his, her, |
3 | or its property will be injured by a decision of any officer or agency responsible for administering |
4 | the zoning ordinance of a city or town; or |
5 | (ii) Anyone requiring notice pursuant to this chapter. |
6 | (5) Agricultural land. “Agricultural land,” as defined in § 45-22.2-4. |
7 | (6) Airport hazard area. “Airport hazard area,” as defined in § 1-3-2. |
8 | (7) Applicant. An owner, or authorized agent of the owner, submitting an application or |
9 | appealing an action of any official, board, or agency. |
10 | (8) Application. The completed form, or forms, and all accompanying documents, exhibits, |
11 | and fees required of an applicant by an approving authority for development review, approval, or |
12 | permitting purposes. |
13 | (9) Buffer. Land that is maintained in either a natural or landscaped state, and is used to |
14 | screen or mitigate the impacts of development on surrounding areas, properties, or rights-of-way. |
15 | (10) Building. Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or |
16 | occupancy. |
17 | (11) Building envelope. The three-dimensional space within which a structure is permitted |
18 | to be built on a lot and that is defined by regulations governing building setbacks, maximum height, |
19 | and bulk; by other regulations; or by any combination thereof. |
20 | (12) Building height. For a vacant parcel of land, building height shall be measured from |
21 | the average, existing-grade elevation where the foundation of the structure is proposed. For an |
22 | existing structure, building height shall be measured from average grade taken from the outermost |
23 | four (4) corners of the existing foundation. In all cases, building height shall be measured to the top |
24 | of the highest point of the existing or proposed roof or structure. This distance shall exclude spires, |
25 | chimneys, flag poles, and the like. For any property or structure located in a special flood hazard |
26 | area, as shown on the official FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), or depicted on the |
27 | Rhode Island coastal resources management council (CRMC) suggested design elevation three foot |
28 | (3′) sea level rise (CRMC SDE 3 SLR) map as being inundated during a one-hundred-year (100) |
29 | storm, the greater of the following amounts, expressed in feet, shall be excluded from the building |
30 | height calculation: |
31 | (i) The base flood elevation on the FEMA FIRM plus up to five feet (5′) of any utilized or |
32 | proposed freeboard, less the average existing grade elevation; or |
33 | (ii) The suggested design elevation as depicted on the CRMC SDE 3 SLR map during a |
34 | one-hundred-year (100) storm, less the average existing grade elevation. CRMC shall reevaluate |
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1 | the appropriate suggested design elevation map for the exclusion every ten (10) years, or as |
2 | otherwise necessary. |
3 | (13) Cluster. A site-planning technique that concentrates buildings in specific areas on the |
4 | site to allow the remaining land to be used for recreation, common open space, and/or preservation |
5 | of environmentally, historically, culturally, or other sensitive features and/or structures. The |
6 | techniques used to concentrate buildings shall be specified in the ordinance and may include, but |
7 | are not limited to, reduction in lot areas, setback requirements, and/or bulk requirements, with the |
8 | resultant open land being devoted by deed restrictions for one or more uses. Under cluster |
9 | development, there is no increase in the number of lots that would be permitted under conventional |
10 | development except where ordinance provisions include incentive bonuses for certain types or |
11 | conditions of development. |
12 | (14) Common ownership. Either: |
13 | (i) Ownership by one or more individuals or entities in any form of ownership of two (2) |
14 | or more contiguous lots; or |
15 | (ii) Ownership by any association (ownership may also include a municipality) of one or |
16 | more lots under specific development techniques. |
17 | (15) Community residence. A home or residential facility where children and/or adults |
18 | reside in a family setting and may or may not receive supervised care. This does not include halfway |
19 | houses or substance-use-disorder-treatment facilities. This does include, but is not limited to, the |
20 | following: |
21 | (i) Whenever six (6) or fewer children or adults with intellectual and/or developmental |
22 | disability reside in any type of residence in the community, as licensed by the state pursuant to |
23 | chapter 24 of title 40.1. All requirements pertaining to local zoning are waived for these community |
24 | residences; |
25 | (ii) A group home providing care or supervision, or both, to not more than eight (8) persons |
26 | with disabilities, and licensed by the state pursuant to chapter 24 of title 40.1; |
27 | (iii) A residence for children providing care or supervision, or both, to not more than eight |
28 | (8) children, including those of the caregiver, and licensed by the state pursuant to chapter 72.1 of |
29 | title 42; |
30 | (iv) A community transitional residence providing care or assistance, or both, to no more |
31 | than six (6) unrelated persons or no more than three (3) families, not to exceed a total of eight (8) |
32 | persons, requiring temporary financial assistance, and/or to persons who are victims of crimes, |
33 | abuse, or neglect, and who are expected to reside in that residence not less than sixty (60) days nor |
34 | more than two (2) years. Residents will have access to, and use of, all common areas, including |
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1 | eating areas and living rooms, and will receive appropriate social services for the purpose of |
2 | fostering independence, self-sufficiency, and eventual transition to a permanent living situation. |
3 | (16) Comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan adopted and approved pursuant to |
4 | chapter 22.2 of this title and to which any zoning adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be in |
5 | compliance. |
6 | (17) Day care — Daycare center. Any other daycare center that is not a family daycare |
7 | home. |
8 | (18) Day care — Family daycare home. Any home, other than the individual’s home, in |
9 | which day care in lieu of parental care or supervision is offered at the same time to six (6) or less |
10 | individuals who are not relatives of the caregiver, but may not contain more than a total of eight |
11 | (8) individuals receiving day care. |
12 | (19) Density, residential. The number of dwelling units per unit of land. |
13 | (20) Development. The construction, reconstruction, conversion, structural alteration, |
14 | relocation, or enlargement of any structure; any mining, excavation, landfill, or land disturbance; |
15 | or any change in use, or alteration or extension of the use, of land. |
16 | (21) Development plan review. The process whereby authorized, local officials review the |
17 | site plans, maps, and other documentation of a development to determine the compliance with the |
18 | stated purposes and standards of the ordinance. |
19 | (22) District. See “zoning-use district.” |
20 | (23) Drainage system. A system for the removal of water from land by drains, grading, or |
21 | other appropriate means. These techniques may include runoff controls to minimize erosion and |
22 | sedimentation during and after construction or development; the means for preserving surface and |
23 | groundwaters; and the prevention and/or alleviation of flooding. |
24 | (24) Dwelling unit. A structure, or portion of a structure, providing complete, independent |
25 | living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, |
26 | cooking, and sanitation, and containing a separate means of ingress and egress. |
27 | (25) Extractive industry. The extraction of minerals, including: solids, such as coal and |
28 | ores; liquids, such as crude petroleum; and gases, such as natural gases. The term also includes |
29 | quarrying; well operation; milling, such as crushing, screening, washing, and flotation; and other |
30 | preparation customarily done at the extraction site or as a part of the extractive activity. |
31 | (26) Family member. A person, or persons, related by blood, marriage, or other legal |
32 | means, including, but not limited to, a child, parent, spouse, mother-in-law, father-in-law, |
33 | grandparents, grandchildren, domestic partner, sibling, care recipient, or member of the household. |
34 | (27) Floating zone. An unmapped zoning district adopted within the ordinance that is |
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1 | established on the zoning map only when an application for development, meeting the zone |
2 | requirements, is approved. |
3 | (28) Floodplains, or Flood hazard area. As defined in § 45-22.2-4. |
4 | (29) Freeboard. A factor of safety expressed in feet above the base flood elevation of a |
5 | flood hazard area for purposes of floodplain management. Freeboard compensates for the many |
6 | unknown factors that could contribute to flood heights, such as wave action, bridge openings, and |
7 | the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed. |
8 | (30) Groundwater. “Groundwater” and associated terms, as defined in § 46-13.1-3. |
9 | (31) Halfway house. A residential facility for adults or children who have been |
10 | institutionalized for criminal conduct and who require a group setting to facilitate the transition to |
11 | a functional member of society. |
12 | (32) Hardship. See § 45-24-41. |
13 | (33) Historic district or historic site. As defined in § 45-22.2-4. |
14 | (34) Home occupation. Any activity customarily carried out for gain by a resident, |
15 | conducted as an accessory use in the resident’s dwelling unit. |
16 | (35) Household. One or more persons living together in a single-dwelling unit, with |
17 | common access to, and common use of, all living and eating areas and all areas and facilities for |
18 | the preparation and storage of food within the dwelling unit. The term “household unit” is |
19 | synonymous with the term “dwelling unit” for determining the number of units allowed within any |
20 | structure on any lot in a zoning district. An individual household shall consist of any one of the |
21 | following: |
22 | (i) A family, which may also include servants and employees living with the family; or |
23 | (ii) A person or group of unrelated persons living together. The maximum number may be |
24 | set by local ordinance, but this maximum shall not be less than three (3). |
25 | (36) Incentive zoning. The process whereby the local authority may grant additional |
26 | development capacity in exchange for the developer’s provision of a public benefit or amenity as |
27 | specified in local ordinances. |
28 | (37) Infrastructure. Facilities and services needed to sustain residential, commercial, |
29 | industrial, institutional, and other activities. |
30 | (38) Land-development project. A project in which one or more lots, tracts, or parcels of |
31 | land are developed or redeveloped as a coordinated site for one or more uses, units, or structures, |
32 | including, but not limited to, planned development or cluster development for residential, |
33 | commercial, institutional, recreational, open space, or mixed uses as provided in the zoning |
34 | ordinance. |
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1 | (39) Lot. Either: |
2 | (i) The basic development unit for determination of lot area, depth, and other dimensional |
3 | regulations; or |
4 | (ii) A parcel of land whose boundaries have been established by some legal instrument, |
5 | such as a recorded deed or recorded map, and that is recognized as a separate legal entity for |
6 | purposes of transfer of title. |
7 | (40) Lot area. The total area within the boundaries of a lot, excluding any street right-of- |
8 | way, usually reported in acres or square feet. |
9 | (41) Lot area, minimum. The smallest land area established by the local zoning ordinance |
10 | upon which a use, building, or structure may be located in a particular zoning district. |
11 | (42) Lot building coverage. That portion of the lot that is, or may be, covered by buildings |
12 | and accessory buildings. |
13 | (43) Lot depth. The distance measured from the front lot line to the rear lot line. For lots |
14 | where the front and rear lot lines are not parallel, the lot depth is an average of the depth. |
15 | (44) Lot frontage. That portion of a lot abutting a street. A zoning ordinance shall specify |
16 | how noncontiguous frontage will be considered with regard to minimum frontage requirements. |
17 | (45) Lot line. A line of record, bounding a lot, that divides one lot from another lot or from |
18 | a public or private street or any other public or private space and shall include: |
19 | (i) Front: the lot line separating a lot from a street right-of-way. A zoning ordinance shall |
20 | specify the method to be used to determine the front lot line on lots fronting on more than one |
21 | street, for example, corner and through lots; |
22 | (ii) Rear: the lot line opposite and most distant from the front lot line, or in the case of |
23 | triangular or otherwise irregularly shaped lots, an assumed line at least ten feet (10′) in length |
24 | entirely within the lot, parallel to and at a maximum distance from, the front lot line; and |
25 | (iii) Side: any lot line other than a front or rear lot line. On a corner lot, a side lot line may |
26 | be a street lot line, depending on requirements of the local zoning ordinance. |
27 | (46) Lot size, minimum. Shall have the same meaning as “minimum lot area” defined |
28 | herein. |
29 | (47) Lot, through. A lot that fronts upon two (2) parallel streets, or that fronts upon two |
30 | (2) streets that do not intersect at the boundaries of the lot. |
31 | (48) Lot width. The horizontal distance between the side lines of a lot measured at right |
32 | angles to its depth along a straight line parallel to the front lot line at the minimum front setback |
33 | line. |
34 | (49) Mere inconvenience. See § 45-24-41. |
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1 | (50) Mixed use. A mixture of land uses within a single development, building, or tract. |
2 | (51) Modification. Permission granted and administered by the zoning enforcement officer |
3 | of the city or town, and pursuant to the provisions of this chapter to grant a dimensional variance |
4 | other than lot area requirements from the zoning ordinance to a limited degree as determined by |
5 | the zoning ordinance of the city or town, but not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of each of |
6 | the applicable dimensional requirements. |
7 | (52) Nonconformance. A building, structure, or parcel of land, or use thereof, lawfully |
8 | existing at the time of the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance and not in conformity with |
9 | the provisions of that ordinance or amendment. Nonconformance is of only two (2) types: |
10 | (i) Nonconforming by use: a lawfully established use of land, building, or structure that is |
11 | not a permitted use in that zoning district. A building or structure containing more dwelling units |
12 | than are permitted by the use regulations of a zoning ordinance is nonconformity by use; or |
13 | (ii) Nonconforming by dimension: a building, structure, or parcel of land not in compliance |
14 | with the dimensional regulations of the zoning ordinance. Dimensional regulations include all |
15 | regulations of the zoning ordinance, other than those pertaining to the permitted uses. A building |
16 | or structure containing more dwelling units than are permitted by the use regulations of a zoning |
17 | ordinance is nonconforming by use; a building or structure containing a permitted number of |
18 | dwelling units by the use regulations of the zoning ordinance, but not meeting the lot area per |
19 | dwelling unit regulations, is nonconforming by dimension. |
20 | (53) Overlay district. A district established in a zoning ordinance that is superimposed on |
21 | one or more districts or parts of districts. The standards and requirements associated with an overlay |
22 | district may be more or less restrictive than those in the underlying districts consistent with other |
23 | applicable state and federal laws. |
24 | (54) Performance standards. A set of criteria or limits relating to elements that a particular |
25 | use or process must either meet or may not exceed. |
26 | (55) Permitted use. A use by right that is specifically authorized in a particular zoning |
27 | district. |
28 | (56) Planned development. A “land-development project,” as defined in subsection (38), |
29 | and developed according to plan as a single entity and containing one or more structures or uses |
30 | with appurtenant common areas. |
31 | (57) Plant agriculture. The growing of plants for food or fiber, to sell or consume. |
32 | (58) Preapplication conference. A review meeting of a proposed development held |
33 | between applicants and reviewing agencies as permitted by law and municipal ordinance, before |
34 | formal submission of an application for a permit or for development approval. |
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1 | (59) Setback line or lines. A line, or lines, parallel to a lot line at the minimum distance of |
2 | the required setback for the zoning district in which the lot is located that establishes the area within |
3 | which the principal structure must be erected or placed. |
4 | (60) Site plan. The development plan for one or more lots on which is shown the existing |
5 | and/or the proposed conditions of the lot. |
6 | (61) Slope of land. The grade, pitch, rise, or incline of the topographic landform or surface |
7 | of the ground. |
8 | (62) Special use. A regulated use that is permitted pursuant to the special-use permit issued |
9 | by the authorized governmental entity, pursuant to § 45-24-42. Formerly referred to as a special |
10 | exception. |
11 | (63) Structure. A combination of materials to form a construction for use, occupancy, or |
12 | ornamentation, whether installed on, above, or below the surface of land or water. |
13 | (64) Substandard lot of record. Any lot lawfully existing at the time of adoption or |
14 | amendment of a zoning ordinance and not in conformance with the dimensional or area provisions |
15 | of that ordinance. |
16 | (65) Use. The purpose or activity for which land or buildings are designed, arranged, or |
17 | intended, or for which land or buildings are occupied or maintained. |
18 | (66) Variance. Permission to depart from the literal requirements of a zoning ordinance. |
19 | An authorization for the construction or maintenance of a building or structure, or for the |
20 | establishment or maintenance of a use of land, that is prohibited by a zoning ordinance. There are |
21 | only two (2) categories of variance, a use variance or a dimensional variance. |
22 | (i) Use variance. Permission to depart from the use requirements of a zoning ordinance |
23 | where the applicant for the requested variance has shown by evidence upon the record that the |
24 | subject land or structure cannot yield any beneficial use if it is to conform to the provisions of the |
25 | zoning ordinance. |
26 | (ii) Dimensional variance. Permission to depart from the dimensional requirements of a |
27 | zoning ordinance, where the applicant for the requested relief has shown, by evidence upon the |
28 | record, that there is no other reasonable alternative way to enjoy a legally permitted beneficial use |
29 | of the subject property unless granted the requested relief from the dimensional regulations. |
30 | However, the fact that a use may be more profitable or that a structure may be more valuable after |
31 | the relief is granted are not grounds for relief. |
32 | (67) Waters. As defined in § 46-12-1(23). |
33 | (68) Wetland, coastal. As defined in § 45-22.2-4. |
34 | (69) Wetland, freshwater. As defined in § 2-1-20. |
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1 | (70) Zero lot line development. A building that comes up to or sits on the border, boundary, |
2 | or point of a lot. |
3 | (70)(71) Zoning certificate. A document signed by the zoning-enforcement officer, as |
4 | required in the zoning ordinance, that acknowledges that a use, structure, building, or lot either |
5 | complies with, or is legally nonconforming to, the provisions of the municipal zoning ordinance or |
6 | is an authorized variance or modification therefrom. |
7 | (71)(72) Zoning map. The map, or maps, that are a part of the zoning ordinance and that |
8 | delineate the boundaries of all mapped zoning districts within the physical boundary of the city or |
9 | town. |
10 | (72)(73) Zoning ordinance. An ordinance enacted by the legislative body of the city or |
11 | town pursuant to this chapter and in the manner providing for the adoption of ordinances in the city |
12 | or town’s legislative or home rule charter, if any, that establish regulations and standards relating |
13 | to the nature and extent of uses of land and structures; that is consistent with the comprehensive |
14 | plan of the city or town as defined in chapter 22.2 of this title; that includes a zoning map; and that |
15 | complies with the provisions of this chapter. |
16 | (73)(74) Zoning-use district. The basic unit in zoning, either mapped or unmapped, to |
17 | which a uniform set of regulations applies, or a uniform set of regulations for a specified use. |
18 | Zoning-use districts include, but are not limited to: agricultural, commercial, industrial, |
19 | institutional, open space, and residential. Each district may include sub-districts. Districts may be |
20 | combined. |
21 | 45-24-37. General provisions — Permitted uses. |
22 | (a) The zoning ordinance shall provide a listing of all land uses and/or performance |
23 | standards for uses that are permitted within the zoning use districts of the municipality. The |
24 | ordinance may provide for a procedure under which a proposed land use that is not specifically |
25 | listed may be presented by the property owner to the zoning board of review or to a local official |
26 | or agency charged with administration and enforcement of the ordinance for an evaluation and |
27 | determination of whether the proposed use is of a similar type, character, and intensity as a listed |
28 | permitted use. Upon such determination, the proposed use may be considered to be a permitted use. |
29 | (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the following uses are permitted |
30 | uses within all residential zoning use districts of a municipality and all industrial and commercial |
31 | zoning use districts except where residential use is prohibited for public health or safety reasons: |
32 | (1) Households; |
33 | (2) Community residences; and |
34 | (3) Family daycare homes. |
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1 | (c) Any time a building or other structure used for residential purposes, or a portion of a |
2 | building containing residential units, is rendered uninhabitable by virtue of a casualty such as fire |
3 | or flood, the owner of the property is allowed to park, temporarily, mobile and manufactured home, |
4 | or homes, as the need may be, elsewhere upon the land, for use and occupancy of the former |
5 | occupants for a period of up to twelve (12) months, or until the building or structure is rehabilitated |
6 | and otherwise made fit for occupancy. The property owner, or a properly designated agent of the |
7 | owner, is only allowed to cause the mobile and manufactured home, or homes, to remain |
8 | temporarily upon the land by making timely application to the local building official for the |
9 | purposes of obtaining the necessary permits to repair or rebuild the structure. |
10 | (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, appropriate access for people with |
11 | disabilities to residential structures is allowed as a reasonable accommodation for any person(s) |
12 | residing, or intending to reside, in the residential structure. |
13 | (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an accessory dwelling unit in an |
14 | owner-occupied residence that complies with §§ 45-24-31 and 45-24-73 shall be permitted as a |
15 | reasonable accommodation for family members with disabilities or who are sixty-two (62) years of |
16 | age or older, or to accommodate other family members. |
17 | (f) When used in this section the terms “people with disabilities” or “member, or members, |
18 | with disabilities” means a person(s) who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially |
19 | limits one or more major life activities, as defined in § 42-87-1(7). |
20 | (g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, plant agriculture is a permitted |
21 | use within all zoning districts of a municipality, including all industrial and commercial zoning |
22 | districts, except where prohibited for public health or safety reasons or the protection of wildlife |
23 | habitat. |
24 | (h) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the minimum housing options |
25 | identified in § 45-24-37.1 are permitted uses according to the provisions of that section. |
26 | SECTION 2. Chapter 45-24 of the General Laws entitled "Zoning Ordinances" is hereby |
27 | amended by adding thereto the following section: |
28 | 45-24-37.1. Minimum housing options. |
29 | (a) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, the minimum housing options identified |
30 | under this section are permitted uses in the zoning-use districts of a municipality according to the |
31 | conditions set forth in this section. |
32 | (b) To promote the adaptive re-use of existing residential structures, any building at least |
33 | twenty (20) years in age, as demonstrated by land evidence records or other reliable documentation, |
34 | may be redeveloped according to the criteria set forth in this subsection. For implementation |
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1 | purposes, where the text refers to a single-family; two (2) family; three (3) family; multi-family; or |
2 | townhouse dwelling (which may also be called a rowhouse dwelling), the term shall have the |
3 | meaning given to it by the zoning ordinance of a municipality. |
4 | (1) An existing two (2) family, three (3) family, multi-family, or townhouse dwelling may |
5 | be redeveloped to contain additional dwelling units, irrespective of any limit on residential density |
6 | for the zoning-use district in which the building is located. Unless separately provided by a |
7 | municipality, the redevelopment shall occur within the existing building envelope, excepting any |
8 | expansion in square footage necessary to accommodate modified means of ingress and egress or to |
9 | make the building more accessible to persons with mobility disabilities through the incorporation |
10 | of universal design standards. |
11 | (2) An existing building that is located within a residential zoning-use district of a |
12 | municipality, but whose primary use is non-residential in nature, may be redeveloped as a multi- |
13 | family dwelling irrespective of any applicable limit on residential density. The provisions of § 45- |
14 | 24-37.1(b)(1) concerning expansion of square footage shall apply. |
15 | (3) An existing single-family dwelling may be redeveloped as a two (2) family; three (3) |
16 | family; multi-family; or townhouse dwelling; provided that, the redevelopment results in no more |
17 | than four (4) total dwelling units. Unless separately provided by a municipality, the redevelopment |
18 | shall not expand the existing building envelope by more than eight hundred square feet (800 sq. ft), |
19 | or sixty percent (60%) of the original gross floor area of the dwelling, whichever is less, excepting |
20 | any expansion in square footage necessary to accommodate modified means of ingress and egress |
21 | or to make the building more accessible to persons with mobility disabilities through the |
22 | incorporation of universal design standards. |
23 | (4) An existing single-family dwelling may be redeveloped into two (2) single-family |
24 | dwellings that are located on separate lots but attached at the lot line by a party wall in the manner |
25 | of a zero-lot line development. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, the division of the |
26 | original lot shall be an administrative subdivision under § 45-23-37. The provisions of § 45-24- |
27 | 37.1(b)(3) concerning expansion of square footage shall apply. |
28 | (5) A building redeveloped under this section shall comply with the standards of the |
29 | zoning-use district in which it is located, except that no standard concerning mandatory minimum |
30 | lot sizes or related dimensional requirements shall preclude the administrative subdivision |
31 | authorized by § 45-24-37.1(b)(4). Additionally, no more than one dedicated off-street parking space |
32 | shall be required for a dwelling unit newly created through a redevelopment under this section, and |
33 | no dedicated off-street parking space shall be required where: |
34 | (i) The building is located within one-half (0.5) of a mile (as determined by measuring the |
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1 | shortest distance from any point on the lot) of a regional mobility hub, community mobility hub, |
2 | or high-frequency transit stop, each as defined by the 2020 Rhode Island Transit Master Plan or its |
3 | successor document; |
4 | (ii) The building is located within a historic district adopted pursuant to chapter 24.1 of |
5 | title 45; or |
6 | (iii) The building is located within one-quarter (0.25) of a mile (as determined by |
7 | measuring the shortest distance from any point on the lot) from the location of a car-share vehicle. |
8 | (6) The zoning ordinance of a municipality may establish minimum size requirements for |
9 | dwelling units created or altered through a redevelopment authorized under this section; provided |
10 | that, any such standard may not require more than five hundred square feet (500 sq. ft) of gross |
11 | floor area for an efficiency dwelling unit; six hundred square feet (600 sq. ft) for a one-bedroom |
12 | dwelling unit; seven hundred fifty square feet (750 sq. ft) for a two (2) bedroom dwelling unit; one |
13 | thousand square feet (1,000 sq. ft) for a three (3) bedroom dwelling unit; or one thousand one |
14 | hundred square feet (1,100 sq. ft) for a four (4) bedroom dwelling unit. |
15 | (7) Any application for a redevelopment under this section that is not part of a larger |
16 | proposal and that shall occur within an existing building envelope (excepting any expansion in |
17 | square footage necessary to accommodate modified means of ingress and egress or to make the |
18 | building more accessible to persons with mobility disabilities through the incorporation of universal |
19 | design standards) shall be reviewed by the local building official of a municipality, as defined by § |
20 | 23-27.3-107.1. The building official shall review the application according to the procedures set |
21 | forth in § 23-27.3-114.1 for the rehabilitation of existing residential dwellings, regardless of |
22 | whether the building is a single, two (2), or three (3) family dwelling. |
23 | (c) The superior court shall award a plaintiff reasonable attorneys' fees and the costs of suit |
24 | where the court finds that the actions of a municipality violate the requirements of this section. |
25 | SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC002476 - Page 12 of 13 |
EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDNANCES | |
*** | |
1 | This act would amend the zoning enabling statute to provide for the allowance of |
2 | redeveloping more minimum housing options as permitted uses. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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| LC002476 - Page 13 of 13 |