Planning Board

NOTICE:

The Planning Board meeting schedule for 2024 was amended on February 6, 2024. The Planning Board now meets every third Tuesday of the Month starting on March 19, 2024. See "2024 Meeting Schedule" for the new dates.
 
Board Description
The Planning Board reviews most major development and redevelopment projects within the City to ensure they comply with applicable regulations. The members of the Planning Board also sit as the members of the Design Review Commission and the River Corridor Review Commission. The City Planner acts as the Administrative Officer for the Planning Board.
 
Design Review Commission
The Design Review Overlay District, (DROD) regulates the design of new and existing commercial or mixed-use buildings, structures, improvements, and facilities with regard to assessing the impacts of predominantly commercial development on the surrounding community related to issues of health and safety, visual and architectural quality, and long-term planning strategies. The City Planner acts as the Design Review Officer for the Design Review Commission.
 
All nonresidential buildings, structures, improvements, and facilities within zoning districts C-1, C-2, MU-1, MU-2 and I-1 shall be regulated by both the requirements of the district in which they are located and the requirements of the DROD. The DROD also includes all lots, or portions thereof, where any building, structure, improvement, or facility is associated with a use otherwise permitted only in a C-1, C-2, MU-1, MU-2, and I-1 District, that has been granted by variance or special-use permit by the Zoning Board of Review.
 

The Design Review Commission and Design Review Officer administers the DROD. The Commission reviews any proposed project that includes the construction of a new commercial or mixed-use building, or any proposed project that includes the substantial exterior renovation of an existing commercial or mixed-use building. Substantial renovations shall mean to be those renovations where 50% or more of the total existing exterior materials, are to be replaced, or 70% of the exterior facade materials are to be replaced. The Design Review Officer has administrative review authority for certain proposed projects that are non-substantial renovations, (such as signs) but may forward any proposed project for full review to the Commission at their discretion.

River Corridor Review Commission
The River Corridor Overlay District, (RCOD) regulates the development and use of land, buildings, structures, improvements, and facilities in proximity to the Blackstone River with regard to assessing the impacts of development on the River environment related to issues of health and safety, environmental protection, public access, visual and architectural quality, and long-term planning strategies. The City Planner acts as the River Corridor Review Officer for the River Corridor Review Commission. 
 
All land, buildings, structures, improvements, and facilities within the RCOD shall be regulated by both the requirements of the district in which they are located and the requirements of the RCOD.
 
The River Corridor Review Commission and River Corridor Review Officer administer the RCOD. The Commission reviews any proposed project whose development would have an impact on the River and the surrounding area. The River Corridor Review Officer has administrative review authority for certain proposed projects that are deemed to have little or no impact on the surrounding area but may forward any proposed project for full review to the Commission at their discretion. For those areas under the authority of the Redevelopment Agency which are also within the RCOD, the members of the Redevelopment Agency shall also serve as members of the River Corridor Review Commission.
 

Staff Contacts

NameTitlePhone

City Planner

(401) 597-0845

Alt. Administrative Officer

(401) 767-9237

Recording Secretary

(401) 597-0498

Board Members

NameTitleTerm Expires
Kenneth Finlay

Chair

2025

Wendall Gardner

Vice-Chair

2024

Barbara Scanlon

Secretary

2024

Radames Figueroa

Member

2025

Member

Ex-Officio

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