§ 501. Development Plan Review Standards

A. General Standards. To approve a site development plan pursuant to Section 703, Procedures for Special Use Permit, the Planning Board must find that each of the following standards shall have been met: (Amended October 6, 2008)

1. Traffic. The development will not cause unreasonable traffic congestion or unsafe conditions and will comply with the Town's standards for parking, access, road design and construction. Adequate provisions shall be made for pedestrian and bicycle access. Unless explicitly provided otherwise in the Special Use Permit authorizing the use, for uses projected to have summer season trip generation exceeding ten (10) vehicle trips in the peak hour, sight distance at the point of egress shall meet American Association of State Highway and Traffic Officials (AASHTO) standards, based on observed (not posted) travel speeds, and the volume/capacity ratio shall not be increased by more than 0.1 above baseline on any lane of any street or intersection as a result of projected traffic, with "baseline" being the ratio resulting from the traffic forecast in five (5) years, given development of the premises for single-family residences as allowed under the Zoning Ordinance with no density bonuses.

2. Emergency Access. The development will provide for and maintain convenient and safe emergency vehicle access to all buildings and structures at all times.

3. Soil Suitability. The locations, design and construction of all structures, including but not limited to, buildings, roadways, and surface water drainage systems, and their intended use shall be suitable to the soils and subsoils of the property.

4. Drainage, Stormwater Run-off. Anticipated stormwater run-off from the developed site shall not exceed peak run-off from the site prior to development.

5. Waste Disposal. The development will provide for adequate disposal of sewage, refuse and other wastes, consistent with any stipulations of the Special Use Permit authorizing the use.

6. Nutrient Loading. The nutrient contribution from the proposed development, when added to the existing and potential nutrient level of developments within the recharge area of a private or municipal water supply and/or within the drainage area of a coastal embayment, will not generate nutrient levels that exceed the receiving water's critical eutrophic level, based on submittals, standards and analysis methods consistent with Section 316, Pond Quality Overlay.

7. Soil Erosion. Proper soil erosion and sedimentation control measures, as prescribed in the Town's Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance, shall be employed to minimize sedimentation and siltation of existing surface waterbodies and wetlands. In areas where the land slopes downward towards any surface waterbody or wetland, proposed filling, cutting, clearing or grading shall be minimized and natural vegetation and topography shall be retained wherever possible.

8. Utilities. All utilities included in the development plan shall be designed to minimize adverse impact on the subject property and surrounding properties. Whenever feasible, all electric, telephone and other utility lines shall be installed underground.

a. Development subject to Development Plan Review may be authorized only upon the Planning Board determining that sewer and water allocation have been granted by the Town and paid for by the applicant.

b. Town water supply shall be considered adequate only if water service as existing or as committed to be improved or installed by the applicant provides pressure of at least forty (40) pounds per square inch at street grade, and water for fire protection is available at twenty (20) pounds per square inch residual pressure at five hundred (500) gallons per minute flow, sustainable for two (2) hours, or such higher flows as needed to meet Insurance Services Office (ISO) requirements for uses other than single-family dwellings.

c. Development subject to Development Plan Review, if proposed at a location not meeting these standards, may be authorized only upon the Planning Board determining that special circumstances of the development or the site assure that supply will be adequate for anticipated consumption and fire protection. (Amended July 7, 1997)

9. Natural Resources. The development will not have an adverse impact on areas of critical environmental importance such as habitats or species listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern by the Rhode Island Natural Heritage program, consistent with any stipulations of the Special Use Permit authorizing the use.

10. Cultural Assets. Any requirements of the Historic Overlay have been satisfied; constraints on displacement for parking area development specified in Section 502(B)(6) are complied with, and there will be no avoidable displacement of historic or archeological resources identified in the Comprehensive Plan or a document referenced therein, consistent with any stipulations of the Special Use Permit authorizing the use.

11. Water Protection. The plan considers, and protects against, any degradation of surface or groundwater quality. (Amended July 7, 1997)

12. ISDS. All ISDS must comply with the requirements of section 506, Individual Sewage Disposal System, of this ordinance. (Amended November 21, 1998)

B. Standards for Residential Structures Meeting Certain Thresholds. For those applications submitted under Section 406 requiring a Special Use Permit for the construction of a dwelling unit or accessory structure meeting certain thresholds as defined in Section 406B., the Planning Board shall, in addition to the standards listed in Subsection A. above, apply the following in their review of site and building plans: (Added October 6, 2008)

1. The proposed residential structure is sited so as to minimize impact on viewsheds, including, where possible, location below the crest of a hill or ridgeline, and/or away from the centers of open fields. (Added October 6, 2008)

2. The proposed residential structure is designed and sited so as to be compatible with its historic and cultural setting, particularly in relationship to any nearby notable historic structures. (Added October 6, 2008)

3. The area of site disturbance and the alteration of natural grade are the minimum necessary for construction of the building. (Added October 6, 2008)

4. All existing stone walls on the site are preserved or reconstructed as part of the site plan. (Added October 6, 2008)

5. Screening of the proposed building is achieved by use of existing mature vegetation, with additional plantings as required by the Planning Board. (Added October 6, 2008)

6. Attached garages are located below first floor grade or attached by a breezeway so as to not add to the dwelling's bulk, and are oriented so that the front is not visible from a town or state road (i.e. designed with side or rear entrances in relation to the dwelling). (Added October 6, 2008)

As part of their review, the Planning Board may recommend reductions in the required front, rear or side yard setbacks, as provided for under Subsection 406F.(2), recommend lowering the building height, and require a full landscape plan prepared by a registered landscape architect. (Added October 6, 2008)

C. Procedure. Development plans shall be reviewed and approved as set forth in Section 704, Development Plan Review.