§ 2-121. Duties—Comprehensive plan

(a) The planning board shall have the duties prescribed in G.L. 1956, § 45-25-6, and shall have prepared a comprehensive plan for the development of the town. Such plan, among other things, shows the general arrangement of and goals, objectives and standards for land use, transportation routes and facilities, public facilities and services, renewal or rehabilitation programs, housing programs, including cooperative housing programs not limited to but also involving limited equity cooperative housing designed for low and moderate income residents, conservation areas, historic preservation areas and environmental protection programs, together with a recommended program of actions and improvements deemed necessary to implement the features of the plan.

(b) The planning board may, at its discretion, hold public hearings on the comprehensive plan or any elements of the comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan and all elements thereof are in general conformity with the goals, objectives, policies and general arrangements contained in applicable state plan or element thereof.

(c) The planning board shall use the plan or elements thereof as a guide to its actions in areas relating to the adopted plan or elements. At intervals of no greater than five years, the board shall review the comprehensive plan or elements thereof and make any modifications, amendments or additions deemed necessary in the light of current and projected community development trends and needs.

(d) Following the adoption of the comprehensive plan or any element thereof by the planning board and upon recommendation of the board, the town council may, following a public hearing, adopt the comprehensive plan or element thereof as a statement of the town policy and a guide for community action in matters relating to community development.

(e) Any comprehensive plan or element thereof may be modified or amended by the town council following a public hearing. Any such proposed modification or amendment shall be referred to the planning board for its recommendation at least 30 days prior to the date of the public hearing by the town council. Failure of the planning board to forward a recommendation to the town council within the 30-day period shall be deemed an approval of the proposed modification or amendment by the board. The affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the town council shall be required to adopt any modification or amendment to the comprehensive plan or element thereof where the planning board has rendered an adverse recommendation.

(f) Any comprehensive plan or element thereof which has been adopted by the town council prior to May 4, 1972, shall be considered adopted for the purposes of this section. Any adoption, modification or amendment of a comprehensive plan or element thereof subsequent to May 4, 1972, shall be made in accordance with the procedures and requirements set forth in this section.

(Rev. Ords. 1989, § 2-121)

refstatelaw

Duties of planning board, G.L. 1956, § 45-22-7.