[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6089292,"mediaKeyId","2874956-4855bec52e57e8b55522d2306d14ef7c","parentId",2874956,"title","Burrillville council adopts zoning changes to limit by‑right building on substandard lots","audioSeconds",647,"startMs",1420000,"endMs",2067000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874956-4855bec52e57e8b55522d2306d14ef7c&start=1420&end=2067","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874956-4855bec52e57e8b55522d2306d14ef7c/thumbnail_1420000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089292/Rhode-Island/Burrillville-council-adopts-zoning-changes-to-limit-byright-building-on-substandard-lots","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089292-5b0d7376f2ff78abb2eacb114664ae94/orig.mp4?Expires=1771023604&Signature=hM~ZbIQY5WXTRHLa-bp~xSAPpVnWC0436057-fmlUu~GjVjm0PTJTFFeBnrBYOQ~2sPQEijAjTHNu22Q6r~LTjacTih56Ct7mRm2rtVYNRHgvap4RspWq3A8hd4LivqVi30C0UOTQmoVLo6Pj3VcADGMaYgL0~JDeRT0k~nG1KnSA5HN69u9T4uM9SlXFBJ6hi5EsXpqGogWs5JPSTNzrFKMYQob9lsbfG8JS6Jw~DFiFOpYnlg5S~Y7UhZrk2JdC4rq687MjfdXhMSXcoz9559Fv~DsHCBzjh5v7wftdSSWFPk0m~hd5DeYSv21ndWTX8f8uIN1nBKn2ycp1CFKQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Burrillville Town Council","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Burrillville Town Council on Feb. 26 adopted a zoning map change that redesignates certain F‑5 lots to a new R‑7 residential zone and approved related amendments to Chapter 30 of the Revised General Ordinances to respond to recent state law changes.

Town officials and planning staff told the council the changes are intended to restore local oversight after a 2024 state rulemaking altered how municipalities must treat substandard lots. Those state changes reduce dimensional requirements in many zoning districts; planning and building staff said the result was that small lots could, under state law, receive building permits with greatly reduced setbacks and higher lot coverage without local variance review.

Town Manager Michael C. Wood told the council the package is aimed at giving residents and the zoning board a chance to review new construction. “What we’re doing is putting a restriction in a new zone that adapts to the problems that Providence created for us,” Wood said during the hearing. Planning staff and the building official described how the state‑level formula reduces frontage and setback requirements proportionally to how much a lot is “short” of the zone standard, which in practice could allow houses to be built very near property lines on the narrow 50–60‑foot lots common in the affected neighborhood.

Under the changes the council approved, the new R‑7 standard references a 7,500‑square‑foot minimum and roughly 75 feet of frontage as the baseline for what can be approved by right; smaller or irregular parcels in the affected area will generally need zoning board relief. The administration estimated the rule would affect roughly two dozen to three dozen lots in the neighborhood discussed at the hearing.

Residents who spoke supported the change as protection for neighborhood character and to restore local notice and review. One resident, who identified himself at the hearing as living on Go Crossing Drive, said the proposal was “a great solution” for neighbors who have seen houses built tightly on small parcels. Another resident, Alan Campbell of Staghead Parkway, said he had lived in the area 14 years and did not want more houses “sandwiched in” on narrow lots.

At the public hearing some commenters raised concerns about assessments and taxes after a recent revaluation. A resident who identified himself as a long‑time property owner said his assessment had gone up and worried a zoning change might affect taxes. The council and town staff clarified that reassessments were separate from the zoning action and that tax bills had not been set; the manager and staff encouraged property owners to appeal assessment values with the assessor if they believed those values were incorrect.

Council members repeatedly framed the package as a defensive measure to preserve local control and setbacks. After public comment and deliberation, the council voted to adopt both the map change (reclassifying the named parcels from F‑5 to the new R‑7) and the companion Chapter 30 amendments to bring the town ordinance into alignment with the chosen local implementation approach.

The council conducted the public hearing and adoption on the night of Feb. 26; the record shows the council moved to adopt at the end of the hearing and closed the matter on the floor.

Why this matters: the state changes cited by staff would have allowed developers to use the statutory reduction formula to meet dimensional standards on narrow, pre‑existing lots, potentially producing houses with minimal side‑yard setbacks. The town’s package requires either a modest reduction (for some lots) or zoning‑board review for many affected parcels, restoring a public notice and variance process.

What’s next: the council adopted the ordinances at the Feb. 26 meeting; the transcript does not specify an effective date or publication schedule in the hearing record provided.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02-26-25 Burrillville Town Council Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Burrillville Town Council on Feb. 26 adopted a zoning map change and associated Chapter 30 amendments to create a new R‑7 zone and require additional local review for small, substandard lots after state law changes made it easier to obtain building permits on narrow parcels.","taxTitle","Burrillville, Providence County, Rhode Island","taxId",79685,"location","Rhode Island","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6089282,"Burrillville council backs request for state help transporting homeless students after governor meeting",147,4189000,4336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874956-4855bec52e57e8b55522d2306d14ef7c&start=4189&end=4336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874956-4855bec52e57e8b55522d2306d14ef7c/thumbnail_4189000.jpg","/articles/6089282/Rhode-Island/Burrillville-council-backs-request-for-state-help-transporting-homeless-students-after-governor-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089282-d45c9a59b1edb6a563e3cb8094bb9caf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771023604&Signature=HF2z0c2HvJ9g2pCtcjbKOnzyjvtVpH7i29EMZbkRlcYQaWKefEzXgUPZTKo4k3KKK52ZsT~CteQ2uY3nu8ci5re0PDV2BvZoHFY~~2v3SZw55YasuJNg4Nu5zms3KedsnROMKeHLCmh~NfncYW~o1T6pt2sNQT93NOaODaKW9z-tYbykZfyntRTBVTRkNZ0wl1xiz6V0Xqer8oJF4PSUmYAGLtfLOfMkeLp1E8pUYiKnh99fJ~xZ6AAZYw-UpYUH7F8ZckbvCI5lVMMY8QOSJ7bNPG2VCFiJ0ZZzFNecFiO3ER4Gt3uSw4FT3CUzO40kc6ZcDX1~wzMhum9mD7rJ9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burrillville Town Council on Feb. 26 voted to adopt a joint resolution from the Burrillville School Committee seeking state support and subsidy for transportation of homeless students. Council members and staff reported that town representatives had met with the governor and state education officials to discuss the problem.

Town representatives told the council that transporting some students placed in out‑of‑town shelters creates high costs and long routes; the meeting record includes an example that one student must travel about 50 miles to attend the school of origin. The council said it asked for a short‑term “bridge” — temporary state assistance — while longer‑term changes are pursued, including asking state agencies to place families closer to students’ schools of origin when feasible.

Councilors said the issue is partly a function of shelter placement and federal rules governing students’ rights to stay in their school of origin. The transcript indicates the governor’s office was receptive and that town officials planned further follow‑up; the governor’s proposed in‑state logistics and possible site visits were discussed but a scheduled visit was later rescheduled.

Councilors also noted additional cost pressures: the town is educating several special‑needs students placed from shelters, which adds transportation and program costs. The council’s action was to adopt the joint resolution supporting the school committee’s request and to ask town staff to continue working with the state to identify interim and longer‑term solutions.

The meeting record shows the motion and a second and a recorded “Aye” vote adopting the resolution; no roll‑call tally is provided in the excerpt.","The council adopted a joint resolution supporting the school committee's request for state support and subsidy for transporting homeless students; town representatives reported they had met with the governor and sought short‑term bridge assistance while longer fixes are pursued.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6089287,"Votes at a glance: Burrillville Town Council meeting, Feb. 26, 2025",5353,298000,5651000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874956-4855bec52e57e8b55522d2306d14ef7c&start=298&end=5651","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874956-4855bec52e57e8b55522d2306d14ef7c/thumbnail_298000.jpg","/articles/6089287/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-Burrillville-Town-Council-meeting-Feb-26-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089287-426b84a66bccf7b208e66fdb952cb3ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771023604&Signature=H92dxOrI9yLB5utixFBGaHXgYp1jaL~SUbZgSTX3Wg7vF5tqtrqld9W7FlSo8E41~Bvmc5t0tbj2L6UZ2A8pmWfoif6qpEWkN80z9n2GBvl3lZmXkK90CEHyGFCKqyTNJcwKPvkV3IGDY2aA8dxF21EzhoviJNBsODl9ZWyodgAMHYNdCdgxm1g0d5p88jqUfJ-SkLB6E6jcmX-s5PyBbXDx3YvmHEDk~REhj7pn4vtEOqwF9~EcC7EyNidtepinWhrU0MKWhQqriXgOO1VEfojpm78v08PSDBZAyjAiA9d3J5qZA~TVRdDBhy3fZD8uxIXXPatjqC6pY5TcNrH3AA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Feb. 26 meeting the Burrillville Town Council recorded multiple formal actions. The list below summarizes each item as it appears in the meeting record and the outcome recorded on the floor. Where the transcript shows a mover or second that name is included; specific roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the audio transcript excerpt when the council simply called for \"Aye.\"

Votes at a glance (selected items from the meeting record):

- Proclamation recognizing the Burrill Economic Development Partnership (formerly Burrill Industrial Foundation): Motion to adopt read and put to a vote; recorded as adopted. (Motion recorded in the transcript as made by Mr. Battleon; second by vice president.)

- License approvals for St. Teresa Shrine (35 Dion Drive): Applications approved provided stipulations are met; motion and approval recorded.

- New victualing (victualing) license for OM Coding LLC doing business as Cow’s Tail Deli and Creamery (16 High Street): Council moved and approved the license following public hearing.

- Ordinance amendment to accept Pleasant Street into the town highway system (Amendment to subsection 24‑1, accepted town streets): Public hearing closed and amendment adopted.

- Ordinance amendment to remove time restrictions on nonpermanent political and pre‑election signs (subsection 30‑157, sign regulations): Public hearing held; council voted to adopt the change.

- Zoning map change (reclassify certain parcels from F‑5 to new R‑7) and related Chapter 30 amendments to respond to recent state law changes: Public hearings were held; council adopted the map change and the Chapter 30 zoning amendments (see separate coverage for the full hearing discussion).

- Municipal Road and Bridge Fund (MRBF) grant use for Stone Barn Road project: Council approved use of MRBF funds (transcript refers to $184,000) to fund a portion of the Stone Barn Road project and to transfer that amount back into major capital from the town appropriation lines as discussed.

- State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) submission: Council approved submitting project priorities to the State (including previously discussed projects such as Victory Highway and a rotary/rotary‑area improvement and a Masonville pedestrian/bridge option) and to develop future priority lists.

- Appointment: Paula McCarthy appointed as alternate member of the Board of Canvassers to complete an unexpired term to March 6, 2028; motion made and approved.

- Joint resolution: Council adopted a joint resolution supporting the Burrillville School Committee request for state support and subsidy for transportation of homeless students; meeting participants reported that town representatives had met with the governor to discuss the issue and requested bridge assistance while longer‑term fixes are sought.

- Legislative resolutions and positions: The council voted to support a range of municipal priorities and requests identified on the agenda, including support for Jamestown’s request on public water‑system obligations, support for full funding of categorical transportation aid (cited statute 16‑7.2‑6), support for state aid restoration measures (House bill referenced in the packet), and support for the League of Cities and Towns 2025 legislative priorities. The council also adopted a resolution to support a bill allowing towns to designate alternative publication platforms for public notices, and authorized the town clerk to contact state representatives to oppose proposed changes to the Access to Public Records Act should those measures be reintroduced.

- Executive session disclosure: The council disclosed that it had previously voted in executive session to transfer $70,000 from the unreserved, undesignated general fund balance to a turf litigation fund for additional litigation expenses; that disclosure vote was recorded in open session and affirmed by the council.

The meeting transcript records motions, seconds and floor votes for the items above; where the transcript records only “All those in favor? Aye” no roll‑call tallies are available in the excerpt. The full minutes and packet (as filed with the town clerk) will list ordinance numbers, the precise text of resolutions and any supporting documents.","A roundup of motions and formal votes taken by the Burrillville Town Council on Feb. 26, including licenses, proclamations, highway acceptance, zoning ordinance adoptions, grant transfers and several state legislative resolutions.","actionData","errors"]

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Burrillville council adopts zoning changes to limit by‑right building on substandard lots

Burrillville council backs request for state help transporting homeless students after governor meeting

Votes at a glance: Burrillville Town Council meeting, Feb. 26, 2025