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Council directs town solicitor and planning staff to review zoning code and recommend comprehensive amendments
Summary
By unanimous vote the council directed the town solicitor and planning department to review multiple sections of the zoning ordinance — setbacks, floor-area ratio, mixed-use zoning, duplexes, liquor-license special-use permits and consistency with state statute — and to prepare draft amendments for council and planning board review.
The Narragansett Town Council on Feb. 3 voted 5–0 to direct the town solicitor and the planning department to review the town’s zoning ordinance for a broad set of issues — including setbacks, floor-area ratio, mixed-use zoning, duplexes and family dwellings, liquor-license special-use permit requirements and general conformance with state statutes — and to prepare draft amendments for council consideration and referral to the planning board.
Councilors said the omnibus review responds to resident concerns about clarity, predictability and potential litigation. Councilor McNally (who introduced the item) said residents frequently found the ordinances "daunting" and sought clearer rules to reduce future litigation and clarify permit processes. Councilors discussed whether to phase the review or do a comprehensive update; several favored a single coordinated review to produce a consolidated draft that the council could then refer to the planning board.
Town solicitor and staff described the likely pathway: staff will assemble a draft recommended language and supporting materials; the council will review and may refine that draft; the council will refer the draft to the planning board for public review, edits and recommendation. Councilors discussed timing, with staff estimating a turnaround of a few weeks to assemble initial recommendations and a plan to revisit the item in March.
Why it matters: A comprehensive ordinance review could change permit processes, allowable uses and dimensional standards that affect property owners, developers and neighbors; the council emphasized public input and coordination with planning staff to avoid unintended consequences.
Speakers
Councilor Donna McNally (introduced the motion; government)
Town Solicitor (unnamed) (government)
Councilors Torrealba, Durkin, Conley, Vignali (participating; government)
Public commenters: Steven Ferandy, Paul Zahn Frillo, Dr. Al Alba (citizens)
Actions
- Motion: direct town solicitor and planning department to review and prepare recommended amendments to zoning ordinance addressing the list of issues in the agenda item. - Outcome: Motion approved; direction given. Vote: 5–0.
Clarifying details
- Scope: setbacks, planning-board recommendations, floor-area ratio, mixed-use zoning, duplexes and family dwellings, liquor-license special-use permits, and consistency with state statute. - Process: Staff will prepare drafts, council will review, and drafts will be referred to the planning board for review and public process; councilors proposed revisiting progress in March.
Provenance
- topicintro: transcript where the council introduced the zoning-review item (s 3747.925–3759.9302): "Is there a motion to discuss slash act on providing direction to the town solicitor and planning department on amendments to the zoning ordinance..." - topfinish: transcript where council voted to direct staff (s 4807.46–4821.585): "Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes 5 0."
