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Notice of Public Hearing: Proposed Amendments to New Shoreham Zoning Ordinance 10/5

Notice of Public Hearing

Proposed Amendments to New Shoreham Zoning Ordinance
RE: Adaptive Reuse: Article 1 General, Section 114 Permitted Uses; Article 3 Zoning Districts and Regulations, Sections 306 – 313; Sections 319 Planned Development Zone & 322 Medical Center Zone; Article 5 Performance Standards, Sections 502 Off-Street Parking/Sidewalks & 520 Adaptive Reuse; Appendix B Use Categories Allowed by Zoning District

Monday, October 5, 2026

at Town Hall, Old Town Road, Block Island, RI

7:00 PM

 

Watch on Youtube: www.youtube.com/@Town-NewShoreham/streams

The New Shoreham Town Council will consider amendments to the Zoning Ordinance.  Language proposed to be deleted is shown in strikeout strikeout.  New proposed language is underlined.   The proposed language may be altered or amended prior to the close of the public hearing without further advertising, as a result of further study or because of the views expressed at the public hearing. Any alteration or amendment must be presented for comment in the course of the hearing.   

 

Article 1 General

§ 114. Permitted Uses.

D. Adaptive reuse (as defined in RIGL 42-64.22-2). 

  1. Eligibility.
    1. At least 50% of the existing gross floor shall be developed into residential units. 
    2. There are no environmental land use restrictions recorded on the property preventing the conversion to residential use by RIDEM or the US EPA. 
  2. Density.

The density proposed for any adaptive reuse project shall meet all public health and safety standards. 

  1. For projects that meet the following criteria, the minimum residential density shall be fifteen (15) dwelling units per acre: 
    1. Where the project is limited to the existing footprint, except that the footprint is allowed to be expanded to accommodate upgrades related to the building and fire codes, and utilities. 
    2. The development includes at least twenty percent (20%) low- and moderateincome housing. 
    3. The development has access to public sewer and water service or has access to adequate private water, such as well and/or wastewater treatment systems approved by the relevant state agency for the entire development as applicable.
  2. For all other adaptive reuse projects, the residential density permitted in the converted structure shall be the maximum allowed that otherwise meets all standards of minimum housing and has access to public sewer and water services or has access to adequate private water, such as well and wastewater treatment systems approved by the relevant state agency for the entire development, as applicable. 
  1. Dimensional requirements. 
    1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, existing building setbacks shall remain and the encroachments are considered legal nonconforming. 
    2. additional encroachments shall be permitted into any nonconforming setback unless otherwise allowed by zoning ordinance or relief is granted by the applicable authority. 
    3. Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, the height of the existing structure shall be considered legal nonconforming and main remain if it exceeds the maximum height of the zoning district in which the structure is located. 
      1. Any rooftop construction is included in the height exemption. 
  2. Parking requirements. 
    1. Adaptive reuse developments shall provide a minimum of one parking space per dwelling unit. The applicant may propose additional parking in excess of one space per dwelling unit. 
    2. The parking requirements and design standards in Section 502 of this ordinance shall apply to all uses proposed as part of the project unless otherwise approved by the applicable authority. The number of parking spaces required shall apply for all uses other than residential. 

5.     Allowed uses within an adaptive reuse project. 

  1. Residential dwelling units are a permitted use in an adaptive reuse project regardless of the zoning district in which the structure is located, in accordance with the provisions of this section. 
  2. Any nonresidential uses proposed as part of an adaptive reuse project must comply with the provisions of Appendix B of this ordinance. 

Editor’s Note: Appendix B is included as an attachment to this chapter. 

6.     Development and Design Standards. Site design shall be in accordance with the Land Development and Subdivision Regulations. 

7.     Procedural requirements. 

  1. Adaptive reuse projects shall be subject to the procedural requirements of the Subdivision Regulations and undergo either Development Plan Review, Minor, or Major Land Development as determined in that section. 
  2. In addition to the checklist requirements for the applicable review process, the applicant shall provide the following information: 
    1. The proposed residential density and the square footage of nonresidential uses. Residential density under the provisions of subsection D2b of this section shall require the submission of a detailed floor plan as described in subsection D7b(2) of this section as part of the application. 
    2. A floor plan to scale for each building indicating, as applicable, the use of floor space, number of units, number of bedrooms, and the square footage of each room and each unit. 

Article 3 Zoning Districts and Regulations

 

 

§ 306 Residential A Zone (RA Zone).

D. Permitted Uses

Adaptive Reuse

§ 307 Residential B Zone (RB Zone).

D. Permitted Uses

Adaptive Reuse

§ 308 Residential C Zone (RC Zone).

D. Permitted Uses

Adaptive Reuse

§ 309 Residential C/ Mixed Use Zone (RC/M Zone).

D. Permitted Uses

Adaptive Reuse

§ 310 Mixed Use Zone (M Zone).

D. Permitted Uses

Adaptive Reuse

§ 311 Old Harbor Commercial Zone (OHC Zone).

D. Permitted Uses

Adaptive Reuse

§ 312 New Harbor Commercial Zone (NHC Zone).

D. Permitted Uses

Adaptive Reuse

§ 313 Service Commercial Zone (SC Zone).

D. Permitted Uses

Adaptive Reuse

§ 319 Planned Development Zone (PD Zone).

B. Residential C Zone Planned Development Districts.

4. Permitted Principal Uses. Permitted uses shall be affordable housing, single family dwelling units, adaptive reuse, parking, daycare, community center, community residences, retail trades, hotels, inn, restaurant, continuation or expansion of existing commercial uses linked with the Planned Development, or any mixture of those uses. Dwelling units dedicated to affordable housing may be arranged in detached or attached structures to a maximum of six units per structure. Dwelling units above commercial or municipal uses are allowed as part of the total plan.

§ 322 Medical Center (MC Zone).

D. Permitted Uses

Adaptive Reuse

 

Appendix B Use Categories Allowed by Zoning District

District

RA

RB

RC

RC/M

M

OHC

NHC

SC

PD

PU

MC

C

PE

Adaptive Reuse under § 520

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

 

P

 

 


P = Permitted

(blank) = Not Allowed/Prohibited

 

Article 5 Performance Standards.

§ 502 Off-Street Parking/Sidewalks.

  1. Adaptive Reuse shall conform to the following:
    1. Dwelling Units. Two parking spaces per dwelling unit.  In Old Harbor Commercial Zone (OHC): One parking space per dwelling unit. Adaptive reuse developments shall provide a minimum of one parking space per dwelling unit.

 

§ 520 Adaptive Reuse.

  1. Adaptive Reuse shall conform to the following:
  2. At least 50% of the gross floor area existing prior to the submission of the permit or application for adaptive reuse shall be developed into residential units. 
  3. There are no environmental land use restrictions recorded on the property preventing the conversion to residential use by RIDEM or the US EPA. 
  4. In any building previously used for industrial or manufacturing use(s), the building shall have been vacant of an industrial use for at least one year prior to the submission of the permit or application for adaptive reuse.
  5. There are no density requirements for dwelling units meeting the definition of affordable housing, state requirements, or restricted to year-round occupancy by deed restriction enforceable by the Town of New Shoreham. All other dwelling units in an adaptive reuse project shall meet the density requirements of the zoning district.
  6. Building dimensions existing prior to the submission of the permit or application for adaptive reuse shall be permitted to remain.
  7. Additional non-occupiable rooftop construction (such as heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment; stairs; or elevator towers—but excluding rooftop decks) may exceed permitted building heights.
  8. Nonconforming dimensions may be expanded with a special use permit or dimensional variance as provided for in § 113 of this ordinance.

 

Posted:                        September 3, 2026                              

Hearing:                      October 5, 2026          

Adopted:

Effective:

Posted:            

 

Attest:             Millicent M. Highet, MMC

                        Town Clerk

 

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