Planning Board Meeting Thursday, January 11, 2024 07:00 PM Bristol Town Hall, 10 Court Street, Bristol, RI 02809

Note: If communications assistance is needed or any other accommodations to ensure equal participation, please contact the Town Clerk’s office at 253-7000. Anyone requesting interpretive services for the deaf or hard of hearing must notify the Town Clerk’s office at 253-7000, 72 hours in advance of the meeting date and anyone requesting assistive listening devices or wishing to speak on a matter designated “CA” (consent agenda) or citizens public forum on the council docket must notify the Council Clerk prior to the commencement of the meeting.

A.Pledge of Allegiance

B.Minutes: Approval of Minutes - November 21, 2023

C.New Business

  1. C1.Proposed Amendments to Subdivision & Development Review

    Public hearing, referral to the Town Council for recommendations, and adoption subject to consideration of Town Council recommendations.   Proposed amendments required due to changes in state law which will take effect on January 1, 2024, which is the proposed (retroactive) date of these amendments. The amendments include the following changes:

    Definitions of various project categories including major and minor land development projects and subdivisions; associated changes to application and review process for these projects;
    Development Plan Review process changes;
    Unified development review for projects requiring zoning relief as well as approval by the Planning Board;
    Revised procedures for appeals;
    Modified procedures for public notice of applications;
    Technical Review Committee composition and appointment.

  2. C2.Mandatory Land Use Training - Part 2. RI law requires every member of a planning board, zoning board, and historic district commission to have at least three hours of training by June 30, 2024. The first half was completed on March 9, 2023. This training will last approximately 1.5 hours and will go toward meeting the overall requirement.  Topics will incorporate the new amendments to state law on Zoning, Planning, Comprehensive Permits, and Adaptive Reuse.  This will also include zoning variance and special use standards which the Planning Board will now need to apply with regard to Unified Development. The public is welcome to attend.

  3. C3.Joseph B. Jorge, 27 Surf Drive – Request for Abandonment of a portion of Surf Drive

D.Other Business

  1. D1.Nomination for Planning Board Secretary

E.Adjourn

Date: December 20, 2023

By: mbw