planning and economic development

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Planning Board

The Planning Board meets monthly on the first Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Johnston Senior Center, 1291 Hartford Avenue. The Planning Board consists of seven members appointed for three-year terms by the Mayor.

Applications and Checklists
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Administrative Merger: Joining of existing, standard-sized lots

• Administrative Merger Application Fee
• Subdivision and Land Development Application for Administrative, Minor & Major Subdivisions / Land Development
  

Administrative Subdivision: Re-subdivision of existing lots which yields no additional lots for development, and involves no creation or extension of streets. Such subdivision shall involve only divisions, mergers, mergers and division, or adjustments of boundaries of existing lots. Note: no lot may be made non-conforming by area with zoning.
Process:  [1] Pre-application meeting; [2] final application, with accompanying staff review, certification, and approval; and [3] notice of decision by Administrative Officer and recording of plan with Town Clerk.

• Administrative Subdivision Checklist

Minor Subdivision/Land Development: A plan for a subdivision of land consisting of five (5) or fewer units or lots, provided that such subdivision/land development does not require waivers or modifications.

• Minor Land Development – Subdivision Checklist

With street creation or extension:

Process:  [1] Pre-application meeting; [2] Preliminary Plan application and public Planning Board hearing; [3] Final Plan application and Board hearing with accompanying staff reviews, certifications, and approvals; and [4] notice of decision by Administrative Officer and recording of Final Plan with Town Clerk. Applicant may request that Final review be delegated to administrative approval during Preliminary hearing.
Deadline:  Application to be submitted at least 57 days prior to Board meeting. Certificate of Completeness must be issued at least 32 days prior to meeting.

Without street creation or extension:

Process:  Same as above with a public informational meeting and not a hearing by Board during step [3].
Deadline:  Application to be submitted at least 47 days prior to Board meeting. Certificate of Completeness must be issued at least 32 days prior to meeting.

Major Subdivision/Land Development:  any subdivision neither classified as an administrative nor minor subdivision/land development.

Process:  [1] Pre-application meeting; [2] Master Plan application and Planning Board meeting; [3] Preliminary Plan application and Board hearing; [4] Final Plan application and Board hearing with accompanying staff reviews, certifications, and approvals; and [5] notice of decision by Administrative Officer and recording of Final Plan with Town Clerk. Applicant may request that review stages be combined, and that Final review be delegated to administrative approval during Preliminary hearing.

• Major Land Development–Subdivision Checklist
  

Deadline:  Application to be submitted at least 57 days prior to Board meeting. Certificate of Completeness must be issued at least 32 days prior to meeting.

Conservation Development:  A residential development project which allows the town to guide growth to the most appropriate areas within a parcel of land to avoid impacts to the environment, and to protect the character-defining features of the property.  Conservation development allows subdivision into the same number of smaller lots as a conventional development but on smaller lots while reserving 50 percent of the site as open space.  See Johnston Zoning Ordinance Article XXII and the Johnston Land Development and Subdivision Regulations Section III J for details.  Please call the Town Planner to discus requirements.

• Conservation Development Subdivision Checklists

Industrial and Commercial Site Plan Review: as requested by the Building Official for conformance with the Johnston Zoning Ordinance §340-27 Industrial Site Plan Review and §340-27.1 Commercial Site Plan Review

Process: [1] Pre-application meeting with Building Official and Town Planner; [2] submit site plan application and required documentation to the Building/Zoning Official; [3] Planning Board hearing; and [4] record plan (with any required revisions) following posted decision.
Deadline: Application to be submitted at least 47 days prior to the Board meeting.  Certificate of Completeness must be issued at least 32 days prior to hearing.

• Industrial Site Plan Checklist
• Commercial Site Plan Checklist
  

Other applications may be required for industrial and commercial developments or other land development in accordance with subdivision regulations. Consult the Land Development and Subdivision Review Regulations or contact the Town Planner or Building Official for additional information.

Helpful Links

• Land Development and Subdivision Regulations
• Town of Johnston Comprehensive Community Plan
  
• Johnston Zoning Ordinance – scroll to Chapter 340
  
• Johnston Land Development and Subdivision Regulations – available for $25 at the Department of Public Works, 100 Irons Avenue.
  
• Schedule of Fees:  Ordinance 2004-13
  
• 2008-9 Substandard Lots of Record
  

Contact
Office of Planning and Economic Development

100 Irons Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919
Office hours: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.