§ 45-24-46.2. Special provisions - Transfer of development rights - North Kingstown. (a) In addition to other powers granted to towns and cities by this chapter to establish and administer transfer of development rights programs, the town council of the town of North Kingstown may provide by ordinance for the transfer of development rights, as a voluntary program available to developers and property owners, in the manner set forth in this section.

(b) The establishment, as provided for by this section, of a system for transfer of development rights within or between zoning districts, or a portion thereof, designated in the zoning ordinance shall be:

(1) For the purpose of providing developers and property owners the ability to establish, certify, purchase, sell, convey, and/or hold land development rights; and

(2) For one or more of the following purposes:

(i) Preserving sensitive resource areas in the community such as groundwater reserves, wildlife habitat, agricultural lands, and public access to surface waters;

(ii) Directing development away from sensitive resource areas to places better suited to increased levels of development such as established or proposed mixed use, commercial, village, or residential centers;

(iii) Directing development to areas served by existing infrastructure such as established roadways, public water supply systems, centralized sewer collection systems, public transit and other utilities; or

(iv) Shaping and balancing urban and rural development; and/or promoting a high level of quality in design in the development of private and public facilities and spaces.

(c) For purposes of this section the following terms shall have the following meaning:

(1) "Receiving area district" means a zoning district, which is established and mapped pursuant to a transfer of development rights ordinance and superimposed on one or more zoning use districts or portions thereof that is eligible to receive development rights through a major land development project review. As may be necessary or desirable to achieve the intended uses, density and intensity of use, a receiving area district may allow for additional development capacity and for increased lot building coverage and building envelope that are greater than those of the underlying zoning.

(2) "Sending area district" means a zoning district, which is established and mapped pursuant to a transfer of development rights ordinance and superimposed on one or more zoning use districts or a portion thereof, that is eligible to establish development rights that may eventually be transferred to a receiving area.

History of Section. (P.L. 2010, ch. 194, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 228, § 1.)