Providence RI (October 15, 2020)…At tonight’s City Council
meeting, Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) proposed a resolution, passed by
the Council, requesting that the Department of Planning coordinates periodic
workshops on Zoning practices and procedures in the City of Providence. This
resolution has been co-sponsored by Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15),
Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Senior Deputy Majority
Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 11),
Councilor David A. Salvatore (Ward 14), Councilwoman Nirva R. LaFortune (Ward
3) and Councilwoman Carmen Castillo (Ward 9).
“As someone who supports robust development in our city
that’s also aligned with the community, it is in the best interest of the City
of Providence that there is an educated public that understands how to best
engage in processes related to zoning matters. From time to time, communities
are faced with contentious zoning matters that tend to create public confusion
and frustration. Our goal is to alleviate this disconnect, and make public
engagement and discourse regarding city planning more accessible,” stated
Councilman John Goncalves.
This resolution requests that the Department of Planning and
Development along with the Zoning Board of Review coordinate public workshops
to better explain the distinctive roles of the City Plan Commission, the
Historic District Commission, the Downtown Design Review Committee, the Capital
Center Commission and the overall zoning processes and procedures. These
workshops will be aimed at improving public understanding of matters pertaining
to land development and economic growth in the City of Providence.
“By hosting periodic workshops to better articulate the
intricacies of the zoning process, the Department of Planning would provide a
setting where members of the public would be ale to better understand, ask
questions and learn more about the City’s zoning authorities and the
limitations of the Zoning Board of Review,” added Councilman Goncalves.
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The Providence Zoning Board of Review is tasked with
enforcing the Providence Zoning Code, which governs land development in the
City of Providence through limitations on the types of land uses allowed in a
particular district and dimensional requirements that apply to development of a
given parcel of land. In the event that a developer wishes to deviate in some
way from zoning requirements, they may request relief from the Zoning code from
the Zoning Board of Review.
To learn more, visit on the web at council.providenceri.gov