PAWTUCKET DOWNTOWN DESIGN PLAN FINAL ... - VHB.com

INTRODUCTION
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
An important component to any downtown revitalization effort is understanding
the degree to which the existing regulatory framework serves to inhibit or
enable positive change. More than most elements in the redevelopment
equation, local Zoning Ordinance provisions send a signal to potential
developers as to whether a given community will provide an opportunity for
positive investment. From a developer’s perspective, the clarity of permitting
processes and the degree to which standards “fit” within the context of existing
development may increase the risk already associated with development or
may add incentives to the process. Typical barriers that are quickly identified
by the development community include the need for multiple permits, the need
for permits that could easily be denied, and the need to comply with standards
that are not well articulated.
The PDDP team began the process of examining the regulatory framework in
Pawtucket on a very broad level. This approach included an audit of all of the
Zoning Ordinance provisions and the Planning Commission’s regulations that
apply to the study area. Observations concerning the Riverfront Commission,
the Historic Commission, the downtown, Broad Street and Dexter Street,
and the industrial districts north of downtown are all included in the initial
Regulatory Audit performed as part of the Existing Conditions Report. From
that point, in conjunction with the ongoing circulation work, the PDDP team
discussed the full breadth of changes that could occur within the local
regulations and what should be prioritized. Members agreed that focusing
on the standards and processes associated with the CD District (Commercial
Downtown) represented the best starting point for developing actual
amendments to local legislation.
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