Westerly - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

The Westerly Comprehensive Plan1.3.1 Residential DistrictsResidential Districts make up 67.2 percent of the land area of the town of Westerly. There are 8residential districts ranging from rural low density to high density residential development.Rural Residential 60 (RR-60)The Rural Residential 60 Zoning District is intended for residential areas characterized by very lowdensity development and comprised mostly of land that is currently used for agriculture and/orcontains wetlands, other severe soil constraints, or other sensitive environmental characteristics.The rural residential districts are designed to protect many of the town’s most valuable naturalresources. (Note that within the watershed of the salt ponds, a maximum density of one dwellingunit per two acres is required by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Special Area ManagementPlan.) Rural Residential 60 is designed for those areas which do not have access to municipal sewersor municipal water. The zone makes up approximately 21 percent of the town.Low Density Residential 43 (LDR-43)The Low-Density Residential 43 Zoning District is intended for residential areas, such as Watch Hill,which are comprised predominantly of large single-family homes on large lots and which are servedby municipal water but not by municipal sewer systems. The minimum one-acre lot size is designedto preserve the existing character of such neighborhoods. There are 760 acres zoned LDR-43.Low Density Residential 40 (LDR-40)The Low-Density Residential 40 Zoning District is intended to protect and preserve areas of primeagricultural soils for continued agricultural and agriculturally orientated uses. The standards anddensities prescribed for this district are intended to preserve the open character of the area andthereby to protect the business of agriculture. Residential use in this district is restricted to aminimum lot size of 40,000 square feet. While the intent of the district is to protect agriculture, verylittle of the zone is used for agriculture. The LDR-40 zone is located mainly north of Potter HillRoad. Some areas are located east of Chapman Pond.Medium Density Residential 30 (MDR-30)The Medium-Density Residential 30 Zoning District is generally intended for single-familyneighborhoods adjacent to high-density areas. This zoning district is designed to conform toexisting development patterns rather than encourage major expansion beyond definedneighborhoods. Most areas within this district are connected to municipal water but not tomunicipal sewers. Specific provision is provided for alternative residential development of certainproperty of substantial size in the R-30 Zoning District. The MDR-30 District is located mainlybetween Shore Road (Route 1-A) and Post Road (Route 1). Weekapaug and several small areas inthe north are also zoned MDR-30.Medium Density Residential 20 (MDR-20)The Medium-Density Residential 20 Zoning District is generally intended for single-familyneighborhoods adjacent to high-density areas. This zoning district is designed to conform toexisting development patterns rather than encourage major expansion beyond definedneighborhoods. Most areas within this district are connected to municipal water but not tomunicipal sewers. Minimum lot size in this district is 20,000 square feet. The largest areas zonedMDR-20 are located around Dunn’s Corners and between Ashaway Road and Potter Hill Road.Other properties in the MDR-20 district exist in Bradford, Haversham and Avondale.Westerly, Rhode Island 11