Camiros worked with the City of Providence on a comprehensive update of the City’s Zoning Ordinance. The update, adopted by the City in November 2014, is meant to address the variety of issues and conditions present in the City today as well as realize the land use goals of Providence Tomorrow, the City’s officially adopted comprehensive plan, and other adopted policies. The City’s previous ordinance did not adequately implement City’s goals for smart growth and sustainability or for cultural, equitable, and transit-oriented development. In addition, many of the zoning district regulations didn’t relate to the built environment in Providence, creating numerous nonconformities, or didn’t allow for the desired forms of development.
The City’s new ordinance includes a wide range of revisions to the different components of the Ordinance text including district standards, use permissions, processes, and development standards such as accessory structures, signs, and parking. In addition, the ordinance has facilitated changes to the geographic boundaries of current zoning districts, the consolidation of existing districts, and the creation of new districts, with the City’s Zoning Map being concurrently updated.
Providence’s new Ordinance and Map better address “on the ground” conditions, reducing nonconformities, and creating new regulations and districts to implement the vision of Providence Tomorrow.
Camiros also developed the Zoning Ordinance User’s Manual, a reference guide structured to assist both staff and members of the public orient themselves to the new zoning ordinance. The highly graphic manual contains a brief overview of its organization, the general purpose of the various Articles of the ordinance, and summaries of some of the key ordinance sections — including zoning districts, uses, parking standards, site development standards, and administration. The manual has been a great tool for the City to introduce the new zoning ordinance, and demystify its content through easy-to-understand graphics, descriptions, and “How to-s.”
