The bill amends Section 45-24-33 of the General Laws regarding zoning ordinances, requiring municipalities to include specific provisions that authorize development incentives aimed at increasing development density or dimensional flexibility. It mandates that all zoning ordinances shall include special provisions for mixed-use overlay districts, which are designed to promote complementary land uses that support both housing and economic development. The bill specifies that these mixed-use overlay districts must cover at least 30% of commercial zoning use districts and outlines the types of uses permitted, including retail, hotel/motel, office, medical or dental office, personal service establishments, and multifamily dwellings.

Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for performance standards within these mixed-use overlay districts, including a minimum building height of at least three stories (up to 40 feet), a floor area ratio of no less than one, and a residential density of not less than one dwelling unit per 1,200 square feet of lot area. It allows cities and towns to reserve the ground floor of multifamily developments for commercial use or to be convertible to commercial use based on specified design criteria. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that no person shall have a valid claim for private nuisance in a mixed-use overlay district if the conditions giving rise to the claim pre-dated the ownership or tenancy of the claimant at a property. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5958: 45-24-33