Eastbayri.com

BARRINGTON — The Barrington Town Council voted on amendments to zoning ordinances as recommended by the Barrington Planning Board after a lengthy public hearing on Feb. 6.

The council voted to approve the conversion of single-family homes into two-family units and approved allowing multi-family homes as part of a mixed-use commercial development — both are allowed by special use permit only.

Other amendments approved will allow housing on substandard lots, senior residential communities and mixed housing types. Small-scale wind turbines will also now be allowed under the newly revised ordinances.

The council voted to allow future drive-throughs in the business district. It was recommended by the planning board to ban the construction of drive-throughs.

Planning board chairman Mike McCormick gave the council an overview of the reasons the board was asking for the amendments, stating that they are in line with the town's comprehensive plan.

"This is a result from a long process that started when we re-wrote the comprehensive plan. What you have before you are first priorities," Mr. McCormick said.

The reasons for the changes, he said, include: The creation of a commercially vibrant and pedestrian friendly commercial zone, a greener future for Barrington, expanded affordable housing and better protection of neighborhoods.

All of the housing amendments are attempts to meet Barrington’s goal for affordable housing as set by the state, he said. Legislation states that each town in Rhode Island must offer 10 percent of its housing stock as affordable.

Property owners who want to convert space into an affordable apartment have to meet all the income and deed restrictions set up by the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agency.

A small group of residents commented the amendments, including Jeff Black of Colley Court, who read through a 25-page document that listed 10 separate objections. The genesis of his 30-minute comment session dealt with his objection to wind turbines which he said can cause loud noise and other issues with neighbors.

Planning board member and Water Way resident Jean Burritt Robertson spoke in favor of wind turbines, saying that many homes in Barrington depended on them for power before electricity became affordable.

The council later voted to approve the small scale turbines, including a rule stating that they cannot be higher than 35 feet off the ground unless given approval by the zoning board.

The attempt to ban drive-throughs was suggested to make the town commercial area more viable and pedestrian friendly. Council President June Speakman and councilor Kate Weymouth cast the two votes in support of banning drive-throughs; councilors Jeff Brenner, Bill DeWitt and Cynthia Coyne voted to allow them.