(a)  A municipality shall exercise its planning authority over the total land and inland water area within its jurisdiction.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-7

  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Land: means real property including improvements and fixtures on, above, or below the surface. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
  • Zoning: means the reservation of certain specified areas within a community or city for building and structures, or use of land, for certain purposes with other limitations as height, lot coverage, and other stipulated requirements. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4

(b)  Any combination of contiguous municipalities may, upon formal adoption of an official comprehensive planning and enforcement agreement by the municipal legislative bodies, conduct joint planning and regulatory programs to fulfill the responsibilities established under this chapter. The municipalities shall agree:

(1)  On procedures for joint action in the preparation and adoption of comprehensive plans and land use regulations;

(2)  On the manner of representation on any joint land use body;

(3)  On the amount of contribution from each municipality for any costs incurred in the development of the plan and land use ordinances; and

(4)  On the zoning designation for those areas in contiguous municipalities which border upon each other. The zoning designations for these border areas must be consistent and compatible with the adjacent area in the neighboring community.

(c)  All agreements between municipalities shall be in writing, approved in appropriate official action by the municipal legislative bodies, and forwarded to the director. All joint plans adopted by contiguous municipalities must be submitted to the director for approval.

(d)  All municipalities shall provide for coordinating land uses with contiguous municipalities, other municipalities, and other agencies, as appropriate, including the management of resources and facilities that extend beyond municipal boundaries as rivers, aquifers, transportation facilities, and others. The comprehensive plan shall demonstrate consistency with the comprehensive plans of contiguous municipalities and other municipalities as appropriate.

History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 601, § 1.