The purpose of this section is to establish standards for gravel processing and the outdoor storage of bulk materials within the town, to protect and preserve the town's valuable natural resources, groundwater, and environment, and to protect abutting property owners from unreasonable noise, dust, and other adverse impacts of such operations, and to protect and promote the public health, safety, and general welfare.
(A) Gravel processing. Gravel processing as defined in § 400 of this chapter, with or without outdoor storage of bulk materials, shall be permitted by special use permit in Industrial and Traffic Sensitive Industrial Districts, but shall be prohibited in all other zoning districts. All gravel processing operations shall comply with the provisions of this section.
(B) Outdoor storage of bulk materials. Outdoor storage of bulk materials as defined in § 400 of this chapter shall be permitted only as an accessory use to the primary uses specified in § 602 which specifically includes outdoor storage of bulk materials, and only upon issuance of a special use permit by the Zoning Board of Review.
(C) Hours of operation. Gravel processing and outdoor bulk storage operations shall not take place outside the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. No gravel processing or outdoor bulk storage operations shall be allowed on Sundays or legal holidays.
(D) Noise. Gravel processing and outdoor bulk storage operations shall comply at all times with the provisions of the town's noise ordinance set forth in §§ 130.75 through 130.91 of this code, and provided further, that gravel processing and outdoor bulk storage operations shall not be considered to constitute permitted construction and demolition activities under § 130.78(H) of this code.
(E) Setback requirements. Gravel processing operations and outdoor storage of bulk materials shall comply with and shall not extend into the following setbacks:
(1) Front setback: 40 feet;
(2) Side setback: 30 feet; and
(3) Rear setback: 30 feet.
(F) Height requirements. Outdoor storage piles of bulk materials shall not exceed 20 feet in height, measured as the vertical distance from grade immediately adjacent to an outdoor storage pile of bulk materials to the highest point of that pile.
(G) Screening requirements. Where permitted, gravel processing operations and outdoor bulk storage areas shall be screened from adjacent public ways, residential districts, or residential use by a landscaped buffer strip of not less than 20 feet in width containing a double row of compact evergreen vegetative screening not less than six feet in height, which shall be erected and maintained between such area and the adjoining residential district or use.
(H) Dust control. The owner and operator of any property containing gravel processing operations and/or outdoor storage of bulk materials shall take adequate precautions to prevent dust or other airborne particulate matter from traveling beyond the property line, including without limitation, the use of water sprays or such alternative methods approved by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
(I) Drainage and sediment control. The owner and operator of any property containing gravel processing operations and/or outdoor storage of bulk materials shall take adequate steps to prevent the permanent collection and stagnation of surface or underground waters, and to prevent the flooding and erosion of surrounding property, and the pollution of ponds and streams, and shall comply with all applicable provisions of Chapters 151 and 153 of this code.
(Ord. 2018-15, passed 9-4-18)