Tiverton's Planning Board Workshop on February 1, 2025, spotlighted significant updates to the town's zoning and land use regulations, marking a pivotal step in modernizing local governance. The meeting focused on a two-part effort to amend the future land use map and zoning map, ensuring alignment with recent legislative changes from the 2023 General Assembly.

Key discussions highlighted the necessity of updating the town's zoning and subdivision regulations, which had not been comprehensively reviewed in years. The planning department, alongside legal counsel, is spearheading these changes to create a more cohesive regulatory framework. The future land use map, a crucial component of the comprehensive plan, visually represents the community's development aspirations, necessitating consistent updates to the zoning map.

Among the proposed amendments, the workshop revealed housekeeping changes to articles 1, 2, and 3 of the zoning ordinance. Notably, a provision was introduced to exempt government functions from certain zoning regulations, a common practice in municipal governance. Additionally, clearer definitions and updates to the use table were discussed, aimed at reducing ambiguity and enhancing understanding of zoning regulations.

A significant highlight was the introduction of two new waterfront zones—Waterfront 1 and Waterfront 2—designed to promote pedestrian-friendly areas and neighborhood businesses. This restructuring aims to modernize the district use table, consolidating previously separate documents into a single, accessible format. The updates also include a dimensional table for the new waterfront section, aligning building height definitions with state law and incorporating graphic representations for clarity.

These amendments are poised to streamline Tiverton's zoning processes and better reflect the community's evolving needs, setting the stage for future development and growth. The Planning Board's commitment to these updates underscores a proactive approach to urban planning in the town.