About
This citizen board is charged with developing the city’s plans for preservation, revitalization and growth of the city. Working with the citizens of Providence and the staff of the Department of Planning and Development, the commission develops the city’s Comprehensive Plan and ensure that all planning documents are based on the goals and policies of the plan. The Commission also works to insure that development in the city is consistent with the city’s plan by reviewing all land development projects, applications for zone change and requests for street abandonment.
Duties & Responsibilities
The City Plan Commission is responsible for planning activities in the city, including but not limited to:
- Preparing and adopting a Comprehensive Plan, including any amendments, for the City of Providence.
- Providing advisory opinions to the City Council on all amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, including map changes.
- Providing advisory opinions to the City Council on all amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, including map changes.
- Providing advisory opinions on any other matters referred by the City Council or Mayor, including requests for abandonment of city streets and creation of easements across city rights-of-way. Reviewing Redevelopment Plans for consistency with the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
- Reviewing and approving all proposed subdivisions and land development projects.Reviewing and approving the annual Capital Improvement Program and Budget.
- Reviewing Institutional Master Plans for health care and higher educational institutions.
Other responsibilities as identified in Rhode Island General Law, the Providence Zoning Ordinance and Home Rule Charter.
The Providence Zoning Ordinance is Chapter 27 of the City’s Code of Ordinances. The link above will take you to a searchable version of the entire code of ordinances, you can select Chapter 27 from the expandable menu on the left side of the screen.
Review Process
The Commission is responsible for reviewing several different types of development:
- Capital Improvement Program Budget
- Comprehensive Permits
- Comprehensive Plan
- Creation of easements
- Development in RP- Residential Professional Districts
- Institutional Master Plans
- Land Development Projects
- Redevelopment Projects
- Street Abandonments
- Subdivision of Land
- Zoning Ordinance Amendments
Membership
The City Plan Commission (CPC), as established by Section 1013 of the Providence Home Rule Charter, is a board consisting of seven volunteer members who are city residents. Five of the members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council in accordance with the following requirements:
- Experience in real estate, development or finance (one member)
- Experience in city planning, architecture or urban design (one member)
- Experience in human services or environmental sciences (one member)
- Representation of general citizenry of the city (two members)
The Mayor and the Council President or their designees serve as ex-officio members.
City Plan Commission Current Members:
Christine West, Chair
Michael Gazdacko, Vice Chair
Harrison Bilodeau, Secretary
Joseph Elliot, Council President Designee
Jules Opton-Himmel
Luis Torrado, Mayoral Designee
Nicole Verdi
Meetings & Agendas
The City Plan Commission usually meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 4:45 p.m at 444 Westminster Street, 1st floor conference room to review pending applications.
City Plan Commission’s 2019 meeting schedule.
Click here for agendas & minutes of the City Plan Commission.
Applications and Forms
- For a Major Subdivision/Major Land Development Project application, click here
- For steps for approval of a Major Land Development Project, click here
- For a Minor Subdivision/Minor Land Development Project Form, click here
- For an Administrative Subdivision Form, click here
- For a Development Plan Review Application, click here
- For the Subdivision and Development Review Regulations, click here
Contact Information
Robert Azar, AICP, Deputy Director:
401.680.8524
Choyon Manjrekar, Principal Planner
401.680.8525
City Plan Commission
Department of Planning & Development
444 Westminster Street, Suite 3A
Providence, RI 02903-3215
Phone: 401.680.8400
Fax: 401.680.8492
Office Hours
January-June and September-December
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
July-August
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Annual notice of the Providence Public Notice Registry for changes to local regulations
Pursuant to amendments to Rhode Island General Law 45-23-53 and 45-24-53, notice is hereby provided that the City of Providence maintains a public notice registry allowing any persons or entity to register for electronic notices of any changes to the local Zoning Ordinance or to Subdivision Regulations, where public notice is required.
Register to be notified of changes to local Zoning Ordinance or Subdivision Regulations:
