Allows the town of Smithfield to determine its density bonuses based upon its underlying zoning.

What This Bill Does

This bill would give the town of Smithfield, Rhode Island a special exception to how "density bonuses" are calculated for housing developments. A density bonus is a tool that allows housing developers to build more homes or units on a piece of land than the standard rules would normally allow — typically as a reward for including affordable housing units in their project. Under current state law, there is a standard formula for how these bonuses are calculated across Rhode Island.

Who It Affects and How

This bill primarily affects Smithfield's local government, housing developers, and residents who might be impacted by new housing projects in the town. If passed, Smithfield would be allowed to set its own density bonus calculations based on its own local zoning rules, rather than having to follow the statewide formula. In practical terms, this means the town would have more local control over how much additional housing can be built when developers seek these bonuses.

Current Status

The bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and referred to the House Committee on Municipal Government & Housing, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken. It is a narrowly focused bill that applies only to Smithfield and does not change housing rules for any other Rhode Island community.