In order to determine the applicability of these Regulations, potential applicants are welcome to schedule a Pre-Application Meeting with either the Administrative Officer or the Planning Board, and there is no fee required for such meeting. These Regulations shall apply to any adjustment, alteration or change of any existing lot line, and to the creation of any new lot lines, including, but not limited to, the following:
Any adjustment to existing lot lines of a recorded lot by any means shall be considered a subdivision, and subject to these Regulations, even if no new lot is created.
The division or subdivision, of a lot, tract or parcel of land into two (2) or more lots, tracts, or parcels shall be considered a subdivision and subject to these Regulations.
All re-subdivision activity shall be considered a subdivision and subject to these Regulations.
The division of land for purposes of financing or mortgaging shall be considered a subdivision and subject to these Regulations.
All subdivisions shall be classified according to criteria set forth below. If any subdivision does not otherwise fit into a classification, it shall be considered a Major Subdivision.
An Administrative Subdivision shall include only divisions, mergers, mergers and redivision and adjustment of existing lot lines, and if any additional lot is created, it shall be a "lot not for development." A "lot not for development" (as defined in Article 10) may include any lot which is to be donated to the Town, or which is to be conveyed as open space pursuant to Rhode Island law or as farmland to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust, or any recognized conservation organization, provided that such lot shall be conveyed with appropriate restrictions forbidding any development thereon. No public hearing is required for this classification.
A Minor Subdivision shall include only a residential subdivision of land consisting of five (5) or fewer units or lots, provided that such subdivision does not require waivers or modifications as specified in these Regulations. All nonresidential subdivisions shall be considered as major subdivisions. Minor Subdivisions shall be further classified as follows:
a. 
Two-Lot One-Time-Only Compound ("Compound").[1] A Two-Lot One-Time-Only Compound Minor Subdivision shall mean the division of land into not more than two (2) lots, without the provision of a street where one would otherwise be required. The requirements for the driveway, which may be by easement, are set forth in Appendix D at § D.2.2.f. A Compound shall not occur more than once for any property. In the event of any re-subdivision of either of the lots resulting from the Compound, then this classification shall not be available to the applicant, and the re-subdivision shall be considered a Major Subdivision and shall meet all the requirements thereof, including a major subdivision street. No public hearing is required for this classification.
[1]
Editor's Note: Prior to December 27, 1995, this was called "Minor subdivision"
b. 
Existing Street Minor Subdivision - Two to Five Lots. This shall include the division of land into not more than five (5) lots, for residential development only, and where street creation or extension is NOT required. This classification of Minor Subdivision would include that which was, prior to November 2, 1995 considered to be a division of land with frontage along an existing street. No public hearing is required for this classification.
c. 
Minor Subdivision - Two to Five Lots With A New Street. This shall include the division of land into not more than five (5) lots, for residential development only, where street creation or extension is required. A public hearing is required for this classification. Any such subdivision shall require a street, platted as a separate lot and built in accordance with the standards for minor subdivision streets set forth in Appendix D, § D.2.2, for access to each lot. Every individual lot within the subdivision shall meet the minimum dimensional requirements of the Zoning Ordinance as set forth in § 14-4.1 of the Zoning Ordinance.
A Major Subdivision shall include any subdivision not classified as either an Administrative Subdivision or a Minor Subdivision, including, but not limited to, a subdivision in which more than five (5) lots are resultant, a subdivision requiring a waiver or modification of these regulations, a nonresidential subdivision, or a subdivision with phasing. A public hearing is required for all major subdivisions. Any such subdivision shall require a street, platted as a separate lot and built in accordance with the standards for major subdivision streets set forth in Appendix D, § D.2.3, for access to each lot. Every individual lot within the subdivision shall meet the minimum dimensional requirements of the Zoning Ordinance as set forth in Subsection 14-4.1 of the Zoning Ordinance.
[Ord. 6/6/06]
It is the intent of this subsection that for all subdivisions of five (5) or more lots, twenty (20%) percent of the lots shall provide for affordable housing, shall have affordability restrictions and be eligible for the Town's low income and disabled property tax relief. The terms affordable housing and affordability restrictions are defined in the Zoning Ordinance. The Planning Board shall deem successive applications that result in five (5) or more lots over time to be subject to this section. The applicant is required to comply with this subsection by choosing one (1) of the following first two (2) alternatives listed below. In the event the Planning Board finds that Alternatives 1 and 2 do not satisfactorily meet the affordable housing goals of the Town, then Alternative 3 as described below shall be required.
Alternative 1 — The applicant shall build at least one (1) affordable housing unit on twenty (20%) percent of the lots, with the approval of the Planning Board as to location and cost of the affordable housing units. All affordable housing units shall be consistent in external design and construction with the other units in a proposed development, and shall be integrated into the development.
Alternative 2 — The applicant shall deed twenty (20%) percent of the lots to either the Town or a nonprofit housing provider (at the Planning Board's discretion), with the approval of the Planning Board as to the choice and location of such lots. Such lot or lots may be developed themselves with affordable housing, or they may be sold by the Town or nonprofit housing provider with the proceeds used to develop affordable housing elsewhere in the Town.
Alternative 3 — The applicant shall make a one time cash payment as a fee in lieu of providing the units or lots in an amount that is equal to twenty (20%) percent of the fair market value of the developed lots in the subdivision at the time of Final Approval. Such value shall be substantiated by an appraisal prepared by one (1) or more professional appraisers of the Planning Board's choice, at the expense of the applicant. The fee shall be paid to the Little Compton Housing Trust which shall use such funds to provide affordable housing elsewhere in the Town. The fee shall be paid prior to the recording of the Final Plan, or simultaneous thereto in the event that proceeds from the sale of a lot or lots are being used for such fee. This Alternative may only be used upon approval of the Planning Board, following a finding of fact that such alternative shall result in closer consistency with the goals of the Housing Element of the Little Compton Comprehensive Plan, than would either of the first two (2) alternatives.