Cranston, RI Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

It shall be unlawful for any person to disturb, excavate, deposit fill in or on, remove or destroy grave markers, burial objects or buried human remains, or conduct any other activities that would damage or diminish the integrity of any historic cemetery or archaeological burial site or family cemetery without first obtaining a permit from the Cranston city council to alter or remove said cemetery. The city council may issue a permit to allow the alteration or removal of historic cemeteries, archaeological cemeteries or family cemeteries only after concluding, based on evidence submitted to the council at a public hearing that all alternatives to the proposed activity have been examined and that no prudent and feasible alternative to the proposed activity exists or that said alteration only serves the interests, health, welfare and safety of the public and is not for commercial expediency. In order for the city council to clearly assess the proposed project, the following information shall be submitted unless otherwise required by the city council:

1. Detailed site plans drawn to scale and stamped by a registered land surveyor at a minimum scale of l"=40', showing the boundaries of the property in question, topographical contour intervals of no more than one foot, a surveyed boundary of the cemetery and a setback area of no less than twenty-five (25) feet, and a proposed plan of all improvements proposed on the site that necessitate disturbance of the cemetery;

2.