Comprehensive Community Plan 2020 – 2040
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TOWN OF WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY PLAN 2020 – 2040 2020 Comprehensive Plan | 1 REVISED WORKING DRAFT FEBRUARY May 18, 2020 2020 2020 Comprehensive Plan | 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Town of Westerly extends its sincere thanks to the many residents, community advocates, business leaders, stakeholders, and staff who have participated in the creation of this Comprehensive Plan. The sharing of your knowledge and experiences and the volunteering of your skills and time has been instrumental to the future we have envisioned herein. Town Manager J. Mark Rooney TOWN COUNCIL PLANNING BOARD Council President Christopher A. Duhamel Chairman James A. Hall, IV Council Vice President Suzanne K. Giorno Vice Chairman Richard W. Constantine Sharon E. Ahern Secretary Christopher K. Lawlor William J. Aiello Alternate Secretary Justin M. Hopkins Karen A. Cioffi Catherine DeNoia Jason A. Parker Caswell Cooke, Jr. Jason A. ParkerDylan A. Kosten Brian H. McCuin Dylan A. KostenJoseph Montesano Joseph Montesano DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE Lisa Pellegrini, Director of Development Services Chairwoman Gail E. Mallard Nancy E. Letendre, Esq., AICP, Town Planner Vice Chairman Joseph T. MacAndrew Nathan Reichert, Zoning Official Faith Bessette-Zito Benjamin R. Delaney, Principal Planner Stuart G. Blackburn James J. Federico, III LEGAL COUNSEL Gina T. Fuller Bengtson & Jestings, LLP Nancy N. Richmond Catherine DeNoia CONSULTANTS Salvatore Zito Mason & Associates, Inc. John Armstrong New England GeoSystems 2020 Comprehensive Plan | 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements..................................................................................................................................... 2 Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Part I: Vision & Strategies ......................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 11 Section 1.1: Preamble .....................................................................................................................................11 Section 1.2: Introduction ...............................................................................................................................11 Section 1.3 Vision .............................................................................................................................................11 Chapter 2: Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Section 2.1: Purposes and Intent ...............................................................................................................15 Section 2.2: Public Engagement and Plan Development .................................................................17 Section 2.3: Using the Plan ...........................................................................................................................19 Section 2.4: Land Use and Zoning .............................................................................................................20 Section 2.5: Community Character ...........................................................................................................22 Section 2.6: The Future ..................................................................................................................................28 Section 2.7: Future Land Use .......................................................................................................................34 Chapter 3: Goals, Policies, and Actions ......................................................................................................41 Part II: Goals, Policies & Action Implementation .................................................................................. 55 Sustainable Natural Resources .................................................................................................................... 58 Recreation ......................................................................................................................................................... 60 Historic and Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................... 61 Housing Opportunities .................................................................................................................................. 63 Economic Vitality ............................................................................................................................................. 67 Services and Facilities ..................................................................................................................................... 69 Infrastructure .................................................................................................................................................... 73 Energy ................................................................................................................................................................ 75 Transportation Network ................................................................................................................................ 77 Hazard Mitigation and Resiliency ................................................................................................................ 81 2020 Comprehensive Plan | 4 Part III: Inventory & Analysis .................................................................................................................. 83 Chapter 1: Sustainable Natural Resources ................................................................................................ 85 Section 1.1: Watersheds ................................................................................................................................85 Section 1.2: Surface Water ...........................................................................................................................86 Section 1.3: Water Quality .............................................................................................................................86 Section 1.4: Water Management and Protection ................................................................................92 Section 1.5: Agriculture .................................................................................................................................96 Section 1.6: Natural Habitats and Vegetation ......................................................................................98 Chapter 2: Open Space and Recreation ................................................................................................... 105 Section 2.1: Existing Open Space ............................................................................................................ 105 Section 2.2: Regional Conservation Plans and Strategies ............................................................. 107 Section 2.3: Conservation Tools .............................................................................................................. 108 Section 2.4: Recreation ............................................................................................................................... 108 Section 2.5: Water Access .......................................................................................................................... 113 Section 2.6: Recreation Programming Providers .............................................................................. 114 Chapter 3: Historic and Cultural Resources ............................................................................................. 117 Section 3.1: Historic Places ........................................................................................................................ 117 Section 3.2: Regulatory Protection ......................................................................................................... 118 Section 3.3: Funding Assistance .............................................................................................................. 119 Section 3.4: Community Accomplishments and Opportunities ................................................. 120 Section 3.5: Community Institutions and Events .............................................................................. 120 Chapter 4: Housing Opportunities ........................................................................................................... 123 Section 4.1: Demographics ....................................................................................................................... 124 Section 4.2: Housing Availability ............................................................................................................. 126 Section 4.3: Rental Housing ...................................................................................................................... 128 Section 4.4: Homeowner Market ............................................................................................................ 129 Section 4.5: Housing Conditions ............................................................................................................