2016 DRAFT Comprehensive Plan: Primary Report Town of Westerly, Rhode Island A plan for vitality and sustainability 2 Comprehensive Plan Town of Westerly, Rhode Island Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Vision ................................................................................................................................ 7 1.2 Purpose and Intent of this Document .............................................................................. 8 1.3 Summary of the Plan ........................................................................................................ 9 1.4 A Final Word ................................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 2. Community Character ................................................................................................ 13 2.1 Community Make-up and Concerns ................................................................................... 13 2.2 History ................................................................................................................................. 14 2.3 Climate ................................................................................................................................ 15 2.4 Westerly Neighborhoods .................................................................................................... 15 2.4.1 Downtown Westerly ..................................................................................................... 16 2.4.2 Mill Villages ................................................................................................................... 17 2.4.3 Shore Communities ...................................................................................................... 17 2.4.4 Downtown Periphery .................................................................................................... 18 2.4.5 Dunn’s Corners (Route 1 Corridor) ............................................................................... 19 2.5 Westerly Facts and Statistics ............................................................................................... 20 2.6 Regional Considerations ...................................................................................................... 22 2.7 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 3. Inventory Summary with Findings & Implications .................................................... 24 3.1 Existing Land Use & Zoning ................................................................................................. 24 3.1.1 Existing Land Cover ....................................................................................................... 24 3.1.2 State Land Use Policy .................................................................................................... 25 3.1.3 Existing Zoning .............................................................................................................. 26 3.1.4 Findings and Implications ............................................................................................. 27 3.2 Housing Opportunity ........................................................................................................... 27 3 3.2.1 Demographics ............................................................................................................... 28 3.2.3 Housing Characteristics ............................................................................................... 29 3.2.4 Westerly’s Rental Housing ........................................................................................... 29 3.2.5 Housing Conditions ....................................................................................................... 30 3.2.6 Affordable Housing ....................................................................................................... 30 3.2.7 Low and Moderate Income Housing ............................................................................ 31 3.2.8 Findings and Implications ....................................................................................... 33 3.3 Economic Vitality ................................................................................................................. 33 3.3.1 Economic Overview and Distinctions ........................................................................... 33 3.3.2 Employment ................................................................................................................. 34 3.3.3 Economic Development Initiatives ............................................................................... 35 3.3.4 New Economies and Agriculture ................................................................................. 35 3.3.5 Resort Community ........................................................................................................ 36 3.3.6 Economic Resiliency ................................................................................................... 37 3.3.7 Findings and Implications ............................................................................................. 37 3.4 Natural Resources ............................................................................................................... 38 3.4.1 Overview of Natural Resources .................................................................................... 38 3.4.2 Findings and Implications .......................................................................................... 39 3.5 Infrastructure and Energy ................................................................................................... 40 3.5.1 Water System ............................................................................................................... 40 3.5.2 Sanitary Sewer System ................................................................................................. 40 3.5.3 Stormwater System ...................................................................................................... 41 3.5.4 Electricity and Natural Gas ........................................................................................... 41 3.5.5 Alternative Energy Production ..................................................................................... 41 3.5.6 Communications ........................................................................................................... 42 3.5.7 Findings and Implications ............................................................................................. 42 3.6 Services and Facilities .......................................................................................................... 42 3.6.1 Emergency Services ...................................................................................................... 43 3.6.2 Schools .......................................................................................................................... 44 4 3.6.3 Solid Waste Disposal ..................................................................................................... 44 3.6.4 Public Library ................................................................................................................ 44 3.6.5 Social Services ............................................................................................................... 45 3.6.6 Energy ........................................................................................................................... 45 3.6.7 Findings and Implications ............................................................................................. 45 3.7 Transportation Network ...................................................................................................... 46 3.7.1 Roads and Motor Vehicles ............................................................................................ 46 3.7.2 Parking .......................................................................................................................... 46 3.7.3 Public Transportation ................................................................................................... 46 3.7.4 Pedestrians and Walkability ......................................................................................... 47 3.7.5 Cycling and Bikability .................................................................................................... 47 3.7.6 Transportation Improvement Projects ......................................................................... 48 3.7.7 Water and Waterfront Access ...................................................................................... 48 3.7.8 Air Service ..................................................................................................................... 48 3.7.9 Findings and Implications ............................................................................................. 48 3.8 Open Space and Recreation ................................................................................................ 49 3.8.1 Open Space ................................................................................................................... 49 3.8.2 Recreation ....................................................................................................................