Town of Narragansett Comprehensive Plan: Baseline Report Approved by the Narragansett Planning Board September 6, 2016 Adopted by the Narragnasett Town Council September 5, 2017 Prepared by: Horsley Witten Group, Inc. McMahon Associates, Inc. Narragansett Comprehensive Plan ● Baseline Report TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................1 What is the Narragansett Comprehensive Plan? ...................................................................................... 1 Regional Setting ........................................................................................................................................ 1 DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND TRENDS ...................................................................................4 Population Growth .................................................................................................................................... 4 Age Composition ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Youth ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Elderly ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 Seasonal Variation .................................................................................................................................. 10 Race and Ethnicity ................................................................................................................................... 11 Education Attainment ............................................................................................................................. 12 Income .................................................................................................................................................... 13 Poverty .................................................................................................................................................... 14 LAND USE ........................................................................................................................................ 16 History of Land Use Regulation ............................................................................................................... 16 Land Use Overview .................................................................................................................................. 16 Land Use Planning Districts ..................................................................................................................... 17 Existing Zoning Overview ........................................................................................................................ 26 Build-Out Analysis ................................................................................................................................... 33 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................................... 36 State Trends ............................................................................................................................................ 36 Local Workforce ...................................................................................................................................... 37 Local Businesses and Employment.......................................................................................................... 39 Agriculture .............................................................................................................................................. 42 Major Employers and Employment Centers ........................................................................................... 42 Economic Development and Municipal Fiscal Health ............................................................................. 45 COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES ............................................................................................... 48 Town Administration and Operations ..................................................................................................... 50 Town-Owned Property Inventory ........................................................................................................... 50 Schools .................................................................................................................................................... 51 Public Safety ............................................................................................................................................ 55 Maury Loontjens Memorial Library......................................................................................................... 58 Narragansett Comprehensive Plan Baseline Report i ADOPTED September 5, 2017 Public Works ............................................................................................................................................ 59 Parks and Recreation – Indoor Facilities ................................................................................................. 60 Engineering ............................................................................................................................................. 61 ENERGY ............................................................................................................................................ 66 Municipal Operations and Facilities ........................................................................................................ 66 Community Energy Usage ....................................................................................................................... 67 NATURAL HAZARDS .......................................................................................................................... 71 Severe Storms ......................................................................................................................................... 71 Hurricanes ............................................................................................................................................... 71 Heat Waves ............................................................................................................................................. 72 Flooding................................................................................................................................................... 72 Tornados ................................................................................................................................................. 72 Drought ................................................................................................................................................... 72 Earthquakes ............................................................................................................................................ 73 Sea Level Rise .......................................................................................................................................... 73 Beach Replenishment ............................................................................................................................. 75 TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION ................................................................................................ 77 Existing Highway Systems ....................................................................................................................... 77 Traffic Volumes ........................................................................................................................................ 81 Scenic Road Designations ........................................................................................................................ 83 Proposed Road Improvements ............................................................................................................... 84 Public Transportation – Bus Service........................................................................................................ 85 Rail Transportation ................................................................................................................................. 86 Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations ............................................................................................... 86 Water Transportation ............................................................................................................................. 87 Pier Area Shuttle ..................................................................................................................................... 87 HOUSING ........................................................................................................................................ 88 Housing Characteristics ........................................................................................................................... 88 Housing Development and Past Trends .................................................................................................. 92 Housing Affordability..............................................................................................................................