DRAFT Comprehensive Plan: Primary Report Town of Westerly, Rhode Island A plan for vitality and sustainability 2 2018 Comprehensive Plan: Primary Report Town of Westerly, Rhode Island A Plan for Vitality and Sustainability 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..................................................................................................................... 16 2.4.1 Downtown Westerly ..................................................................................................................... 16 2.4.2 Mill Villages ....................................................................................................................................... 17 2.4.3 Shore Communities ....................................................................................................................... 18 2.4.4 Downtown Periphery ................................................................................................................... 19 2.4.5 Dunn’s Corners (Route 1 Corridor) ......................................................................................... 19 2.5 Westerly Facts and Statistics ............................................................................................................. 20 2.6 Regional Considerations ...................................................................................................................... 23 2.7 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 3. Inventory Summary with Findings & Implications ...................................... 25 3.1 Existing Land Use & Zoning ................................................................................................................ 25 3.1.1 Existing Land Cover ....................................................................................................................... 25 3.1.2 State Land Use Policy .................................................................................................................... 26 3.1.3 Existing Zoning ................................................................................................................................ 26 3.1.4 Findings and Implications ........................................................................................................... 28 3 3.2 Housing Opportunity ............................................................................................................................ 28 3.2.1 Demographics .................................................................................................................................. 29 3.2.3Housing Characteristics ................................................................................................................ 30 3.2.4Westerly’s Rental Housing ........................................................................................................... 30 3.2.5 Housing Conditions ....................................................................................................................... 30 3.2.6 Affordable Housing ........................................................................................................................ 31 3.2.7 Low and Moderate-Income Housing ....................................................................................... 31 3.2.8 Findings and Implications ........................................................................................................... 33 3.3 Economic Vitality.................................................................................................................................... 34 3.3.1 Economic Overview and Distinctions ..................................................................................... 34 3.3.2 Employment ..................................................................................................................................... 35 3.3.3 Economic Development Initiatives .......................................................................................... 36 3.3.4 New Economies and Agriculture .............................................................................................. 36 3.3.5 Resort Community ......................................................................................................................... 37 3.3.6 Economic Resiliency ...................................................................................................................... 37 3.3.7 Findings and Implications ........................................................................................................... 38 3.4 Natural Resources .................................................................................................................................. 38 3.4.1 Overview of Natural Resources ................................................................................................ 38 3.4.2 Findings and Implications ........................................................................................................... 40 3.5 Infrastructure and Energy .................................................................................................................. 41 3.5.1 Water System ................................................................................................................................... 41 3.5.2 Sanitary Sewer System ................................................................................................................. 42 3.5.3 Stormwater System ....................................................................................................................... 42 3.5.4 Electricity and Natural Gas ......................................................................................................... 43 3.5.5 Alternative Energy Production ................................................................................................. 43 3.5.6 Communications ............................................................................................................................. 43 3.5.7 Findings and Implications ........................................................................................................... 44 3.6 Services and Facilities ..................................................................................................................... 44 3.6.1 Emergency Services ....................................................................................................................... 44 3.6.2 Schools ................................................................................................................................................ 45 4 3.6.3 Solid Waste Disposal ..................................................................................................................... 46 3.6.4 Westerly Library and Wilcox Park ........................................................................................... 46 3.6.5 Social Services .................................................................................................................................. 46 3.6.6 Energy ................................................................................................................................................. 47 3.6.7 Findings and Implications ........................................................................................................... 47 3.7 Transportation Network ..................................................................................................................... 47 3.7.1 Roads and Motor Vehicles ........................................................................................................... 47 3.7.2 Parking ................................................................................................................................................ 48 3.7.3 Public Transportation ................................................................................................................... 48 3.7.4 Pedestrians and Walkability .....................................................................................................