What Grows On in Rhode Island News

TONIGHT! Community Forum on proposed I-195 Redevelopment District Commission ~ June 13, 2011

TONIGHT!
BetterProvidence & Common Cause RI

present
 
A COMMUNITY FORUM
on the
Proposed creation of the
I-195 Redevelopment District Commission
 
MONDAY, JUNE 13
6:00 - 7:30 PM
Doors open at 5:00 pm
The Spot Underground
15 Elbow St., Providence, RI 02903
 
Co-Sponsors:

Jewelry District Association
Fox Point Neighborhood Association
Greater City: Providence
American Institute of Architects Rhode Island

Last week, the RI Senate passed legislation to create a redevelopment district and a redevelopment district commission to be responsible for the use of land becoming available in Providence as a result of the relocation of I-195. The bill was introduced by Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, Providence, North Providence) and co-sponsored by the other members of the Providence Senate delegation. READ PRESS RELEASE HERE
 
READ THE LEGISLATION HERE 
 
The legislation is expected to be voted on in the House of Representatives soon.

Confirmed speakers at tonight's forum include:

• Kelly Mahoney, Policy Director, Department of Administration who will speak on behalf of the proposal representing Governor Chafee
• Thomas Deller, Planning Director, City of Providence
• Representative John Carnevale, Sponsor of the House legislation

 
Some key areas to be discussed include:

 Does the proposed Commission best serve the public interest, including the people of the City of Providence, as well as the State of Rhode Island?Has there been sufficient public input in the legislative process?Is the proposed commission an effective way to ensure efficient economic development of this large State-owned land parcel in Providence -- or is it "the next secure feed bag for the well-connected," as described by the Providence Journal editors?  
Forum Moderator: Mike Ritz, Executive Director of Leadership Rhode Island and I Heart Providence
 
This event is free and open to the public
Cash Bar
Plenty of on-street free parking
 

 
RSVP to: Karina Holyoak Wood
 
Hope to see you tonight!
 
Karina
 
Karina Holyoak Wood
Executive Director,
BetterProvidence

Source: BetterProvidence email

Warwick Comprehensive Plan Public Meetings ~ May 25 - July 27, 2011

The City of Warwick is seeking public input for help in updating the City's Comprehensive Plan. Public meetings will be held throughout the City starting on May 25 through July 27. Please visit the City's web site for more information, meeting dates and locations, as well as detailed information on the updating process. This is an opportunity to assist the Warwick Planning Department and provide input and vision in shaping the City's future.  

From the Plan Calendar:

Wednesday, May 25  

6:00pm   Ward 2 Public Meeting: "Communities of Place"

6:00pm   Ward 6 Public Meeting: "Communities of Place"

Wednesday, June 15

6:00pm    Ward 5 Public Meeting: "Communities of Place"

6:00pm    Ward 8 Public Meeting: "Communities of Place"

Thursday, June 16

6:00pm    Ward 3 Public Meeting: "Communities of Place"

Wednesday, June 22

6:00pm    Ward 4 Public Meeting: "Communities of Place"

6:00pm    Ward 7 Public Meeting: "Communities of Place"

Wednesday, July 27

6:00pm    Ward 1 Public Meeting: "Communities of Place"

6:00pm    Ward 9 Public Meeting: "Communities of Place"

NEW Core Land Use Curriculum ~ May 26, June 16, & June 23, 2011

Announcing New and Improved Land Use Training
for Municipal Officials

The RI Land Use Training Collaborative will be offering the following workshops:
 
NEW! Smart Growth and Community Planning
 May 26th 2011
Warwick City Hall
6:30-8:30PM
 
NEW! Conducting Effective Land Use Reviews
 June 16th 2011
Johnston Senior Center
5:30-9:00 PM

or

June 23rd 2011
Middletown Police Department
Community Room
5:30-9:00 PM 
 
Writing Sound Decisions
Will be offered Fall 2011
 
Smart Growth and Community Planning:  Led by professional land-use planners, provides the foundation material that all municipal officials need to proactively fulfill their community planning responsibilities....  RECOMMENDED FOR ALL PLANNING BOARD AND ZONING BOARD MEMBERS AND FOR TOWN COUNCILS AND INTERESTED CITIZENS.    

Conducting Effective Land Use Reviews: Led by experienced land use attorneys and planners, this workshop will guide you through your legal responsibilities as a public official in Rhode Island and discuss in detail the legally required procedures and best practices that should be followed in conducting land use reviews.  ... RECOMMENDED FOR ALL PLANNING BOARD AND ZONING BOARD MEMBERS AND MUNICIPAL PLANNERS AND SOLICITORS.   
 
Writing Sound Decisions: Taught by a Rhode Island land-use attorney, this workshop is designed to help municipal planners, legal staff, boards and commissions write decisions whose content will hold up in court and whose clarity will make them readily understandable for both enforcement officers and property owners.  It is specifically intended to address the problem, noted repeatedly in recent Superior Court and Supreme Court decisions, that written decisions coming out of municipal planning boards and zoning boards do not explain how the evidence contained in the record led the board to reach its conclusions.  RECOMMENDED FOR ALL PLANNING BOARD AND ZONING BOARD MEMBERS AND MUNICIPAL PLANNERS AND SOLICITORS.

Are you on a municipal board or commission? Scholarships may be available.  Please contact Lauren Pendergast at [email protected] or (401) 273-5711 x6 for more information.

Press Release from Grow Smart RI

Further information and Registration Forms

Five-Year Strategic Plan for Rhode Island Agriculture ~ Released May 12, 2011

Those of us who love the farmers' markets may want to skim through the RI Agricultural Partnership 5-year strategic plan that will guide the development of one of Rhode Island's fastest growing economic sectors. It was released at Agriculture Day at the State House yesterday.

A Vision for Agriculture includes all Rhode Islanders. Did you know farms comprise 11% of Rhode Island land? I quote the Vision in full:

"By 2016, we envision a Rhode Island in which:

• Officials and citizens understand the critical importance of farms and farmlands to Rhode Island’s economy, environment, public health, community character and livability;
• State and local governments support and promote agriculture, recognizing that farms are important cultural, recreational and educational centers in addition to small businesses that produce locally grown farm products such as dairy, fibers, fruits, grains, honey and other apicultural products, horticultural and nursery products, livestock, poultry, seafood, turf grass and vegetables;
• A sustainable and well-coordinated farming and food system encourages profitable farm businesses by providing: 
  • A full range of business and technical resources and services for new and existing farmers;
  • Improved state and regional food and farm infrastructure;
  • A secure and affordable land base for agricultural operations;

Low Impact Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual Training Workshop ~ April 8, 2011

DEM, CRMC ANNOUNCE COMPLETION OF

RI LOW IMPACT SITE PLANNING AND DESIGN GUIDANCE MANUAL

Training Workshop for Local Officials and Site Designers Set for April 8th

 

Press Release

            PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management and the Coastal Resources Management Council announce the completion of the Rhode Island Low Impact Development Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual (LID manual).  This new low impact development (LID) manual is a companion guide to the recently revised Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual (stormwater manual).
 
            The LID manual was specifically developed to provide local planning officials with guidance and examples of how their ordinances can be amended to avoid and reduce stormwater impacts from new development or redevelopment, and encourage effective implementation of LID practices. The recommended site-planning and design techniques can help preserve community character, reduce flooding impacts, and save costs for municipal operation and maintenance. “This new guidance tool for low impact development was developed to assist our community partners accommodate desirable growth without sacrificing the environment or the quality of life that Rhode Islanders enjoy,” noted DEM Director Janet Coit.   “The new LID manual provides excellent examples and guidance to assist local decision-makers in making minor adjustments to existing ordinances to meet the goals of avoiding and reducing impacts to our public waters,” said Grover Fugate, Executive Director of CRMC.       
 
            In the past, stormwater management was primarily an engineering exercise to collect and dispose of runoff as quickly as possible. The new Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual, however, changes stormwater management to encourage or require more creative site-planning and design, as well as better engineering and maintenance practices in keeping with the requirements of the Smart Development for a Cleaner Bay Act of 2007.

            The new stormwater manual requires LID practices for all major development, representing a fundamental shift in how development projects are planned and designed. LID is a more comprehensive and effective approach to managing stormwater that uses site-planning and design techniques that store, infiltrate, evaporate, and detain runoff as close as possible to the point where precipitation reaches the ground.
 
            LID can be used to accommodate growth and reduce the environmental impact of site development. Many of the LID concepts employ non-structural onsite treatment that can reduce the cost of infrastructure while maintaining or even increasing the value of the property relative to conventionally-designed developments.  In the past the landscape was altered significantly to fit the conventional style of development, whereas the LID process is reversed such that the development is designed to fit the landscape and its natural features.
 
            DEM is partnering with the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve’s Coastal Training Program to offer training on the new Rhode Island Low Impact Development Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual for local officials and site designers. A free training workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, April 8 at DEM Headquarters at 235 Promenade Street in Providence. To register, contact Jennifer West at 222-4700 ext 7413 or via email at [email protected]
 
            The LID manual is available on DEM’s website at http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/suswshed/pdfs/lidplan.pdf.  For questions or more information on the LID manual, contact Scott Millar at 222-4700 ext 4419 or via email at [email protected]

Contact:      RI DEM    Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

Publication ~ The Floods of March 2010: What Have We Learned?

Rhode Islanders will not soon forget the extraordinary floods of March 2010 that even closed down Rt I-95. But what should we do differently, if anything, about the prospect of future flooding?

Take a look  at this report release on March 22, 2011, by the Brown University Center for Environmental Studies:

The Floods of March 2010: What Have We Learned?

Analysis and Resolution of Evironmental Problems and Case Studies

A panel discussion of the report took place at Brown on March 24. Topics covered in the report are:

• The Upstream Environment: Setting the Scene, Laying the Trap
• Zoning for Disasters: Examining the Role of Zoning Laws, Building Codes, and Insurance Policies in the 2010 Rhode Island Floods
• Emergency Management in Rhode Island: A Look at the State’s Level of Preparedness and Management of Resources, Communication, and Infrastructure During the March 2010 Floods
• The March 2010 Floods: Who Suffered Worst?
• The March 2010 Floods: Who Were the Winners?
• One Year Later: What Have We Learned?

 

RI Land & Water Conservation Summit ~ March 26, 2011

Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, the RI Land Trust Council and RI Association of Conservation Commissions are excited to announce the 2011 Land & Water Conservation Summit at the URI Memorial Union, Lower College Rd, Kingston, RI. Register today for this popular networking conference.

Keynote:  Steve Sloan – Greater Boston Regional Director, The Trustees of Reservations: Connecting People to Place and Your Conservation Mission

This day-long conference provides Watershed Council, Land Trust, and Conservation Commission board members, staff, volunteers and others interested in land and watershed conservation with the information, skills and connections you need to be effective!  The Summit is the best place each year to network with your colleagues - land and water conservation leaders - from around the state!
 
Ø Attend Workshops – Choose 3 from over 25 Workshops Offered
Ø  Network with RI Conservation Leaders
Ø  Attend RI Land Trust Council’s Annual Meeting
Ø  Peter Merritt Award for Land Conservation
Ø  Legislative Update
Ø  Visit Exhibits
Ø  Learn how you and your organization can Be More Effective!

          Don’t Miss it!  Plan to Attend!

Community Briefing: RIPTA’s proposed 5-Year Strategic Plan ~ November 23, 2010

The Coalition for Transportation Choices and Transit 2020 Action Committee invite you to a Community Briefing about RIPTA’s proposed 5-Year Strategic Plan: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 2:30 – 4:00 PM URI Feinstein Providence Campus, Janice Paff Auditorium 80 Washington Street, Providence.

RIPTA has developed a draft Strategic Plan entitled “A Vision for the Future of Transit in Rhode Island”. The proposed plan establishes a bold vision for RIPTA and sets forth a strategy over the next five years to strengthen and grow our statewide transit network and making it more valuable to all Rhode Islanders. The plan recognizes that investing responsibly in a 21st century mass transit system is increasingly seen by civic and business leaders as essential to Rhode Island’s future economic prospects. RIPTA representatives will be on hand to share the details of the draft Strategic Plan and will be seeking your input. Come learn about how a vastly improved statewide transit system can advance state and local goals for land use, economic development, environmental sustainability and create more livable and vibrant communities in Rhode Island. We hope you are able join us to learn more about RIPTA’s ongoing and planned initiatives and to provide your input.

Please RSVP by 11/19 to Richard Durishin at 484-1161 or email.

View RIPTA's 5-Year Strategic Plan (draft).

RI Agriculture Strategic Plan Forum ~ November 9, 2010

The Rhode Island Agricultural Partnership will hold a forum on the draft 5-year strategic plan for Rhode Island Agriculture.  The partnership highly encourages farmers, agricultural trade groups,  and agricultural related Federal and State agencies in Rhode Island to participate in the forum in order to help shape the future of agriculture in Rhode Island.
 
The forum will be held on Tuesday, November 9  at 5:30 PM (reception), followed by the forum from 6:00-7:30 PM.
University of Rhode Island
Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Room 100
Flagg Road, Kingston, RI
 
Please RSVP Ben Bowell at [email protected] or (413) 695-8052 or Tom Sandham at [email protected] or 401-294-1334.
 
Attached is a flyer promoting the event.  You are highly encouraged to refer this information to the appropriate parties.  Thank you!      

Portsmouth Hearing on Controversial Road ~ October 27, 2010

On October 27 at 7pm at the Portsmouth Town Hall the town council will vote on abandoning the right to build a road there.  For further information, see stories in The Portsmouth Patch on October 23 and October 9 about the road, Heidi Drive. If you have questions email [email protected] or call 682-1532 for the alpaca side of the story, or Rhode Island Nurseries for another perspective. The decision is further complicated by native American historic sites that may be on the property in question.