Waterfront meeting planned for Wednesday

PROVIDENCE – The city next week will hold a follow-up meeting to the Providence Waterfront Charrette, a weeklong community meeting where attendees discussed the future zoning and development of the Allens Avenue industrial waterfront.
The meeting, to be held Wednesday, Sept. 24, will offer additional information about development scenarios, economic conditions and transportation considerations presented by the city’s consultants, Ninigret Partners.
The charrette – one of a yearlong series of interactive neighborhood meetings – is part of the city planners’ ongoing efforts to update the Comprehensive Plan. The process started during May 2006.
Going into the charrettes, many members of the Providence Working Waterfront Alliance – a group of industrial, water-dependent businesses fighting the changes – said that the city had already made up its mind. “From the mayor’s and the planners’ perspective, it’s a foregone conclusion. They’ve already told us that,” Promet Marine Services President David A. Cohen said during one meeting.
Providence Director of Future Planning Bonnie Nickerson said during June it is likely that zoning ordinance changes could come as early as spring 2009.
The follow-up will be held at the Roger Williams Park Casino from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Additional information about the Providence Tomorrow development plan and charrettes is available from the City of Providence Department of Planning and Development at www.providenceplanning.org.