In April, Fred Presley became the part-time town planner in West Warwick, a position that had been vacant for nearly two years. Presley, a long-time planning consultant, recently took some time to speak to Providence Business News about the new position, his plans and the effects of the March floods on the town.
PBN: What led you to take a job at West Warwick?
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PRESLEY: I had worked with the Building and Zoning Official, Al DeCorte, when I was planning and economic development director in Smithfield. He called me and said that the town was looking for a part-time planner. I have been doing private consulting work over the past three years, which has been exciting for me, but there is something about the position of municipal planner that appeals to me that you really can’t get in consulting. I thought that this would be a great opportunity to have the best of both worlds. It allows me to continue my consulting practice while still working in municipal planning.
I think that the municipal level of planning is where the “rubber meets the road.” This is where everything happens from a development standpoint. When done well, a community can chart its course for a sustainable future. When done poorly or not at all, it can lead to many problems in the future. It is a great responsibility and opportunity to positively impact a town. My mother and sister live in town and my brother owns an apartment building here. It is important to me that West Warwick realizes its full potential.
PBN: How are you enjoying the new job?
PRESLEY: So far, so good. There is a fair learning curve involved when you jump into a position like this. Not to mention the added intensity provided by the recent flooding. But everyone here has been very welcoming. The Planning Board is very committed to getting things done right, and that is key. Being that I’m only working about one or two days per week it does challenge me to manage my time well and focus on the priority issues. But the staff at town hall is excellent and very supportive. There is much to be done but that is a good thing, because that means there are also great opportunities.
PBN: What are the differences between your new job and your former job as a planner in Smithfield?
PRESLEY: Beside the obvious time difference (full-time versus part-time) of the positions, I would have to say that the primary difference is that Smithfield was relatively undeveloped. There were intense development pressures and affordable housing concerns that were major issues for my office. West Warwick is far more urban. Its primary challenges, from a planning perspective, involve redevelopment and economic development.
There are some new developments that are happening but the focus is clearly on redevelopment of former mills and other underutilized areas in town. It’s a traditional blue-collar industrial community that is undergoing a transition as industries have moved away and now something else needs to take their place. It is important that whatever that is, it needs to be compatible with the neighborhoods and provides jobs and a tax base for the town.
PBN: So what are the major projects you have under way in West Warwick?
PRESLEY: Priority No. 1 is updating the Community Comprehensive Plan. It is overdue for an overhaul and it is critical that that be done in a timely and efficient manner but with maximum public participation and input. The Comprehensive Plan is the key planning document for the town. It informs and directs the zoning ordinance, and subdivision and land development regulations.
Much has changed since the current plan was written. The town needs to take a fresh look at where it is now and where it wants to go, and lay the foundation and chart the course to make that vision a reality. The citizens should expect to see announcements in the coming weeks asking for their participation in this process. Their input is critical.
I think the next priority for my office is assisting the town manager’s office with driving economic development opportunities in town. This will involve working closely with the existing small businesses in town, helping to create a more accommodating environment for businesses to start and grow, and developing meaningful partnerships with state and federal organizations to provide greater access to services and capital to help facilitate economic growth.
PBN: Can you talk a little about how the recent flooding will fit into some of those projects?
PRESLEY: There is no question that West Warwick was one of the hardest hit communities. The recovery effort will be ongoing for years. Our greatest immediate challenge is how to help the businesses impacted by the flood. FEMA doesn’t cover business losses, and although the SBA has been a great help in helping many qualify for low-interest loans, the reality is that many companies can’t afford what equates to another mortgage on their business. The town is working hard with our legislators to secure additional funding support.
Beyond the immediate impact and recovery, the flooding also brings to the forefront a major vulnerability that needs to be addressed in the Comprehensive Community Plan. How the town prepares for future disasters will be greatly informed by this experience. The Comprehensive Plan will give disaster planning its due attention and hopefully West Warwick will be ultimately stronger having weathered this latest storm.
