When the state legislature passed comprehensive planning legislation for all municipalities in the late 1980s, Northern Rhode Island was one of the first areas to embrace the concept. Now, more than a decade later, planners from three towns are convinced they have successfully controlled development and at the same time preserved each community’s character.
”Rhode Island is often touted as one of the most progressive planning states,” said Cheryl Maynard, director of research, planning, and development for the town of Lincoln. “The state passed enabling legislation that has really guided cities and towns in the area of development and provided consistency and strength.”
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Maynard said Lincoln’s comprehensive plan, which was passed in 1991 has provided a “real foundation” for preventing urban sprawl.
”When we went through the comprehensive plan process we asked the community where they thought commercial areas should be,” she said. “That is just one of the ways to try and eliminate urban sprawl, by targeting those certain areas.”
In keeping with the comprehensive plan, Maynard said, development in Lincoln has been limited to areas such as the southeastern portion of the town, which abuts Central Falls and Pawtucket. She said the area is full of old buildings that are currently being renovated to suit new businesses.
”That is what planners like to see,” she said. “Re-utilizing an existing building instead of building a completely new structure. Still, we have zoning for any type of development, but whatever type of use is going to be on the lot there are restrictions.”
Maynard said the stretch of Route 116, which runs through Lincoln, has also been designated for commercial development. In fact, she said much of the city’s development has been along Route 116 with several new office parks, an assisted living facility and several more proposals for development currently in the works. Maynard said Route116 was chosen for development because of its proximity to Routes 146 and 295.
Route 116 has also been a crux of commercial development in Smithfield. The road, which is currently the focus of a $7.4 million state Department of Transportation repaving and widening project. A proposal for The Crossing at Smithfield, a shopping center that would be located on an 80-acre site along Route 116, is currently the focus of a legal battle over a zoning change granted in 1998.
Still, Jeanne Tracey-McAreavey, Smithfield town planner, said, “depending on who you ask” urban sprawl is not a problem for the city.
“There are some people who would like the town to stay as it is,” she said. “Some think it’s urban, others think it’s suburban.” McAreavey said the town has only small portions of undeveloped commercial land left, much of which is zoned for between two and five acres, preventing any large development.
“Because much of the land is currently zoned that way, any developer would only have that amount of space to work with,” she said.
And like other municipalities, she said developers in Smithfield must comply with a number of regulations ranging from environmental to signage.
”Pretty much if you can comply, then you can build,” she said.
Keith Byrnes, city planner for Woonsocket said though the city has been experiencing more development recently that since the community is so small — less than eight miles — there is only so much that can be done. Byrnes said Woonsocket is unique in its focus in terms of development.
”We do have zoning and subdivision requirements, and some conservation areas in the city,” he said. “But an issue with us is to get modern industrial development and then balance that with what we already have.”
According to state law, all municipalities are required to have a comprehensive plan, which must be approved by the state, and revised on an annual basis.
